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The Bonneauville Community Fire Company was organized November
15, 1923, and was officially chartered one year later by the
Adams County Court. In 1925 a new engine house was built by the
members, on what is now Hanover Street, directly across from the
current Lion’s Club building. It was here that we housed our
first apparatus, a 1925 Chevrolet truck, for which American
LaFrance furnished one 40 gallon chemical tank, two 35 gallon
chemical tanks, and 400 feet of hose. This engine remained in
service until 1955.
In 1935, a two-story engine house was built on the town square,
to be more centrally located, and a water basin, with 75,000
gallon capacity, was erected for fire fighting purposes, by
horse-drawn scoops. In 1941 a new truck was ordered from
Chevrolet, along with a pump from W.S. Darley. The members built
a body to house 1,000 feet of hose and a 250 gallon water tank.
In 1948 a four-wheel drive Chevrolet Army truck was purchased
fully equipped with a 500 gallon water tank, 1,000feet of 2 1/2
inch hose, and a front mount pump. This truck was equipped with
a two-way radio, which was just placed in service throughout the
county.
In 1952 a ten-acre plot of ground was purchased for a carnival
grounds, and a Ladies’ Auxiliary was founded consisting of 60
members. A new engine house, with an attached 40x100 foot
dining hall , was built in 1955 on the carnival grounds. The
building on the town square was then sold for $2,500 at public
auction.
As we moved into the 60’s the subject of emergency care was
considered, and in 1964 a 15 member ambulance corps was formed
and our first ambulance, purchased by the Ladies Auxiliary, was
placed into service. In 1965 a 10 member Junior Fire Company was
formed. In 1973 a 1966 Dodge Engine was purchased with a 750-GPM
front mount pump. This engine remained in service into the
early eighties. 1974 showed the beginning stages of a new water
system in the borough and the installation of water hydrants for
the town.
With the addition of equipment came the need to expand our
engine house, so in September of 1976 ground was broke for a new
four bay engine house and small meeting room. This building
still houses all equipment and gear for our firefighters.
Several changes in 1977 included the purchase of a 1975
ambulance and a 1800 gallon tanker. The Junior Fire Company was
re-formed in 1978 and were an asset to the senior members as
they still are today.
The early 80’s saw a kitchen expansion and a social hall
transformation from interior block and mortar walls to paneling
and trim. In 1989 specifications for a 2,000 gallon tanker were
drawn up, and a contract was awarded to Four Guys Inc. of
Myersdale, PA, to build the apparatus. The unit was
delivered on December 28,1989, and was placed into service as
Tanker 19 on January 12, 1990. This unit was placed out of
service on December 20, 2002 and was sold to a company in
Kansas. An order was placed for a 2003 E-One Typhoon which
has a 6 man cab, 1,800gal. tank, 30gal. foam cell, and a 1,750
GPM Hale Q-Max pump. This unit was delivered in August of
2003 and is designated Engine/Tanker 19.
In 1990 we purchased a 1989 Ford-National Atlantic Diesel
Ambulance that replaced a 1978 Ford Yankee Coach. Also put into
service in 1990 was a 1977 Dodge D-200 four-wheel drive brush
unit. In 1992 our 1989 ambulance was involved in an accident.
The chassis was demolished. We re-chassised the ambulance with a
1991 Ford Econoline 3500 chassis. This unit was sold in 2001 and
we purchased 20A-1 from Alpha Fire Company. In 2006 this unit
was sold and we purchased a new 2006 F-350 Horton ambulance.
This unit is state licensed and has a full mass casualty kit.
In the spring of 1993 our new E-One tilt cab custom pumper was
placed into service. This unit has an eight man enclosed cab,
command post, 1,000 tank, 1,500 Hale pump, carries 1,100 feet of
5 inch hose, 30 gallons of foam, HAZ-MAT spill containment
device, cribbing and rescue tools, 8,500 watt Stadco diesel
generator with four 200 volt powered 1,500 watt quartz lights, a
Hurst rescue tool, a portable monitor and other equipment. This
unit is still in service today and is called Engine/Rescue 19.
August of 1995 saw the demolition of our old 1955 building and
the building of our new social hall. We can provide banquet
facilities for up to 400 people in our 60x90 foot dining/social
area. In the 40x28 foot kitchen we have ample room to prepare
meals for wedding receptions, family reunions, and our annual
carnival. In 1994 we purchased a Chevrolet, four-wheel drive,
dual wheel, crew cab truck, which was placed into service as
Special Unit 19. This unit was sold in June 1999 and was
replaced with a 2000 Ford Super-Duty, high profile, four-wheel
drive truck, which is known as Brush 19. Our department holds
fundraisers all through the year to help maintain our equipment,
our property, and to provide the best possible service to the
community.
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