Some History of the Penfield Volunteer Fire Department
The Penfield Volunteer Fire Department was first incorporated in 1895 when a hand drawled pumper and hand drawled hose reel was purchased and stored in a local barn. Little interest was taken in the fire department from the time of the original incorporation till the time of reorganization in 1941. On February 13,1941 the first organized meeting was held.
In 1942 after many trips to Harrisburg to meet with the Chief Fire Marshall of the state, a civil defense pump was obtained and mounted on a flat bed truck.
In 1943 through the efforts of the members selling chances and conducting bazaars, enough money was raised to purchase a used chemical truck from the City of DuBois
Between 1943 and 1948 a liquor licensee was obtained and business was set up in the Penfield Hotel then moved to a building built from lumber donated from the US Government donating C.C. Camps. The members dismantled part of the camp and erected the new building.
In 1948 disaster struck and the building and the equipment burned to the ground. In 1949 an new building was erected along with a new social hall. Also a new Dodge pumper and a used rescue truck was purchased.
1960 - Land and store across the street was purchased and converted into a truck garage.
1963 - A used 1952 GMC tanker was purchased.
1968 - A new 1968 Ford pumper with a 750 GPM pump was purchased.
1974 - A used 1971 Ford fuel truck was purchased and converted into a tanker and replaced the 1952 GMC tanker.
1978 - A Kaiser 6x6 army truck was obtained from the Department of Forestry and converted into a brush tanker with a 1300 gal tank.
1982 - A used 1972 Chevrolet rescue truck was purchased from Sandy Township.
1993 - A used 1978 International water truck was purchased and modified into a tanker and replaced the 1971 Ford tanker.
1995 - A new 1995 Ford pumper with a 1250 GPM pump and 750 gal tank was purchased from E-One and added to the fleet. Also a 1977 Dodge ¾ ton pickup was received from the Department of Forestry and converted in brush truck. Also we add on two more bays to our garage.
1996 - A used 1973 Maximum rescue truck with equipment was purchased from a fire company near Philadelphia.
1999 - A 1970 Mack pumper, refurbished in 1992, with a 1250 G.P.M. pump and 750 gal tank was purchased from St Marys VFD. This replaced the 1968 Ford pumper.
2000 - A 1985 Chevrolet 1 ton pickup was received from the Department of Forestry and converted into a brush truck to replace the 1977 Dodge that was returned to the Department of Forestry.
2002 - A used 1996 Freightliner Pumper / Tanker with a new 500 G.P.M. pump and 1800 gal tank was purchased from Foust Brothers in Georgia. This replaced the 1978 International tanker that was sold to a fire department in Tennessee.
2004 - With the help of a grant and a loan from the US
Thanks for this bit of history from Mark Challingsworth
In 1942 after many trips to Harrisburg to meet with the Chief Fire Marshall of the state, a civil defense pump was obtained and mounted on a flat bed truck.
In 1943 through the efforts of the members selling chances and conducting bazaars, enough money was raised to purchase a used chemical truck from the City of DuBois
Between 1943 and 1948 a liquor licensee was obtained and business was set up in the Penfield Hotel then moved to a building built from lumber donated from the US Government donating C.C. Camps. The members dismantled part of the camp and erected the new building.
In 1948 disaster struck and the building and the equipment burned to the ground. In 1949 an new building was erected along with a new social hall. Also a new Dodge pumper and a used rescue truck was purchased.
1960 - Land and store across the street was purchased and converted into a truck garage.
1963 - A used 1952 GMC tanker was purchased.
1968 - A new 1968 Ford pumper with a 750 GPM pump was purchased.
1974 - A used 1971 Ford fuel truck was purchased and converted into a tanker and replaced the 1952 GMC tanker.
1978 - A Kaiser 6x6 army truck was obtained from the Department of Forestry and converted into a brush tanker with a 1300 gal tank.
1982 - A used 1972 Chevrolet rescue truck was purchased from Sandy Township.
1993 - A used 1978 International water truck was purchased and modified into a tanker and replaced the 1971 Ford tanker.
1995 - A new 1995 Ford pumper with a 1250 GPM pump and 750 gal tank was purchased from E-One and added to the fleet. Also a 1977 Dodge ¾ ton pickup was received from the Department of Forestry and converted in brush truck. Also we add on two more bays to our garage.
1996 - A used 1973 Maximum rescue truck with equipment was purchased from a fire company near Philadelphia.
1999 - A 1970 Mack pumper, refurbished in 1992, with a 1250 G.P.M. pump and 750 gal tank was purchased from St Marys VFD. This replaced the 1968 Ford pumper.
2000 - A 1985 Chevrolet 1 ton pickup was received from the Department of Forestry and converted into a brush truck to replace the 1977 Dodge that was returned to the Department of Forestry.
2002 - A used 1996 Freightliner Pumper / Tanker with a new 500 G.P.M. pump and 1800 gal tank was purchased from Foust Brothers in Georgia. This replaced the 1978 International tanker that was sold to a fire department in Tennessee.
2004 - With the help of a grant and a loan from the US
Thanks for this bit of history from Mark Challingsworth
Fire Reports As of Jan 1 2009 The Penfield Fire Department has had 138 calls. And 21 Public Service Calls.
Officers at Penfield Volunteer Fire Department Chief : Thomas Olewnick Deputy Chief : Ray Himes / Ray Ray Assistant Chief : Shawn Agosti Captain : Jeremy Kephart 1st Lieutenant : Dave Cuneo 2nd Lieutenant : Chester Park jr 2 Pumpers, 1 Rescue, 1-1800 gal Tanker, 1 Brush Truck, and 1 6x6 Brush Tanker.
Department Type: All Volunteer
Primary Response Area: 63.6 sq m
Services Provided:
Firefighting
Vehicle Rescue (Extrication)
Search & Rescue
