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Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department

101 Mountain Ave
570-491-4717

History:
In 1952, a group of community-minded men met in December and organized the Westfall Township Volunteer Fire Department. This group visualized the need for a fire department in what future years would prove to be one of the fastest growing areas of Pike County. The Westfall Township Supervisors allowed the young department to hold its meetings at their township building.

In 1954, with very little cash but full of confidence in being able to raise the necessary money, the fire department purchased its first firetruck. It was a 1936 Sanford engine purchased from the Warwick, NY Fire Department. Irving Hulst and Robert Lyon were the proud drivers who delivered the "new" truck to Westfall. Although the Sanford was an open cab and loud, it was fast and served the department well. The truck was used extensively during the 1955 flood. This vehicle remained in service until 1961 prior being sold to the Mill Rift Fire Department.

In 1977, the old Chevy was finally retired and sold to the Huguenot Fire Department. In its place, a 1977 Dodge Saulsbury mini-pumper was purchased, arriving in November of that year. The department borrowed $15,000 from Pennyslvania's new volunteer loan fund to help cover the $30,000 plus price tag. For many years, this unit was the first piece of equipment out the door for every type of call. Although it only carried 250 gallons of water, many fires were quickly contained because of the fast response. In later years, this vehicle was used extensively for response to medical calls. This truck too, developed a reputation for winning trophies.
In 1980, for the first time the department responded to over 100 alarms in a single year.

In 1986 with the anticipation of the new county-wide alert system about to go online, the department purchased its first eight motorola pagers. Obviously, many more have been purchased since that time.

In 1987 with the increase in population, it became obvious that there was a need for additional trained medical people within the community to assist the local ambulance corps. Seeing that need, the Westfall Fire Department was one of the first fire departments in Pike County to organize a Quick Response team. Equipment was obtained and placed on the Mini-Pumper and the department began to respond to every medical call within Westfall Township.

In 1990 we began designing another pumper to replace the "Yellowbird". Because of the expected commercial growth within the township, the truck committee decided that the new  pumper should have a larger pump and much larger hose bed than the previous pumper. After many months of investigating various manufacturers, a Pierce Lance Pumper with a 2,000 GPM pump, 1,000 gallon tank and hose bed designed to carry over 3,000 feet of various sizes of hose was ordered. It was delivered in 1993 at a cost of almost $250,000. It is interesting to note that the department paid for the truck in full borrowing about $30,000 from its own Relief Association Fund. That is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the members and to the support of the community. Although the Westfall Fire Department had been very instrumental in the 1960's with the formation of a dive squad within the Tri-State area, the department had not been an active participant since the early 1970s. That changed in the early 1990s when the department reactivated the dive squad with the purchase of a boat.

All in all, the Westfall Fire Department has stood by its community for the past 53 years, and will continue to help in times of emergencies. This is all made possible by the dedication of its many volunteers, as well as the generous support of the community.

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