Firemen’s picnic crucial for funding fire department

ELMHURST TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It’s an annual event that brings the community together – and helps fund a local fire department in Lackawanna County.

Sounding the alarm, not for a fire, but for the deep fryers.

Wings, halushki, burgers, and more are served up at the annual ‘firemen’s picnic’ on Municipal Lane in Elmhurst, an event that dates back to 1948.

“They first started out going door to door, knocking looking for donations and then they came up with this idea to have a fair or picnic if you will, on a yearly basis to support the funding of the fire department,” says Fire Chief Rich Motichka.

The idea of funding has stayed the same, but that doesn’t go for prices.

This is the Elmhurst Roaring Brook Volunteer Fire Company’s first fire truck bought for around $10,000 in 1952; compared now to its newest truck in 2020, that price tag is over $700,000.

“Many years ago when we decided that we would run an event like this, we hoped that ten years worth of this event would help us replace a fire apparatus. Now in today’s world, it’s more like 20 years of this event to replace just one single piece of fire apparatus,” says Treasurer Joe Antosh.

Coming up with new ways to raise money, members of the community have also stepped up to help.

“We have a very generous township resident, who matches or beats any tips that are donated to the fire company within the beer tent. So this year we have a $5,000 tip challenge and they are going to double that,” says Motichka.

As the picnic runs through Saturday, it’s not just about fundraising, but enjoying the township’s history and making memories.

The Elmhurst Roaring Brook Volunteer Fire Company’s Picnic starts at 6 p.m. Thursday night with a parade kicking off at 7 p.m.

Live bands will also be playing all night through Saturday.

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