In the opening minutes of Ross Township supervisors’ monthly meeting Monday, one supervisor shared an emotional story with those in attendance.

Retired fire chief Leon Clapper kicked down the front door, disappearing into the thick smoke. He returned with an 8-year-old girl. He laid her on the ground and she gasped for air. Leon fell to his knees and smiled, knowing she was safe and OK. “‘That’s why we are here.’ he told another firefighter,” supervisor Randy Detrick read aloud from what he had written.

Clapper and the other firefighters were from Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder, which serves residents of Ross and Hamilton Township. They have 30 volunteers, 18 of whom are the core responders on a regular basis. The oldest member is 80 years old and the youngest is 22 years old.

In 2024, they were dispatched 400 times. And they showed up to all 400 of those calls.

At last month’s supervisors meeting, Clapper and Paul Warnick, the new fire chief, explained to supervisors how without additional funding from the community, they will be forced to shut down in three years.

Turnout gear, which includes pants, jacket, helmet and boots, and their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) expire after 10 years and need to be replaced. To replace 30 sets of gear and SCBAs is costly.

The fire department spends about $50,000 annually on insurance.

Apparatus also needs to be replaced. Wear and tear take a toll and newer equipment is needed to keep up with the service calls.

“Our most urgent need is to replace our 23-year-old tanker, which will cost $600,000,” said Warnick.

Ross and Hamilton townships do not receive fire taxes from residents, unlike other municipalities’ fire departments. Ross residents do not pay a township tax.

Each year, the township allots money to the fire department from their general fund. This year it is $60,000. Last year it was more than $100,000, said Vice Chairman David Shay. Plus there is money that passes through from the state funding.

Residents spoke up about how they see the firefighters and members constantly hosting chicken dinners and other events to raise money. A couple spoke in favor of implementing a local fire tax to help ensure the fire department stays afloat.

“I pay taxes to the local library for its resources, and I’m happy to do the same for our fire service,” said resident Martha Rezeli.

Supervisors agreed to discuss the possibility of implementing a fire tax at their May meeting.

But first, Detrick and his colleagues are hoping the community will take action and send a donation.

“These firefighters are there for you in your time of need. We need to be there for them. People’s lives hang in the balance,” said Detrick.

He said residents can make monetary donations by going to https://www.brhl.org/ and use Venmo or PayPal. Checks can be mailed to Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder’s Snydersville Location: 2191 Rimrock Dr., Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Or donations can be dropped off at the Ross Township building, 250 Anchorage Rd, Saylorsburg, PA 18353 and the township secretary will forward it to the fire department.