THE HISTORY OF
THE WEST LANCASTER FIRE COMPANY

1927 - A ladies auxiliary was formed and they held their first meeting at the home of Mrs. F. Ziegler. The first President was Mrs. George Kutz.

1928 - Three building lots were purchased at the corner of Yale and Temple Aves.

1932 - The original fire station was erected on the three lots. The brick building measured twenty by forty feet and is part of the present building on the east side of the fire house. This building was built by fire company members in their spare time.

1935 - A fire siren tower was built to the rear of the station.

1938 - A Peerless U. S. pumper was purchased from the New Castle Fire Company in new Castle, Delaware.

1943 - An addition was built on the fire station with materials donated by Ralph Coho. The addition was also built by members in their spare time.

Photo 19stud here:--> 1945 - The Peerless pumper was replaced with a Studebaker tank truck. A portable pump was added and the truck was converted into the first tanker truck in Lancaster County used to fight fire. The tanker was equipped with an 800 gallon tank and a 1400 g.p.h. Hale pump. A new door was also added on the fire house.

1949 - The fire company’s first fire police organization was formed and a 500 g.p.h., triple combination pumper was built and purchased from American Marsh.

1950 - Additional building lots adjacent to the fire company were purchased for future expansion.

1950 - This photo was believed to have been taken during the annual Lancaster County fire school held at the “Green Dragon” near Ephrata in Lancaster County. West Lancaster’s rescue truck can be seen on the left hand side of the photo.

1954 - A Ford tank truck was purchased to replace the Studebaker tanker. The truck was designed by fire company members and built by the Brooks Welding Company and is shown during its “housing ceremony”.

1954 - An area that included West Lancaster and neighboring fire companies was formed. Designated as Zone 6, mutually agreed upon fire districts were set up by the Zone 6 companies which originally included West Lancaster, Wheatland, Bausman, Millersville, Mountville, Highville, Washington Boro, Lafayette and Lancaster City Fire Depts.

1956 - The company bought a 1948 Ford F-1 utility truck from Bell Telephone Co. and converted it into what is believed to be, the first rescue truck in Lancaster County. The truck was affectionally known to the members as “Punchy”.

1959 - The old fire station was torn down by fire company members and a new building was constructed and completed in 1960.

1961 - The new fire station was dedicated with a parade on August 19th. Also, an auxiliary generator was added to power the entire building and blow a five horsepower house siren.

1964 - A new, Ford C-950, 1000 g.p.h. pumper with a 1000 gal. water tank was purchased from the American Fire Apparatus Company.

1965 - The new 1964 pumper was delivered and housed. In addition to the new pumper, a 1965 Ford Econoline van was purchased and equipped for light rescue and placed into service.

1969 - A Ford C-950, 1000 g.p.h. pumper with a 500 gallon water tank was purchased from the American Fire Apparatus Company. Shown with the new engine is, L to R, Paul Fanelli (President), Bob McLain (First Assistant Chief), John Steinbaecher (Fire Chief) and Darwin Eshleman (Assistant Chief).

1970 - The new pumper was delivered and placed into service.

1971 - The fire company sold the 1948 pumper to the Oppenheim Fire Co. in upstate New York.

1975 - The original old engine room was remodeled to house the Ford Econoline and a new equipment door was added. A Ford C-750 chassis was purchased for a future rescue and lighting vehicle. The new truck, designated Rescue 6-8, was delivered in December.

1976 - The new rescue truck was placed into service. This year marked the 50th. Anniversary of the fire company and numerous special events were held to recognize the anniversary. The officers of the fire company at this time included: R. J. Booth (President), Nicholas Sapone, Jr. (1st. Vice President), Ted Alspach (2nd. Vice President), Robert Kenneson (Recording Secretary), Ted Alspach (Financial Secretary/Treasurer), Paul Long (Fire Chief), Tom Williams (Deputy Chief and James Pontz (Assistant Chief).

1980 - The fire company had the 1964 Ford pumper completely refurbished by the Wilson Fire Apparatus Co. in Fort Smith, Arkansas. A total of six various sized hose reels were included in the refurbishing project.

1982 - A group of West Lancaster firefighters and their friends, using their own funds, bought back the 1949 Ford pumper from the Oppenheim Fire Co. in New York and began the long process of refurbishing the truck to its original condition.

1989 - The fire company sold its 1964 Ford pumper to Northeast Fire Equipment Co. and ordered a new pumper from American Fire Apparatus Co. Shortly after placing the order, American Fire Apparatus Co. went out of business and so the company then placed an order with the Hahn Fire Apparatus Co. They also went out of business. By the time the company chose to purchase the new pumper from the Beck Fire Apparatus Co., 1991 had arrived.

1990 - The 1964 Ford Econoline was sold and a 1982 Ford/ Horton ambulance was purchased from St. Joseph Hospital in Lancaster to replace the unit.

1991 - The company ordered the new pumper from the Beck Fire Apparatus Co. in California and it arrived and was placed in service later that year.

1995 - After having difficulty in finding a buyer for the 1969 pumper, the fire company members decided to donate the truck to the Suedburg Fire Co. in Skyllulkill County, Pa.

1996 - A new rescue truck was ordered from the Saulsbury Fire Apparatus Co. in New York and the new truck arrived in Lancaster the day after Christmas. This was also the year that Jim Pontz, West Lancaster’s longest reining Fire Chief retired after serving for nineteen years.

1997 - The fire company sold the 1982 Horton to the Metro Ambulance in Hellertown, Pa. They also sold the old rescue truck to the Northeast Fire Apparatus Co.

2000 - West Lancaster member, James Leed, was elected as the President of the Lancaster County Firemen’s Association. Jim is the only member of West Lancaster to have ever been elected to that position. Also in 2000, West Lancaster teamed up with the Millersville Fire Co. to work together to find the best ways for the two companies to improve the fire protection to Manor Twp. and Millersville Boro.

2003 - The fire company purchased a 2002 Ford Excursion to serve as a command/duty vehicle.

2008 - An Emergency Services Task Force was formed to study the possibility of consolidating West Lancaster, Washington Boro, Highville and Millersville Fire Companies. The task force continues to work towards a 2010/2011 consolidation of the four fire companies.