In less than three minutes, a fire is born.

During a program Oct. 13, Lehigh Township Fire Chief Rick Hildebrand showed his audience a video titled "Birth of a Fire." In the video, a fire begins on a sofa. In 1:22 seconds, two smoke detectors in a nearby hall are activated. In 2:46 seconds, the room is a blazing inferno.

Hildebrand warned the audience to never enter a home during a fire and not to wait to escape a fire.

Hildebrand was one of 10 township fire company members to present a program at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Indianland, for members of the Lehigh Township Historical Society.

Another video showed two cars crashing at a busy intersection.

Hildebrand said the video demonstrates one of the major problems firefighters often encounter – vehicles do not slow down during a traffic emergency.

In the situation depicted in the vehicle, the two people controlling traffic at the corner had been pulled back because of the number and speed of vehicles. Two minutes later, two vehicles collided where the individuals had been standing.

Firefighters at the program were dressed to depict the various jobs fire company members perform.

"At Christmas we have a firemen's holiday party so people can understand what we do. Whatever can go wrong, will," said Hildebrand, who has 35 years experience with the fire company.

Many other members have even more.

"I can't begin to tell you the total years of service. We have a background in the technology coming in from science labs," he said.

The fire company's 46 active firefighters, six junior firefighters, nine fire police and 11 equipment operators responded to 430 calls during the past year, he said.

In eight years, the company has responded to 3,080 emergency calls.

Hildebrand recalled responding to a fire at 3 a.m. and shortly after responding to another blaze nearby.

Hildebrand said Lehigh Township covers 30 square miles with a population of 10,000 residents and 5,000 structures.

"Car crashes are horrendous but people seldom see them because roads are closed off," Hildebrand said. "And yes, we still do the cat in a tree."

A total of 75 percent of fire company personnel are certified and company officials hope to get everyone certified. The HazMat team is the latest to receive certification.

Hildebrand said many organizations compete for grant money, which is often tied to certifications. A fundraising letter receives only a 30 percent return, he said.

The fire company got its start April 15, 1944, when community members decided it took too long for nearby companies to respond.

The fire company acquired its first truck, a Mack pumper, in 1945. It was garaged at the former Dieter's Foundry, located across the street from the current fire hall. Meetings were also held there.

The truck, now privately owned, has been restored and is shown regularly out in the public.

The first section of the fire station building was constructed in 1954 with three additions built since.

An ambulance squad, known as the Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company First Air Squad, was added. It had to be disbanded, however, because the state mandated the squad had to provide 24/7 service, requiring a paid crew.

The company also has a fire safety trailer to teach children and adults the proper response to a fire.