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In the Summer of 1927 a group of concerned citizens brought to
the Three Springs Borough Council, initial proceedings on behalf
of the community and its concerned citizens protection, a charter
to start a community fire company. This fire company would be known
as the “Three Springs Fire Company”. On the 17th day October 1927,
the Honorable Thomas F. Bailey granting the charter for the existence
of the Three Springs Fire Company signed a decree in the Huntingdon
County Court of Common Pleas.
Loyal and Dedicated
community members volunteered their time and efforts toward the
new fire company. The first piece of apparatus purchased for the
fire company was a 1912 hand drawn hose cart with 300 feet of 2
½ hose. After a period of time and with the on set of World War
II taking the young men of the community, the fire company had all
been but forgotten. When life was beginning to return to normal
after World War II, in 1947, a new group of concerned citizens made
it evident to the rest of the community about the threat of fire
in the community. On April 4, 1947, the fire company was re-organized
and has been active from this day forward. Shortly after, the new
officers of the fire company purchased additional equipment for
the hand-drawn hose cart, such as (2) 2.5” to 1.5” adapters for
$5.30/each, an AkroMist nozzle for $39.00, and an additional 500’
of 1.5” hose for $540.00.
The fire company
had consistently grown since the reorganization and to further the
development of the fire company on March 5, 1948 a building committee
was organized to construct a new fire station. On March 19, 1948,
the local school board signed a lease of the land around the mineral
springs for 99 years to construct the new fire station. On March
26, 1948, the first motorized piece of apparatus arrived in Three
Springs. The Dodge/John Bean High Pressure Fog Pumper had a 500-gallon
water capacity and was purchased for $5310.00. On October 7, 1949,
the new fire station was completed and ready for fire company use.
With a vibrant proud Fire Company, the Three Springs Fire Company
hosted its first and only Fireman's Convention. The Tenth Annual
Huntingdon County Fireman’s Convention was held in the Summer of
1956 on June 30th with a grand parade and softball game. Some years
later on January 9, 1967 a contract was signed to purchase a new
piece of apparatus to replace the 1948 pumper. A new Ford C850/John
Bean High Pressure Fog Pumper was purchased with a 1000 GPM pump
and 1000-gallon water capacity. It was placed in service in July
of 1967. Five years
later in 1973, the growing community needs for fire service was
complimented by an addition on the fire station built in 1949 to
accommodate to new pieces of apparatus. One of the pieces would
be a 1957 GMC Tank Truck with a 2000-gallon water capacity purchased
in 1973. To update the 1957 Tanker, a new Chevrolet chassis was
purchased and installed in 1977. The new chassis enabled faster
response and better reliability for the rural service area which
was growing into the surrounding communities of Three Springs. The
fire company later, in 1979, purchased a 1961 6X6 Chevrolet/Hahn
pumper with a 750 GPM pump and a 1750-gallon water capacity to compliment
the growing number of volunteers.
The year of 1983
brought further updating of equipment to the fire company, which
decided to refurbish the 1967 Ford/John Bean Pumper. 4-Guys Fire
Trucks, Meyersdale, PA, performed the refurbishment. The fire company
purchased a 1975 Hahn custom pumper from Carlisle, PA for $50,000
to replace the oldest piece of the apparatus fleet in 1987. It included
a 1000 GPM 2 stage Hale Pump and a 650-gallon water capacity. It
was placed in service as Engine 12-2. At twenty-five years old the
1977 Chevrolet Tanker was updated and refurbished by 4-Guys Fire
Trucks during 1992 with a stainless steel body and an 1800-gallon
elliptical tank and a 500 GPM Waterous single stage pump and additional
compartmentation. With the advances in technology and the growing
needs for better vehicle rescues, the first AMKUS rescue system
with an electric motor, a combination cutter/spreader and a hydraulic
ram was purchased for $8,000. It was placed in service in 1993 on
Engine 12-2. After
years of running constantly aging primary equipment the members
of the fire company decided to purchase a new pumper to replace
the 1975 Hahn Pumper. In 1997, the fire company purchased a Spartan
Advantage/Luverne Resolution with a Waterous 1250 GPM single stage
pump and a 750-gallon water tank. It was placed in service as Engine
12. It was the first new apparatus purchase by the fire company
in 30 years. It was the first custom piece of apparatus with an
enclosed cab for the Firefighter's safety. Shortly after the purchase
of the new Engine, the Huntingdon County Local Emergency Planning
Commission and Emergency Management Agency named Engine 12 as the
Southern Huntingdon County component of the Huntingdon County Foam
Task Force. Through the cooperation of the Pennsylvania Department
of Conservation of Natural Resources (DCNR) the fire company received
a 1963 2.5 Ton 6X6 Kaiser. It was converted to a brush truck with
a 600-gallon water capacity. It was placed in service as the current
Brush 12. After
many years of dependable service the fire company replaced the aging
1967 Ford/John Bean Pumper with a 1980/1994 Oren/Grumman custom
pumper. It was purchased from the Westminster Fire Department in
Westminster, MD. This piece of apparatus was placed in service as
Engine 12-1 as an Engine-Rescue. It includes a Waterous 1000 GPM
pump, a 1000-gallon water capacity, and a six man enclosed cab.
With a donation from the Three Springs Area Ambulance Service a
complete set of AMKUS rescue tools was purchased for the new piece
of apparatus. The recent Federal and State Government's institutions
of the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters
Grant Program and the Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire Company Grant
Program has enabled the Three Springs Fire Company to prosper and
serve its communities for years to come. In 2004, the fire company
was awarded its first “Federal Fire Grant”. The Fire Company received
new MSA Air Packs for all pieces of apparatus, as well as, additional
Air Cylinders to replace the 25-year-old apparatus it was currently
using. It also received an Air Cascade system and Fill Station for
the fire station and the fire company’s first MSA Thermal Imaging
Camera, which was placed in service on Engine 12. The Fire Company
also received a Pennsylvania State Fire Grant, which assisted the
fire company with the purchase of a second MSA Thermal Imaging Camera
for Engine 12-1 and replace aging hose on the pieces of apparatus.
Again in 2005, the Fire Company was blessed once again with a “Federal
Grant Award” to purchase communication equipment for both the apparatus
and the individual Firefigthers to increase the safety of the Firefighters
on scene at an incident and collaboration between neighboring county's
fire companies during any mutual aid assistance call. Once again
in 2007, the Three Springs Fire Company received notification of
its most fortunate “Federal Grant Award”. It enabled the Fire Company
to replace the 30-year-old Chevrolet Tanker with a new piece of
apparatus. The members of the Fire Company worked to design the
new piece of apparatus which arrived in late May of 2008. The new
tanker is a 2008 International Workstar Chassis and a Crimson Fire
body. It is equipped with the tools of a pumper and the latest technologies
of a water supply tanker. As well in 2008, a new firehall adjacent
to the original firehouse built in 1949 has been completed. The
rich history, growing interest, and continued support of the community
will be the catalyst for growth of the Three Springs Fire Company
for many years to come.
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