Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue

Huntingdon, PA

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HRFR History

HRFR HISTORY, Past, Present, and in the Future

History of Huntingdon Fire Depatment

Before any apparatus for extinguishing fires was purchased, the burgesses and Town Council, by ordinance passed Jan. 10, 1801 directed the clerk of the market to procure an expense for four ladders of various lengths and two fire-hooks, and keep the same in the marked house when not in use. The occupant of each house were required to provide, at the expense of the owner, a fire-bucket of the pattern approved by the clerk of the market, to be marked with the letters H. B., for Huntingdon Borough, and at all times to be kept in good order, hanging in the hall or outer room.

In 1804 a fire-engine was built for the borough by Philip Mason, of Philadelphia. It did not bear any distinctive name, but was afterward christened, “The Juniata”. Over the next many years, groups tried to keep a fire company going, including one known as the Juniata No. 1 Fire Company. For the next 20 years, many organizations took care of the equipment and handled fires with anyone that would volunteer. Finally in August 5, 1872 a group of men formed what would now be known as Huntingdon No. 1 Fire Co... A few days later, the organization elected their first officers, George W. Garretson, captain; Samuel G. Whittaker, secretary; J. Simpson Africa, treasurer, and other officers. The members along with the community raised money to buy more equipment, and to repaint the engine. 1872 steam fire-engine was purchased and a property was purchased on Washington St, to be used for the town council for meeting, to house the fire company and the Juniata and later the first engine. Soon after in Jan. 1873 the first steam engine was purchased it is named with Huntingdon No. 1 on it.

The Juniata Fire Company, No. 2, was organized Sept. 2, 1873. The Huntingdon Fire Company No. 2 in October 1880, after a thorough and satisfactory test of a second-class steamer built by the La France Manufacturing Company, was stated at the meeting of the Council, held in November, they expressed a desire for No. 1 to relinquish possession of the Silsby engine and take charge of the new one, An ordinance authorizing the transfer was passed and at the same session the custody of first-named steamer was committed to the Phoenix Company, which became afterward known as the Huntingdon Fire Company No.2. Huntingdon Fire Company No. 2, found a building for the accommodation of the steamer and for meetings of the company was erected on the north side of Thirteenth Street, between Washington and Mifflin. The principal officers for 1883 are: President, Charles Kershaw; Secretary, J. W. King; Financial Secretary, Jesse Goodman; First Engineer, W. H. Cavender. The Independent Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1, was organized Oct.' 20, 1873. Their truck and ladders were received about the middle of March, 1874. The company is preserved an unbroken organization, had then about thirty-five members, and was officers as follows: President, George E. Scott, Vice-President, Richard Langdon, Jr.; Treasurer, Lawrence L. Brown; Secretary, J. Stewart Africa.

In later years the Huntingdon No. 1 fire company moved to a building at 609 Mifflin St. and the Hunt. No.2 fire company separated from what is now know as the former Huntingdon Hook & Ladder to a building on Moore St. before being disbanded in the 1980’s. Later in the early 1990’s, the Huntingdon Hook & Ladder would build a new station to house a bigger ladder truck and have more room on a property on Washington St. between 13th & 14th St. The No. 1 Fire Co. and the Hook & Ladder Fire Co. worked together for many years and formed the Huntingdon Fire Department. In 2004, Huntingdon No. 1 and Huntingdon Hook & Ladder merged to become know strictly as the Huntingdon Fire Department. Finally in January 2010, Huntingdon Fire Department, along with Oneida Twp. Vol. Fire Co., merged with McConnellstown Vol Fire Co., to now be known as Huntingdon Regional Fire / Rescue.

McConnellstown Vol. Fire Company History

On February 28, 1948, a group of concerned citizens of McConnellstown area met at a now former School house to discuss the need of more fire protection. At the meeting chaired by Fred Parks, the group agreed that the need was great and they should meet again on February 15 for the future discussion and should encourage more persons to attend. At the second meeting the group organized the Fire Company for the area. The first officers were nominated to me elected at the next meeting in March. The first officers were, President David College, VP, Paul Shocker, Secretary, Clarence Garner, Financial Secretary, Raymond Hurley, Treasurer, F. Earl Householder, Chaplin, Lester Leonard, Fire Chief, J. Lawrence Lang, Trustees, M.G. Shocker, Carl Stapleton, Frank Isenberg, Fred Parks, and William Householder. At the April meeting the members directed attorney Merle Heffner to apply for a charter, which was received in June and in July the organization needed a woman’s hand, and assisted in organizing of a Ladies Auxiliary. The first building to fund raise and have meetings was able to happen when the recently disbanded “McConnellstown Band” made available their building, which was a former Church, in need a repair. The gift was accepted and the company’s first project became to repair and remodel the Band Hall. By the end of the first year the company was able finance a fire truck and order from the Food Corp. (FMC) their first apparatus, a John Bean Hi-Pressure Fog Truck, believing this was the best type for rural areas. In 1953 after several false starts, the company finally awarded the building of their first building on a property on the north side of McConnellstown. Thru the years with the help of the community, they were able to purchase another truck, a small panel truck for a Squad, a tanker for additional water, a QRS for assisting in ambulance runs, and finally a brush truck for fighting forest fires. Thru the years the company continued to grow and enlarged the existing building. Finally after several years of talks, the company decided to merger with Oneida Twp. and Huntingdon Fire Dept. to form the now HRFR organization in 2010.

