In 1736, Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin helped found the first volunteer fire department in the world, the Union Fire Company of Philadelphia. The fine and dedicated men and women of the Loyalsock Township Volunteer Department help continue this fire safety service and protection to your neighbors. They recently celebrated 100 years of existence.
The year was 1925. “Silent Cal,” Calvin Coolidge was President of the United States, Gifford Pinchot is Governor of Pennsylvania, the Scopes “Monkey Trial” takes place in Dayton, Tennessee, The Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series, and the New York Yankees’ Lou Gehrig begins his streak of playing in 2,139 games.
That same year, according to a history of the Loyalsock Township Volunteer Fire Company written by Susan Swank Caschera, president and public information for the current fire company, a bad fire on Miller Lane showed that the township needed a volunteer fire department. So, at that time, a group of about 46 interested citizens formed the company and elected Walter Belles as the company’s first chief.
Equipment-wise, the fire company started out humbly with a car donated by one of the members, which carried a chemical tank. As the years progressed, the company’s equipment would increase and become more sophisticated.
The fire company had no formal home for the first couple years of its existence. This all changed in 1928 when the Faxon Lumber Company donated money for the building of a firehouse. The current firehouse was built at the present location in 1957, and a major renovation was completed in 2003.
The company was formally chartered in 1927 with the motto that is used to this day, “Neighbor Helping Neighbor,” a slogan that they take very seriously.
The Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Company was given a singular compliment by the nationally known Saturday Evening Post magazine in March 1950 when it praised them as typical of the best volunteer fire companies in the country.
“Loyalsock has always had the philosophy of ‘saving lives and protecting property.’ We more recently added the motive of recognizing it takes efforts from everyone, including the public — ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors,’” Swank-Caschera told Webb Weekly.
According to her, the company’s slogan means community members assisting others, which helps to strengthen the local community.
Members become prompted to join the fire company through simple interest. Once involved, opportunities to help snowball, and so does the desire to help others. To fill a need in the community and area. Sometimes, it is the carrying on of a family tradition of being involved in the fire company.
The friends and neighbors of the company’s volunteers are often surprised at finding out that someone they know is a volunteer firefighter. Some are even astounded to find out that volunteers don’t get paid.
One of the more amusing aspects of these volunteers’ service is the sometimes unintended and intended hijinks that take place.
For example, when a call for service is heard, the members at the fire station rush to make a truck and end up in a “dogpile.” [this means firefighters or EMTs respond as quickly as possible when the alarm sounds, stumbling as they try to put on fire gear or boots or climb into a truck.] This does not suggest that they are something out of a “Three Stooges” short. These are solid, dedicated volunteers who seek to render the quickest and most efficient aid they can. But they also try to have fun and sometimes will pull pranks on one another to help defuse the tension of their serious and important tasks. Some have even met their future spouses during their service with the company.
The camaraderie developed by the fire company members is typical of all groups of people who do a difficult job with little or no recognition. As the firefighters or EMTs restock equipment, check that tools are working — ‘getting ready for the next one’ — the team pulls together despite being exhausted from working hard. The family ties strengthen. And eating together after a call or meeting.
One of the intangible things members get out of being involved with the Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Company is the sense of family. One member termed it this way, “The family you gain is the best. Your firehall friends are like a second family.”
The Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Department does more than fight fires. They also assist the community in a variety of ways. Their fire police help out in directing traffic during the annual 9-11 Motorcycle Run and assisted various local, state, and federal officials when President George W. Bush, then Vice Presidents Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence visited the Little League World Series. The Loyalsock Fire House was used as a “safe house” in the event it was needed during Bush’s visit.
Since 2006, the company’s Incident Management Unit joined the North Central Counter Terrorism Task Force.
They keep themselves up to date on all the latest innovations in firefighting and public safety and keep themselves ready for anything that might arise in an effort to keep the citizens safe and that they serve so tirelessly.
The one cloud on the horizon of this story of dedication and service is the fact as we go into the future, the number of people willing to be volunteers in the various fire companies is rapidly shrinking, which is a major challenge for all volunteer fire companies throughout Pennsylvania. Helping your neighbor should never go out of fashion, so more volunteers are needed, and any volunteer fire company would be happy to receive anyone who might wish to participate in this necessary and honorable activity.
In its 100 years, the Loyalsock Township Volunteer Fire Department has garnered an enviable record of service to others. It is hoped that this laudable service can go on long into the future.
