West Ridge Fire Department

70th ANNIVERSARY

The West Ridge Fire Department is celebrating 70 years of a volunteer Fire Department in 2010. On January 15, 1940, the West Ridge Fire Department was chartered. A group of local residents saw the need for a fire department in the West Ridge section of Millcreek Township. For a few years before, they did form an unofficial fire department. The first Fire Chief was Hayes McCreary. He served as Fire Chief from 1940 - 1941. The first station was located in the 3400 block of West 26th Street. It consisted of 2 bays. In 1955, WRFD built the present day Station 46 which consisted of a social hall, few offices and a truck bay. Throughout the 70 years, Station 46 has gone through various renovations. Since 1940, the West Ridge Fire Department has been a 100% volunteer fire company. A special thanks to all of those volunteers who served over the past 70 years. A 70th Anniversary banquet is scheduled to take place on October 23rd at the Bel-Air Hotel & Conference Center.

If you have a memory and/or pictures from the past, please email those to the West Ridge Fire Department so they can be shared with the past and current members.

View Photos from the Past

Memories:

Jerry DeRosa: In the mid 1990s, I was contacted by the Editor of the Fire Chiefs Magazine, a well known publication that all firefighters are familiar with all across the country. He wanted to do a story on the way our fire department operated our Sutphen Tower as a Quint, rather than just an aerial like most other companies. At that time running our tower as a quint, 1st out on structure fires, was a very new concept for the fire service and it was met with a lot of resistance, but proved to be a very valuable asset having that piece of equipment right in front of your incident. It had a lot of advantages and the concept was proven time and time again. I think that having the West Ridge Fire Department name in a national magazine was the most memorable time in my career in the West Ridge Fire Department. The title of the article was "Quotes on Quints."

Rob Hornaman: I would have to say it would be the first fire that I ran as an Active Member. It was a garage fire on Highland Ave around 10:30pm. I was on then Engine 17. We arrived on location at the hydrant, and not having Essentials, I was unsure on what to do. After helping the driver as much as I could, I walked down to the scene and was able to get my hands dirty!! Another memory would have to be the very first time that I was on the nozzle for a working structure fire. Don't remember what fire it exactly was, but talk about a thrill!! I would also have to say when I had the opportunity to attend the PA State Fire Academy in Lewistown for a Structures 1 class. I learned so many new tactics and techniques during this class. It was also an opportunity to work with other firefighters from all over Pennsylvania.

Email the West Ridge Fire Department

West Ridge Fire Dept 3142 West 26th Street Erie, PA 16506 814-833-4440 info@westridgefire.org