The City Hook & Ladder is a %100 VOLUNTEER Fire & Rescue Department.

We are located at 317 Valley Street, Lewistown PA, 17044.

The fire crew is currently consisted of 31 active and trained members, with the majority being certified in the Firefighter I, Firefighter II,  PADOH Vehicle Rescue Technician, PADOH First Responder, PADOH Emergency Medical Technician, And Or PADOH Paramedic Levels. The Fire Crew is a neighborhood based crew, with many of the fire crew members living within our "First Due"!

We are one of (3) fire stations, within the Borough Of Lewistown with our primary coverage area beingis 2.2 sq miles, with approximatley 9,500 residents, as well as employees of local businesses. In conjunction the the Borough, we provide automatic mutual aid services to sourrounding Municipalities. The Social End of Our organization, consists of about 2,000 members, and having 3 Full Time and 7 Part Time employees. The Social Organization of the Fire Company and the Fire Crew work very well together, and both suport each other %110.

We try to be a Community Oriented Department, by providing fire prevention programs to local schools, day cares, businesses, organizations, as well as support any other community type/related function, and try to keep the American and Home Town Spirit Alive!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Following 6 Members Lost Their Lives While Saving Others; Lives And Property While Performing In The Line Of Duty. We Would Like To Thank These Men For Their Bravery, Honor And Courage. As Well As Let Their Familys Know That The Loss Of Their Loved Ones Will Forever Be In Our Hearts. RIP Brothers

Lester Sankey - March 31, 1947

John Blewitt - May 3, 1962

Charles Price - October 29, 1964

Jack Hopple - June 1, 1968

Rick White - June 1, 1968

John Wilson - June 1, 1968

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HISTORY:

If you have any pictures, information, or good ol' storys for us, we would really love to use them on our site. If you do, please contact us!!

The City Hook & Ladder was organized on October 24, 1904, at a meeting of the citizens which took place in the Blaksmith Shop of S.P. Irvin. Each of the 28 chartered members paid $1 membership dues in advanced. During the first year the company purchased a hand drawn ladder wagon and a hose cart, as well as vacant ground located on Central Avenue and built thereon the Companies first home. This firehouse soon proved to become to small, and in 1906 the company purchased property on Oak Street for $1,000, and built a 2 story 30x50 building, for the total cost of $3,350.

- During the 1940's, the members realized the current building no longer met the growing needs of the company, and something needed done. In 1944 arrangements were made with the local Candy Factory (Goss's Candy) that was about 1 block away from the fire station, to switch buildings. The City would move into the 3 1 / 2 story candy factory and the candy factory would move into the city fire house. In 1945 this move was made.

- 1945 the City purchases a Brand New Seagrave Pumper, from Seagrave.

- 1951, the City takes ownership of a Civil Defense Rescue Truck, equipped for Rescue related emergencies. A Rear bay is added to the station, to accommodate for the Rescue.

- In the early 1960's, talk to purchase a new Ladder Truck was discussed, however the current room for apparatus parking would not allow for a new aerial to be purchased. In 1963-1964, the house to the East of the City Fire Station was purchased and torn down, and a Large bay was added to give space for a new aerial. Also the purchase of a V Bottom Rescue Boat was included.

- 1965 a ALF 100ft aerial was purchase brand new.

- 1968, 3 Firefighters of the City were killed in a silo explosion in Brown Township @ Dairyland Farms, while working off of 3 year old ALF.

- 1969, with the Growing Lewistown Economy, the current 1945 Seagrave Pumper, the need for a more modernized, update pumper was sought.  A 1969 ALF Pumper was purchased Brand New. Second Floor Addition is added for the social room,  to the new apparatus bay addition

During the 1970's and the TV Show  Emergency Era.,  with more powerful muscle cars on the market, and more auto accidents with entrapments occurred. The members of the City purchased the very first Hurst Jaws Of Life Rescue Tools in the County, and placed them on the Civil Defense Rescue.

