McAdoo Fire Co. celebrates centennial, dedicates tanker to company president
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - McAdoo Fire Chief Robert Leshko, right, presents a plaque to Fire Co. President Matthew Capulich.
McADOO – The president of the McAdoo Fire Company, a longtime integral volunteer with the company, received a surprise today after christening his company’s new 2021 KME tanker.
Following a fire truck parade through McAdoo and Kelayres, Fire Chief Robert Leshko presented a plaque dedicated to him, Matthew Capulich, “in honor of your service and dedication to McAdoo Fire Co., Inc., and the residents of McAdoo Borough, Kline, and Banks Townships.”
“I can’t believe it,” Capulich said after the dedication, while commending the work of all other volunteers at the company.
“He puts in countless hours during our fundraisers,” Leshko said. “He was our deputy chief and is still our president.”
“His dedication is above and beyond and we really appreciate it, and as a way of us showing that, we [dedicated the truck to him],” Leshko added. “Not only to him, but it’s shown to all members. We have a lot of great people in this company who’ve put in a lot of time and a lot of dedication to make this happen.”
The plaque will be placed on the new 2021 KME tanker, designated 49-30 — 49 being McAdoo’s fire district number, assigned by Schuylkill County, and 30 being a number designated for tankers.
Both Leshko and Capulich said it was a team effort to acquire the truck.
“We all worked on it, everybody. It’s an honor for me to even be able to do this, this is our fire company,” Capulich said.
“A lot of hard work went into this apparatus. It came through a FEMA grant, which was the fire act grant, and that was put in by Capt. Dan Leshko,” Robert Leshko said. “He did a lot of work on this and really should be commended for what he did in writing that grant and being able to follow it through and get it done.”
“But again, a lot of hard work by many members designing, setting up, and getting it in service,” he added.
The truck has a 750 gallon per minute pump with a 2,000 gallon tank and serves a dual-purpose, Leshko said, serving as both an engine and a tanker.
“Because of sometimes questionable water supply and also out in the rural areas where we need tanker shuttles, so us having 2,000 gallons of water is a big benefit on that initial fire attack,” Leshko said.
Friday’s dedication occurred during their annual bazaar, held this year at their second station on Hancock Street, which also celebrated the company’s centennial.
Fire departments from companies ranging from Shenandoah, Bloomsburg, Hazleton, White Haven, Albrightsville, and more came out to participate in the fire truck parade, as well as the Urania Engineering Little League team.
The bazaar continues Saturday from noon to 11pm.
From noon to 3pm, Just Us Polka Band performs, and from 7pm to 11pm, Toolshed Jack takes the stage.
The kitchen opens at noon.
Various food items, including pierogies, kielbasa burgers, pizza, empanadas, bleenies (potato cakes), and more are being served at the event. Shirts are also being sold, commemorating the company’s anniversary, and a basket raffle is being held as well.
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