| Recent Calls |
Sun. Feb 28th 2010
Automatic CO Alarm
At 18:12 station 83 was
dispatched to an
automatic CO Alarm at 106
Koban Dr. Units
were cancelled before
responding.&nb...
Read more »
|
Sat. Feb 27th 2010
Electrical Fire
At 22:57 station 83 was
dispatched to an
appliance fire at 116
Stephens St in Cassandra
Boro. 83 Lieutenant
1 arrived o...
Read more »
|
Sat. Feb 27th 2010
Station Still
At 14:00 station 83 was
dispatched to a welfare
check at 722 Main St in
Portage Boro. A
crew responded immediatly
and c...
Read more »
|
| 2010 Call Volume |
| |
Fire |
EMS |
| January |
21 |
4 |
| February |
|
|
| March |
|
|
| April |
|
|
| May |
|
|
| June |
|
|
| July |
|
|
| August |
|
|
| September |
|
|
| October |
|
|
| November |
|
|
| December |
|
|
| Total |
21 | 4 |
View Call Volume History
|
| Contact Information |
Portage Volunteer Fire Company
721 Main Street
Portage, PA 15946
Non-Emergency:
814-736-4626
Emergency:
911
Contact Us
Driving Directions
Map
|
|
About Us
Print this page
The Portage Volunteer Fire Company #1 was chartered on November 20, 1906, by the Boro of Portage, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The original charter had 18 members affixed to it. The first equipment the company owned was a two wheeled cart, which was pulled by hand by the members to the fire. Later on, a four wheeled cart was purchased and this could either be pulled by the members or by a team of horses. On March 15, 1921, the department notified the boro council that a newer fire truck should be purchased within 3 months, or the department would disband. Council agreed to purchase a truck, and in December of 1921, a 750gpm pumper was delivered from Seagrave Fire Apparatus Company. The PVFD joind the Cambria County Fireman's Association in 1931. The company has been the host to the annual convention three times over the years, in 1952 (31st convention), 1962 (41st), and 1964 (43rd). The department has also had the privilege of having members of the company being Past Presidents of the association. They were Ray Himes (1938), George Wasko (1951), John Sweeney (1966), Elmer Page (1969), and Sam Nederlander, Honorary Past President (1997). In September 1948, the company took delivery of a 1948 Seagrave, 750gpm pumper with a 350 gallon booster tank. In 1951, a 1951 Ford pumper joined the department with a 750gpm pump on it. In 1955, the department purchased a 1955 Dodge Van to be used as a squad truck. In 1961, the department purchased a Mack C series 750gpm pumper. The unit was all white and came equipped with a 500 gal booster tank, dual 3/4" booster lines, and a 55' Bangor Ladder. The Bangor was mounted on top of the unit. This was also one of the last fire trucks built by Mack that had a gasoline engine. This unit was later sold in the 80's to a used fire truck dealer in Florida. Before the rig was sold, the Bangor ladder was transfered to the departments other pumper, a 1964 Mack C. In 1964 another Mack C series pumper was purchased, a sister engine to the '61. The only differences between the two, was the '64 had a diesel engine and was red in color. This unit also had a 750gpm pump, dual 3/4" booster lines, and a 500 gal booster tank. Both of these units were front line pumpers of the department until their sale. The 1964 Mack C was a reserve engine until it was sold to the Lilly Volunteer Fire Department in the mid 80's, a mutual aide department of us. Lilly Volunteer Fire Department then sold the 1964 Mack C when an up to date engine was purchased. Lilly VFD then sold the 1964 Mack C to a guy from Williamsport, MD and the engine currently is shown off at truck show and parades. With the advent of the show Emergency in the 1970's, the department contacted the Los Angeles County Fire Department, for the specs on the rescue in the show, Rescue 51. The PVFD, with some changes made, then had an identical truck built by Bruco Fire Trucks in Altoona, PA. The only difference between this truck and Rescue 51 , was that this unit had a four door crew cab on it. This unit hauled all of the departments rescue equipment. This rig was repalced by the current Rescue 83-3, a 1995 E-one/ Freightliner. The early 70's brought another change for the department, a new fire house. The old fire house which housed all the departments equipment had became very over crowded. It had only one door, yes one door to get all of the apparatus in and out and was very crowded inside. The old fire house was tore down, and a new three bay fire house was built in its place. This new building not only housed the fire department, but it also houses to this day the boro and police department offices. While the new station was being built, the units were housed in another garage elsewhere in town. In July of 1977, the fire department, along with the rest of the fire departments in Cambria County were pressed into action to help in their communities and others, when the 77 flood devastated the area. In 1979, another Mack Fire truck was purchased, this one being a Mack CF pumper, with a 1000gpm pump, a 1000 gal booster tank, dual 1" booster lines, and something new to the department, two pre-connected crosslays above the pump. This rig was the main attack engine and was painted white over red color scheme. It was designated as Engine 83-1. The 79 Mack served proudly with the department until its sale to Portsmith Volunteer Fire Department in Virgina for use as a tanker, in 1998. The department, along with the rest of the deparments in Cambria County, in the 1970's recieved it's staion designation. The designation was Cambria County Staion 83. In 1984, the department purchased a Pierce Arrow, top mounted pumper. This unit was all white, a 1500gpm pump, 1000gal booster tank, assorted pre-connects throughout the truck, and a rear mounted booster reel containing 1" hose.This unit was the main attack engine till the purchase of a 1999 KME custon pumper. This rig still serves the PVFD as a second engine, and for brush and flue fires. It is designated as Engine 83-2 In 1995 the department purchased a 1995 E-one/ Freightliner rescue truck. This unit carries all of the departments rescue tools including the Hurst tools ( Jaws of Life). this unit was painted with the departments new color scheme, all white with two green stripes on the sides. It is designated as Rescue 83-3. In 1999, the department purchased a KME custom pumper. This unit has a top mount 2000gpm pump, 1000gal booster tank, 30 gal foam tank, assorted pre-connects throughout. This unit is painted the same as the rescue. This unit is the main attack engine of the department and is designated as Engine 83-1. In 2000, the department purchased an old wrecker from Randell's and converted the truck to a brush unit. It has a 400gm pump, 150gal booster tank, a 12 gal foam tank, numerous brush tools, and 550' of 1" cloth hose. It is painted the same as the E-one and KME and is designated as Brush 83-5. In 2001 the department purchased a Ford F-250 pickup. This unit is painted the same as the others and is used for manpower and misc. equipment. The PVFD averages about 130 calls a year, with a current membership of over 200 with approximately 30 active members. Regular membership for the company begins at the age of 18. When a new applicant comes into the company, they must complete Essentials of Firefighting (the states required school for basic firefighting) or Basic Fire Police school and 18 hours of in house training, to qualify for regular membership into the company. Portage Volunteer Fire Company recently merged with Cassandra Volunteer Fire Company to better serve the two communities.
|
|
|
| Picture Gallery |  |
| Apparatus Gallery |  |
|
