SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The all-volunteer Cetronia Fire Department has a new chief.
Chief Ricardo Diaz spoke at the South Whitehall Township commissioners' meeting earlier this week.
- Cetronia Fire Department has a new chief
- Ricardo Diaz has been a volunteer there for 10 years
- Diaz was appointed after former Chief Jay Heicklen retired on May 1
“I just want to thank the board of commissioners and administration for your continued support throughout all these years,” Diaz said Wednesday. “I look forward to serving with you all.”
Diaz was deputy fire chief under former Chief Jay Heicklen. He retired on May 1 after leading the department for 13 years.
Diaz has lived in South Whitehall for 15 years. He is a husband and father of three children — two of whom attend Cetronia Elementary School.
He first got involved in the Cetronia Fire Department 10 years ago. He decided to join because he wanted a way to serve the community, and he said he had enjoyed the camaraderie of the department.
“Right now it's a tough time to get members to volunteer your time."Cetronia Fire Department Chief Ricardo Diaz
Diaz said his main priority as chief will be recruitment. Many volunteer fire companies across the state are struggling to find enough members, and Cetronia Fire Department is no exception, Diaz said.
“Right now it's a tough time to get members to volunteer your time,” Diaz said. “But we're working with a marketing team right now to give us a boost in that department.”
Cetronia Fire Department is one of four volunteer fire companies that serve the township, along with Greenawalds Fire Company, Woodlawn Fire Department and Tri-Clover Fire Company.
Cetronia responds to about 700 calls a year, Diaz said. It has about 15 to 20 active volunteers who respond to calls and teach about fire prevention.
Other business
The township will host a kickoff meeting next week for its landscape preservation efforts with a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. It will be a hybrid meeting at the township building and over a video conferencing program.
The commissioners will likely vote on changes to Chapmans Road at its next meeting, after voting at Wednesday’s meeting to advertise the plan.
The plan is to add eight "No Parking" signs along Chapmans Road and install street lights near Vistas Park.
Township Manager Tom Petrucci also announced several vacancies on township boards.
The Civil Service Commission has one alternate vacancy; the Environmental Advisory Council has three vacancies; the Green Advisory Council has two vacancies; the Landscape Shade Tree Commission has one; and the Zoning Hearing Board has three alternate vacancies.
