The night was exciting for volunteers with and members of the Goodwill Fire Company and the community as the long-awaited new Quint truck made the journey from Nesquehoning to its permanent home in Germansville.

As the truck was backed into the garage bay on Dec. 14, the new unit was hosed down and then some of the water was blown off.

After being moved inside, members of the company further dried it with towels until it was sparkling.

Officers of the fire company are Jay Scheffler, chief; Randy Metzger, deputy chief and training officer; Billy Shellhammer Jr., assistant chief; Paul McAdams and John Fritz, captains; Erik Laub, lieutenant; Rick Young, QRS captain and safety officer; and Eric Peifly, fire marshal.

A Quint is a truck with a combination of many uses. The Quint is a ladder truck, has an elevated master stream that rains down on a fire, it is a pump truck and can occasionally be used as a rescue vehicle.

Truck 1021, the pumper tanker, can deliver 2,100 gallons of water. The Quint will go in first to a fire and is followed by 1021.

Scheffler said the new truck replaces a 1991 model but they decided to keep the older one, also.

Adding the extra garage to the firehouse cost $130,000 and the truck cost $803,669.

Members of the fire company envisioned doing much of the work on the garage but that didn’t work out. Bryan Kehn of Kehn Design and Consulting drafted the plans for the addition. The contractor was Dennis Rupp who did the framing.

David Wright installed the electrical work.

Alan Gruber poured the concrete and Heidelberg Township crews did the site work. Chris Stitzel did the outside masonry work and Matt Costa placed the gutters.

Fundraising included the township fire tax, New Tripoli Bank, and the state gave $250,000 which had to be itemized, among other contributors.

“We work hand in hand with the bank,” said Scheffler. They do not duplicate equipment that neighboring fire companies already have.”

He thanked everyone involved beginning with the fire team, community and the bank.

“It is nice to thank everyone,” said Scheffler.

Along one wall is a double stack of mostly new white hoses.

A rotor light on the front of 1031 has bright lights in red, white and blue.

State Rep. Gary Day, R-187th, said the main thing he is excited about is the safety equipment.

The truck will be used in all regional calls, not just Germansville, he said and state Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th, gave his support.

“He understood the needs and value for all over public safety,” he said.

“It’s awesome. This will get the job done,” Metzger said.

Shawn Millan, an aide to Browne, said the senator was happy to help obtain the funds. He hopes the vehicle will serve the volunteers and community well.

Refreshments were spread out on a table and everyone helped themselves.

The truck was admired by all as the star of the night.