- 1977, members discuss the purchase of a new Rescue Unit to replace the current Civil Defense Rescue.

- 1979 the purchase of a Brand New rescue from Bruco was purchased. This unit consisted of the newest Hurst tools on the market, as well as a 100ft winch and a cascade system for filling air cylinders, which was the first unit in the area to do so!

- Late 1980's, the members of the City realize the need for a more equipped / sufficient use for a pumper, to replace the 1945 Seagrave and the 1969 ALF.

- 1990, the purchase of a brand new ALF Pumper was purchased while on display at the fire expo in Harrisburgh PA. This unit was placed into service and the 45 Seagrave and the 69 ALF were sold.

- 1995,  the need to replace the 65 ALF Ladder was evident. A 1985 ALF Ladder was purchased from the Cannonsburgh Fire Dept, to replace the 65 ALF Ladder.

- 1995, a Chevrolet Suburban was purchased to Tow the Rescue boat.

- 1995, due to a change of fire officers,  the City suffered a manpower crunch, and the 1990 ALF Pumper was sold, to help reduce the fleet, because of the lack of manpower.

- 1996, the City manpower status was very low, and the company was circling the drain.

- 1997, A Brand New Rescue Boat (current boat 14)  was purchased to replace the almost 30 year old V bottom.

- 1998, with the change of officers for the better, the company, picked up more  manpower, and things were starting to flow again.

- 1999, the need for a new Rescue was apparent, to replace the beaten International, as well as the need to get water back on the East End of town.

- 2000, with manpower on the up rise again, the purchase of a Brand New Rescue / Engine (current rescue) was purchased from Guardian Fire Equipment, from Harrisburgh PA, for the price of $380,000 

- 2000, the need to replace the Chevrolet suburban was apparent, a Ford Ambulance was purchased from Fame EMS, to serve as a temporary Special Unit.

- 2004, a Chevrolet Utility (current utility) was purchased to replace the Ford Special Unit.

- 2005,  members of the City lost a great Friend, Brother, Father, after his strong fight with cancer. Lieutenant William S.H. Baumgardner (Bill / Bummie) was a devoted City man, serving many years with the company. Bill will never be forgotten, as he was a loyal member of the City family. Bill held several positions during his career with us, such as Secretary, Team Leader, 2nd Lieutenant, and 1st Lieutenant and Bingo Chairman. Bill will be remembered for having a great sense of humor, as well as doing "the twist". Bill was the sort of guy that would give you the shirt off of his back, if you needed it, and for this, we dedicate this page to him and is dedication and devotion to his own family, as well as his extended family!

- 2009, AED Responses begin. Company 14 Participates in the Mifflin County AED Response Pilot Program. This program was formed with initially only the City, Granville, and Highland Park fire companies wanting to participate. The AED responses would mean the participating departments to be automatically dispatched to the top 5 highest probability cardiac arrest incidents, to possibly deliver a life saving shock, prior to EMS arrival. The following 5 categories are: Cardiac Arrests, Unconscious/Unresponsive Person, Seizures, Breathing Problems, and Chest Pain.

As stated above, at the initial time, there were only 3 Companies wanting to participate in the Pilot Program, however at this time, the participation is up to 7. At this point there are no County set guidelines to this response, however all departments have offered the proper training to their personnel willing to train in delivering the life saving shock.

The officers of the City have developed a great in house policy, stating that no members are permitted to respond to the AED calls, without have completing, passing and having a current CPR/AED/First Aid Certification. At this time, 25/26 fire crew members are currently certified in the required training levels to respond to the AED calls. Also we are very fortunate, to have multiple EMT's on the fire crew, with most of them being employed and or volunteer @ local EMS agencies.

The Utility is the primary Unit to respond to the AED responses. In the event the Utility is Out Of Service, the AED is transferred to the Rescue.