Our History

Steelton Fire Department History

      The fire department of the early days of our Borough consisted of men and women, boys and girls doing their part in bucket brigades, passing the buckets to and from wells or the canal where water was available.

The first fire company established in the Borough was the Citizens Fire Company No. 1, it being organized February 8, 1882, and six years later the Paxtang Hook and Ladder Company No. 2 was organized.

As the town was growing at a very rapid rate in those early years, it was found necessary to have someone at the head of the fire department. Accordingly, an ordinance was passed by the Borough Council placing the fire department under the direction of a chief and two assistants. Today the fire department consists of six companies which are under the direction of James Thompson of the West Side Hose Company No. 3 as chief.

The Fire Department also maintains an ambulance service, which was established in 1918, and ever since then you can see the ambulance on the streets of the Borough at frequent intervals of the day and night, answering calls of mercy among the sick or injured of the community. The ambulance is housed in the Baldwin Hose Company house on South Front Street and is in charge of Edward Stehman, driver of the fire apparatus of the Baldwin Hose Company No 4.

Hygienic Hose Company No. 5. Organized October 14, 1904 Fire company was temporarily housed in a stable on Ridge Street until the completi6n of their new station in 1910. The dedication ceremonies marked one of the biggest celebrations the community of Steelton experienced. The community was honored by the Pennsylvania Governor Stuart as the speaker for the celebration. Its location was at the corner of Harrisburg and Bessemer Streets. The Hygienic was later reorganized to become Hygienic Fire and Rescue company No. 7. With this move, the Steelton F.D. had its first organized and trained rescue unit. The building still stands at the same location, once known as Station #511.