History of Pleasant Hills Fire Company

In 1937, the Pleasant Hills Fire Company was formed.  That year a proposal to install five fire hydrants along Old Clairton Road was made.  The hydrants were to be placed between the Pleasant Hills Farm and the new No. 5 plan of lots.  A Volunteer Fire Association was organized at a meeting on the porch of Mr. Nick Green's residence to acquire fire fighting equipment so they could provide real fire protection for the community.  Regular meetings were held in the basement of Mr. Harry J. Vance's home on Old Clairton Road.  The acquisition of a crude International, open cab, hard tired, fire truck was made in 1938.  It was given to the association when they purchased 500 feet of standard fire hose.  It was the first Pleasant Hills fire truck and was housed under an old wooden building on the Pleasant Hills Farm.  It was moved shortly there after because water was dripping on it from the floor above.  The new location was under the Pleasant Hills Barber Shop where the AAA building is now located.  In 1938 The Pleasant Hills Fire and Relief Association of Allegheny County was incorporated.  The first official meeting place was the old Torrence School where the Baptist Church is now, loaned to the firemen by the Jefferson Twp. School Board.  This old school house was a wood frame building heated with a large pot bellied stove in the center of the meeting room.  It was around this coal stove in cold Winter meetings that many future plans were discussed for the Fire Company.  In 1939, the firemen transferred the body of the fire truck to a 1 ton Chevrolet truck chassis and a front mounted pump was installed.  The firemen were proud of this refurb and it provided a 57% reduction in insurance premiums for all homes within 500 feet of a fire hydrant.

 In 1940, the truck was housed in a space provided by Bill Green while plans were being made to build a station.  Mr. Nathan H. Hankoff of Pleasant Hills Realty Company gave a good sized lot to the firemen.  Plans were immediately drawn by Mr. Joseph L. Hoover, Architect, for the new station.  Construction had begun by June of 1941 by W.P.A.  It was completed in all its glory in the Spring of 1942.  This was quite an accomplishment for all of the materials were provided by the firemen.  This gala event was celebrated by a fireman family basket dinner and the coffee was on the house.  The fire hall had a modest beginning but soon became a beehive of activity.  The firemen who were associated with the Police and Fire Protection Committee of the Civic Association, in 1942 promoted an ordinance for various projects.  One enabled Jefferson Twp. to hire police and make arrests for speeding motorists.  During the World War, the fire hall was the center of Civillian Defense.  Firemen at home would give a helping hand to families of men away at war.  In March of 1945, a portion of the fire hall became the home of Pleasant Hills Library and in April of 1947, the fire hall became the Borough Building.

After the war, Pleasant Hills grew rapidly and improved fire equipment was desperately needed.  Twin "B" Model Mack Open Cab Pumpers were purchased, No.1 in 1949, and No.2 in 1953.  The greatly overloaded Chevrolet was sold in 1953 to help provide a down payment on No.2 Engine.  In April of 1958 a new "B" Model Mack Rescue No.3 was purchased.  In 1963, an $8,000.00 addition was put on to the Borough Building to house No. 3 and provide better access to Rt. 51. 

In 1964 the Pleasant Hills Borough officials moved from the fire hall (called the old Borough Building) into the newly built municipal building which provided  housing for all borough functions. During this year the Pleasant Hills Borough acquired the old Bell Telephone Building, located at the corner of Old Clairton Road and West Bruceton Road, which was leased to Pleasant Hills Library for housing all the library functions. After 17 years the old fire hall again became the responsibility of the Pleasant Hills Fire and Relief Association through a lease agreement from the Borough.  A building committee was appointed to carry out a remodeling program of the old building. The old library book room has been transformed into a recreation room; a small library archive has been removed to renovate the old meeting quarters to a large beautiful assembly room; and the initial electrical system was expanded to meet the increased demand for power; a superb outdoor floodlighting system has been added; and a new kitchen was the project for 1965.