Oneida Township Vol. Fire Company

On or about September 1975, a group of men and women started meeting at the Lion’s Barn on Cold Springs Rd. They wanted to have their own fire equipment that they could response more quickly to fires as the township continued to grow. The following are a listed of some of those charter members: Frank Frew, Jim Frew, Art Wilt, Leroy Hughing, Bill Grove, Dick Howe, Ken Garner, George D. McCool, Terry Cohenour, Sonny Bickle, and Phyllis Watts. Several years after their start, a gift of the land was donated by George Grove, to house a fire station and Oneida Twp. meeting hall. The new hall was built by the Glenny brothers, Frank Frew and others. The first apparatus was a Chevy pumper, which was stored in Ken Garner basement garage until the station was built. In the next few years a Ford tanker was bought and refurbished by members of the fire department. As the years followed, they were able to add a brush truck and eventually a QRS for handling calls in association with Huntingdon Ambulance. Finally in Jan. 2010 along with McConnellstown Vol. Fire Co, they merged with Huntingdon Fire Department to form the now organization HRFR.

HUNTINGDON REGIONAL FIRE / RESCUE DEPARTMENT

The Huntingdon Regional Fire / Rescue Department was created by a merger of the Huntingdon Fire Department, McConnellstown Fire Company, and Oneida Township Fire Company.  This merger took place January 1, 2010.

The Department has 75 active members serving over 10,000 residents of Huntingdon Borough, Oneida Twp., Henderson Twp., and Walker Twp.  The new Department serves an area that encompasses 48 sq. miles.  Our Firefighters and EMS personnel are some of the most trained in the area, providing  Structural Fire suppression and Rescue, Technical, Vehicle, and Swift water Rescue,  We also provide Wild land Fire suppression, Hazardous material operations  level response, Medical response and Fire and Safety Education.

We do fundraising throughout the year, to help with the cost of operating the Department which is over $350,000 a year.  We also hold our annual fund drive to help with this total cost. It takes the donations from our Municipalities, Fund Drive and Fundraisers to help make up the total cost of operations of the Department.

In keeping with our strategic plans for the future to guide us in the best service for our communities, we continue to update our equipment which is very expensive. Just in the last year and half, we have been able to secure two new engines to replace our rolling stock that is forever aging. These two engines cost almost 1 million dollars. This amount is a tremendous undertaking by HRFR, but we want to make sure we are equipment with the safest, most update technology and best fire equipment to protect the lives and property we serve.

We are planning an effort to develop a strategic plan to guide us in delivering the best service our communities demand and deserve in the most efficient manner with equipment needed to get the job done.

You can also find us on our website at www.hrfr65.com or our facebook page at Huntingdon Regional Fire / Rescue.  Both currently have many photos and information concerning our organization.

To reach us by mail, the address is HRFR, P.O. Box 5, Huntingdon, PA  16652, or you leave messages on our website or by phone:

 Huntingdon (643-1290), McConnellstown (627-4479) Oneida Twp. (643-1583)

HRFR MISSION STATEMENT

Huntingdon Regional Fire / Rescue is a team of volunteer firefighters comprised of multiple fire districts functioning as a united department to provide services to our coverage area with professionalism, dedication, integrity, and training. The provided services will include a vast range of emergency response, fire prevention, and public education to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all residents. While protecting and serving our communities, we will do all that we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our members, so that they may return to their families unharmed and healthy. We are always working to move us into the future of the ever changing fire operations.

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Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue was live.

20 hours ago

Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue

Join us live! Raffling off our AR, Cancun trip and cornhole boards!! ... See MoreSee Less

Live drawing online raffle!
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Uncle Bill

Uncle Jesse!

Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue

22 hours ago

Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue

Below is the entry list for tonight's drawing for the Cancun trip.
W1 Austin Claar
W2 Meghan Schon
W3 Brittney Borst-Smith
W4 Dylan Baker
W5 Tinesha Curfman
W6 Kinsie Watson
W7 Heidi ONeal
W8 Nicole Burket
W9 Ronald Jenkins
W10 Brian Myers
W11 Brian Myers
W12 D.J. Drenning
W13 Aden Russell
W14 Brian Watkins
W15 Gregory Harris
W16 Gregory Harris
W17 Jeffrey Jackson
W18 Jamie Caldwell
W19 Jamie Caldwell
W20 Julie Schon
W21 David Cisney
W22 Jennifer Skipper
W23 Mike Crowley
W24 Susan Daugherty
W25 Julie Reed
W26 Mary Wagner
W27 Robert Wagner
W28 april hall
W29 april hall
W30 april hall
W31 LeAnn Rudge
W32 Danica Treece
W33 Bradley Harbaugh
W34 Christopher Suomela
W35 Joshua Rhodes
W36 Shawn Gutierrez
W37 Michele Weaver
W38 Michele Weaver
W39 Chad Taylor
W40 Shane McManus
W41 Brandy McManus
W42 Jessica Stone
W43 Cheryl Umbenhauer
W44 Jeanie Knable
W45 Amanda Kulback
W46 Amanda Kulback
W47 Colby Irvin
W48 Colby Irvin
W49 Colby Irvin
W50 Colby Irvin
W51 Colby Irvin
W52 Colby Irvin
W53 Becky Matea
W54 Brian Watkins
W55 Anthony Heath
W56 Anthony Heath
W57 Gregory Johnston
W58 Gregory Johnston
W59 John Ernest
W60 Jennifer DeArmitt
W61 Jennifer DeArmitt
W62 Kaylee Chilcote
W63 Tim Kleinfelter
W64 D.J. Drenning
W65 Shawn Gutierrez
W66 Rex Watson
W67 Ed Pawlikowski
W68 Michele Weyandt
W69 Michele Weyandt
W70 Cheryl Hammond
W71 Natalie Lillie
W72 Jeremiah Underhill
W73 Lewis Hosler
W74 Glori Onufrak
W75 Keith Magill
W76 Tammy Latshaw
W77 Shawn Quirk
W78 Ryan Magill
W79 Denise Courtot
W80 Cheryl West
W81 Jamie Baker
W82 Toby Mitchell
W83 Marsha Thomas
W84 LeAnn Rudge
W85 Jeff Hall
W86 Brandon Adams
W87 Shelly Rivello
W88 Mary J Miller
W89 Stephanie Zelem
W90 Alexis Devert
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W92 Douglas Martz
W93 Douglas Martz
W94 Laura Gates
W95 Lance Gearhart
W96 Jared Diehl
W97 Jared Diehl
W98 Jared Diehl
W99 Jared Diehl
W100 Jared Diehl
W101 William Swallow
W102 Dylan Walsh
W103 Dylan Walsh
W104 Stacey Bowser
W105 Kristin Jeffries
W106 Kristin Jeffries
W107 Keith Magill
W108 Keith Magill
W109 Jennifer Magill
W110 Jasper Paige
W111 Todd Thompson
W112 Todd Thompson
W113 Derck Stiely
W114 Derck Stiely
W115 Stephen Houck
W116 JAMIE KOSMER
W117 Matthew Bucci
W118 Brian Beals
W119 Stephanie Garner
W120 Mindy Basinger
W121 Adam Taylor
W122 Patrick Pauly
W123 Lance Gearhart
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W125 Paul Brenneman
W126 Antoinette West
W127 Kevin Corcoran
W128 Aden Russell
W129 THOMAS FAY
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W131 THOMAS FAY
W132 Jared Diehl
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W134 Jared Diehl
W135 Kelly Dunkel
W136 Brian Watkins
W137 Shannon Fegan
W138 Scott Price
W139 Wendy Dunmire
W140 Shavonna Fegan
W141 Shavonna Fegan
W142 Wayne Bilger
W143 Wayne Bilger
W144 Andrew Garner
W145 Richard Dean
W146 cyndi norris
W147 Jennifer King
W148 Jesse Morgan
W149 Jesse Morgan
W150 Jesse Morgan
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So who won?

Jared Diehl

Not trying to tell y’all how to operate your fundraising, but why not mix up the entries when someone purchases more than one instead of just giving them all in chronological order? Just curious.

Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue

22 hours ago

Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue

Below is the entry list for tonight's drawing for the M&P 15.
W1 Robert Cirko
W2 Kristina Krause
W3 Kristina Krause
W4 Mike Jamison
W5 Kelvin Coder
W6 Kelvin Coder
W7 travis miller
W8 Todd Gaff
W9 Jeff Varner
W10 Jeff Varner
W11 Jason Tyler
W12 Jason Tyler
W13 Aaron Rosenbaum
W14 Aaron Rosenbaum
W15 Aaron Rosenbaum
W16 Aaron Rosenbaum
W17 Aaron Rosenbaum
W18 Alex Grove
W19 Alex Grove
W20 Alex Grove
W21 Alex Grove
W22 Alex Grove
W23 Alex Grove
W24 Alex Grove
W25 Alex Grove
W26 Alex Grove
W27 Alex Grove
W28 Robert Firpo
W29 Robert Firpo
W30 Curtis Heath
W31 Curtis Heath
W32 Curtis Heath
W33 Curtis Heath
W34 Curtis Heath
W35 Curtis Heath
W36 Curtis Heath
W37 Curtis Heath
W38 Curtis Heath
W39 Curtis Heath
W40 Jenn Geise
W41 Robert Adams
W42 Thorn Clark
W43 Thorn Clark
W44 Mike Hall
W45 Thomas McClellan
W46 Thomas McClellan
W47 Carl Mellott
W48 Carl Mellott
W49 Douglas Grubb
W50 Douglas Grubb
W51 Douglas Grubb
W52 Ella Ebaugh
W53 Ella Ebaugh
W54 Ella Ebaugh
W55 Ella Ebaugh
W56 Ella Ebaugh
W57 Scott Depp
W58 Jean Patterson
W59 Leon McHugh
W60 Gary Lechleitner
W61 Darian Wyatt
W62 Darian Wyatt
W63 Darian Wyatt
W64 Darian Wyatt
W65 Darian Wyatt
W66 Carl Fatland
W67 Carl Fatland
W68 Michael Godshall
W69 Bruce Grace
W70 John Wiser
W71 Dorianne Murtiff
W72 Jenn Fowler
W73 Jenn Fowler
W74 Joshua Caratozzola
W75 Evan Weld
W76 Tinesha Curfman
W77 Mark Taylor
W78 Mark Taylor
W79 dalton ness
W80 dalton ness
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W86 David Hughes
W87 David Hughes
W88 Neil Singerling
W89 Alex Ferguson
W90 Kevin Corcoran
W91 Donovan Sheppard
W92 Donovan Sheppard
W93 Donovan Sheppard
W94 Randy Everhart
W95 Randy Everhart
W96 Nathan Rowe
W97 Nathan Rowe
W98 David Hughes
W99 David Hughes
W100 Thomas Dickerson
W101 Bryan Carricato
W102 Bryan Carricato
W103 Bryan Carricato
W104 cyndi norris
W105 cyndi norris
W106 Darian Wyatt
W107 Darian Wyatt
W108 Darian Wyatt
W109 Darian Wyatt
W110 Darian Wyatt
W111 Darian Wyatt
W112 Darian Wyatt
W113 Darian Wyatt
W114 Darian Wyatt
W115 Darian Wyatt
W116 Darian Wyatt
W117 Darian Wyatt
W118 Kimberly Diggins
W119 Mindi Crownover
W120 Mindi Crownover
W121 Mindi Crownover
W122 Mindi Crownover
W123 Mindi Crownover
W124 Mindi Crownover
W125 Mike Crowley
W126 Mike Crowley
W127 Mike Crowley
W128 Mike Crowley
W129 Mike Crowley
W130 Mike Crowley
W131 Joshua Caratozzola
W132 Michael Holland
W133 Tom Phillips
W134 Thomas Orzechowski Jr
W135 Matthew Bucci
W136 James Santichen
W137 James Santichen
W138 Kelvin Coder
W139 Kelvin Coder
W140 Kelvin Coder
W141 Kelvin Coder
W142 Kelvin Coder
W143 Kelvin Coder
W144 Kelvin Coder
W145 Kelvin Coder
W146 Kelvin Coder
W147 Kelvin Coder
W148 Kelvin Coder
W149 Kelvin Coder
W150 Kelvin Coder
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2021 Calls

 MonthlyJob'sPin's
Jan2200
Feb3100
March4020
Apr00
May00
June00
July00
Aug00
Sept00
Oct00
Nov00
Dec00
Total9320

Contact Information

Huntingdon Regional Fire & Rescue
P.O. Box 5
Huntingdon, PA 16652

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Emergency: 911
Huntingdon District 5 Station (814)643-1290
McConnellstown District 6 Station (814)627-4479
Oneida Twp. District 18 Station (814)643-1583

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