Bethlehem Firefighters IAFF Local 735

5 hours ago

Yesterday members of the Bethlehem haz mat team conducted training on the new propane flaring kit that was recently purchased. Thank you to UGI who allowed us to train at their facility. #IAFF #ppffa #local735 #bethlehemsbravest 🚒🇺🇸 ... See MoreSee Less

Bethlehem Firefighters IAFF Local 735 is at Wind Creek Event Center.

5 hours ago

IAFF Local 735 welcomes all Delegates, Alternates, and guests to the City of Bethlehem for the 49th Biennial Convention of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association! Wishing all a productive week and a great time of fellowship among all our brothers and sisters. #IAFF #ppffa 🚒🇺🇸 ... See MoreSee Less

+1

Bethlehem Firefighters IAFF Local 735

4 days ago

LOCAL 735 STATEMENT ON FOURTH ALARM FIRE AT 510 FLATS

Yesterday, our members responded to a major fire at the 510 Flats on Bethlehem’s Southside that escalated to a fourth alarm. Thanks to their quick and courageous actions, all tenants were safely evacuated, pets were rescued, and the fire was ultimately extinguished.

A sincere thank you goes out to all mutual aid companies who responded and assisted our members to get the job done: Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem Township, Nancy Run, Lower Saucon, Hanover Township, Palmer Municipal.

Fires like this are a harsh reminder of what we’ve been advocating for….adequate staffing saves lives.

Despite the steady rise in large residential developments across Bethlehem, our staffing levels have not increased. In fact, they’ve decreased. At one time, the Bethlehem Fire Department was staffed with over 112 personnel. Today, even as the city’s population grows and dozens of high-occupancy apartment buildings have been built, we are operating with fewer than 100 personnel. Our former minimum staffing level of 22 firefighters per shift was revoked by an arbitrator in 2012.

In past budget meetings and arbitration hearings, City officials have pushed the idea that sprinkler systems reduce the need for firefighters, even claiming they are like having “a firefighter every 15 feet in the ceiling.” This dangerous mindset has been used to justify staffing reductions. While firefighters recognize the important role of sprinklers, they are no substitute for trained personnel. Sprinklers are present in only about 10% of fires and are intended to control fire spread, not fully extinguish fires, rescue victims, ventilate smoke, or mitigate countless other emergencies we face daily.

Many of these new buildings including the 510 Flats are built using lightweight wood construction and wood truss systems (the structural framework for modern roofs and floors). These materials burn rapidly and are prone to early collapse in fire conditions. This creates a deadly environment for firefighters, as roofs and floors supported by trusses can fail without warning while crews are inside performing search, rescue, and extinguishment. Unlike traditional construction, lightweight trusses offer little time to escape once compromised, making fires in these buildings far more dangerous for firefighters operating within.

The Bethlehem Fire Department is not a one-dimensional organization focused only on structure fires. Our members respond to a wide variety of emergencies, from extricating trapped victims and performing CPR to handling floods, hazardous conditions, and technical rescues. Firefighters, not sprinklers save lives in these situations. Reducing staffing ignores this critical reality and places both residents and first responders at unnecessary risk.

The fire service will always answer the call but it’s time for the City of Bethlehem to revisit fire department staffing and reinvest in public safety. The city’s continued growth requires it, and our residents and firefighters deserve it. #IAFF #PPFFA #LOCAL735 #bethlehemsbravest 🔔🔔🔔🔔🚒🇺🇸

(Photos from various sources) ... See MoreSee Less

Bethlehem Firefighters IAFF Local 735

6 days ago

Congratulations to Brother Mark Reiser on His Retirement!

Today, we proudly congratulate Brother Mark Reiser on his well earned retirement from the Bethlehem Fire Department after more than 24 years of dedicated service.

Mark spent the majority of his career protecting the city from Memorial Station on West Broad Street while assigned to the First Platoon. His final assignment was as the Driver/Operator of Ladder 2, where his skill and experience were invaluable.

Beyond his work on the fireground, Mark gave back to the Brotherhood as the longtime Chairman of the Local 735 Good and Benevolent Committee and served as a key member of the Apparatus Committee helping shape the fleet that serves Bethlehem Fire today.

Fittingly, Mark’s final tour saw him operating at a 2nd Alarm structure fire on the city’s Southside, truly going out as he served, with distinction and dedication.

Thank you, Brother Reiser, for your service, leadership, and friendship. Enjoy a long, healthy, and happy well-deserved retirement . 🚒🇺🇸

#IAFF #Local735 #PPFFA #Bethlehemsbravest ... See MoreSee Less

+6