In September of 1964 the Fire Company organized the Junior Fire Company. The group was expanded to a Junior Firemen Explorer Scout Group sponsored by the Fire Company.  This long standing and worth while program still exists today.

 In 1967, the Fire Company purchased its first aerial truck to provide protection for high rise fires.  The American la France 70' elevated platform was the pride of the community.  It would be need in the very near future for two high rise apartment buildings coming to Pleasant Hills.  The fire company progressed quickly in the 70's purchasing a 1970 Mack CF Pumper, a 1975 Mack CF Pumper, and a 1978 Swab Light Rescue Truck.

The rapidly growing fire company was becoming very cramped in its old fire station and plans began in 1984 for a new building.  Architect Dave Tarbert was  hired and began working with the fire company building committee to come up with a plan.  The building had to be functional and meet modern day concerns but we wanted to leave a little bit of tradition as well.  It needed to be large enough to house our present equipment and possible future equipment.  It needed a large day room and bunk room, meeting rooms, and executive offices. The tradition came in the form of a fully functional hose tower used to hang the fire hose to dry. The building had to be within a reasonable budget as well.  The borough agreed to pay for 2/3 of the cost of construction if the fire company could come up with the 1/3 and the costs involved in furnishing the new building.  D.B. Builders was chosen for the job and construction was completed in 1986.  The total cost of construction was $500,000.00.  During construction the fire company housed its equipment in the Taylor Rental warehouse on Terence Drive.  The space was generously loaned to them by David W. Houston Sr., a former member of the fire company.

Our new building was complete and we now had the room to grow.  Our existing equipment was aging once again and the cost of replacement was higher than ever before.  We were faced with the need to replace our 1970 Mack CF Pumper and our extremely overloaded Swab Rescue Truck and the  replacement cost for the two would be over $500,000.00.  The need for a heavy rescue was puncuated by a large increase in traffic on Route 51 and on Lebanon Church Road.  Rapid commercial development left an increase in traffic and resulted in more accidents.  Hazardous Materials incidents were also on the rise and with two major highways coming through town, we needed to address this as well.  But we also needed an new Engine.  Trends were also beginning to see a decrease in volunteers and potential manpower concerns were an issue for future generations.  We decided to combine the needs of the two units into one new 1989 Rescue/Pumper/Haz-Mat Unit, Rescue 2, now known as Rescue 232.  This $318,000.00 unit was designed by our in-house truck committee and combined all of our needs into one unit.  It carries a complete Hurst Rescue System, supply line, water, electric power, and has a foam tank and system for hazardous materials incidents. 

Raising funds wouldn't be easy for this project.  The fire company came up with a very controversial method of raising funds.  It would be a huge gamble, but  desperate for the needed equipment, the company voted to approve an expensive calender project to try to raise the partial payment needed for the new unit.  It was called the 1989 "Blaze of Glory" firefighters calendar.  The fire company hired female models and photographed them in detailed technical fire and rescue scenes with our firemen.  The 12" x 12" calendar was marketed with postcards sent out to fire companies and some magazine ads.  The calendar project went on to net 91,000.00 profit its first year.  The project continues 3 more years and made alot of money for the needed equipment.  The controversy spread like a wildfire when the news media picked up on it.  It was featured in People Magazine and dozens of newspapers, radio stations, and even TV talk shows.  The controversial project left a mark in some of the public's perception of the fire company although most supported the idea.  The question as to if it was worth it will remain for ever and the answer will differ with everyone asked.

 By 1991 we were faced again with concerns over aging equipment.  Our 1967 American LaFrance Aerial was no longer suited for our growing needs.  By now, the community has many more multi-story buildings, garden apartments, office buildings, and we still have the responsibility of the two majo high-rise apartment buildings.  We needed a new Truck.  The committee went to work once again to design a new truck to suit the modern needs.  The fire company took delivery of a 1991 Grumman Aerial Cat.  A 102' straight ladder with a platform.  This truck has the capability to flow massive quantities of water on large commercial fires and is well suited for rescue operations from multi-story buildings.