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Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department

P.O. Box 136
724-478-4210

In 1947, The Kiski Township Fire Department was formed. The first meetings were held in a white farmhouse owned by Louis Pellegrino at the corner of Old State Road and the left side of Kings Road , which today stand a four-apartment complex. After organizing, the Frank Shellhammer Family donated the property on Old State Road where the Fire Hall still stands.

The Fire Station had two garage doors and one side door. The station was built between 1947 and 1949 and at that time the Department only had one piece of “Apparatus”; a black Packard Hearse with one bubble light. The fire equipment consisted of regular shovels, rakes, heavy galvanized buckets and four brass Indian tanks.

The hearse was also used as an ambulance, which would transport patients to the hospital, which is nothing like today, where you have Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technician. When it was needed as an ambulance, the equipment would be removed and a gurney would be loaded. After the call, the gurney would be removed and the equipment would be reloaded.

The Kiski Township Fire Department services the citizens of Kiski Township that encompasses a 48 square mile area. Today, the fire department has 36 active members, and nine junior members. The fire department also has fourth generation members. Jim Clark's great-grandfather, Chuck Egley, was a member, as was his great uncle, Lou Egley, both of whom are now deceased. His mother, Debbie, is also a member of the Kiski Township Fire Department.