History of the Ashville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1

On March 10, 1943 The Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish was devastated by fire as they watched their church burn, and the burning debris in the sky spawned 11 more fires throughout the borough. Men and women of the borough tried to put out the fires with buckets of water, while others went on the defensive and insulated around their homes with snow, with the hopes the fire would not spread. Records showed engines responded to these fires from Altoona brought in on trains also engines were brought from Patton’s fire department. Events such as this paved the way to the fire departments charter.

In the fall of 1949 townsfolk started meeting because they realized the need for a fire company. By April in 1950 the Ashville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was chartered. The first apparatus was acquired from the Patton Fire Company, it was a 1929 American Lafrance chemical truck. A while later a 1937 Seagrave Engine was also purchased. In a short amount of time Ashville Volunteers had what they needed to operate a fire company. But in order to keep equipment in operation they needed funds for regular maintenance on firefighting apparatus. In 1953 they began building another building for recreation purposes and fundraising. The recreation hall was finished in 1954, just in time to start holding Bingo in January. At that time the hall was used for roller-skating and was home to the Ashville drum and bugle Corps. In 1957 the Ashville Volunteers were in need of a fire engine, as the engine they had was older and should be used as a compliment to a newer apparatus. The members talked about the idea of a new engine for quite some time. Ultimately ordering an engine in August of 1957, then taking delivery to a 1958 Seagrave in April of 1958.

Being the first brand new fire engine purchased by the company. Quite some years later, members of the company decided it would benefit the area to make another upgrade. The Ashville membership decided to purchase a brand new 1972 International Bruco fire engine. 10 years later another upgrade was made and a 1981 International Bruco fire engine was purchased.

In 1992 company members had just finished building and moved into our current facility on Pine Street, from the old one on Liberty Street. Also hosting the Volunteer Firemen’s Association of Cambria County and Vicinity Fireman’s Convention that same year. The 90’s provided to be a prospering time for The Ashville Volunteer Fire Company. In 1993 the company membership bought a GMC chassis and built a 3000-gallon tanker truck. A HME 4guys fire engine was purchased new in 1997. In 1999 the fire company had the interest of the youths in and around town. Thus starting the junior firefighter program, and helping spawn the Penn Cambria Fire Alliance. The turn of the century brought the purchase of a tanker to replace the inoperable GMC tanker.

A 3000 gallon tanker body mounted on a 1986 International chassis. Most recently the fire company has renovated the recreation hall and also replaced the 1981 International with a 2008 HME 4-Guys pumper-tanker with a 2250 GPM pump and 1500 gallon water tank. From the time of the charter, the Ashville Volunteer Fire Company membership has strived to do everything within their power to aid the public in their every need.