Elizabeth Boro Volunteer Fire Company was created on June 2nd 1896 by the Borough of Elizabeth. On that date the Borough of Elizabeth elected the Ordinance No. 46 in effect which formed a Fire Department for the Borough. The fire department would protect the townsfolk of Elizabeth and the area around Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s first fire station was a garage off of Third Ave where the police station is located today. The first fire engine was an American Lafrance open cab Pumper. Though out the years firefighters came and went and the station moved almost to its current place on Market St. The Elizabeth VFC built a new fire station on Market St. where the firemen’s club is located today.
The Station by 1975 was equipped better then most fire companies in the Mon Valley. The fire department housed a 1971 Mack CF-600 Closed/Open Cab Pumper, a 1952 Lafrance Pumper, 1968 Ford Rescue Truck and a 1955 Squad Truck. The Elizabeth VFC was one of the first fire department/rescue services in the Mon-Yough area to be equipped with a Hurst Power Plant and a Jaws Of Life Spreaders. That meant not only responding to traffic accident with in the Boro of Elizabeth but responding almost the whole span of Pa RT 51 and even going in the City of McKeesport or even the City of Pittsburgh. Also by 1975 the firefighters were one of the most fearless and bravest groups of firefighters in the area. Even the City of Clairton thanked the firefighters of the Elizabeth VFC in a public letter on Feb 7, 1975 thanking the firemen for there unselfish and brave acts when providing assistance to the Clairton VFC. The fire company then added another fire unit to its fleet a 1953 Mack L model open cab mid ship ladder truck. The Elizabeth VFC was known to be the do all company. The firemen were trained in almost all fields of rescue and firefighting.
Then in 1980 the fire company purchased a Chevy 4X4 Crew cab rescue unit. Then in the late 1980’s after fire raged though a bar across from the Elizabeth VFC fire station, the company bought the land and built the now current fire station. Then in the late 1990’s the fire company purchased a GMC/White Pumper which is the current fire engine.
Then between the years of 2004-2007 the Pumper truck was turn into an Engine/Rescue to overcome the low staffing that most fire departments ran into. Then on September 12th 2007 the fire company suffered there first Line Of Duty Death. Fire Chief Lenny Bailey Jr. suffered a heart attack when he was responding to a working building fire less then a block from his home. On September 15th 2007 in the mist of the loss the fire company took delivery of there brand new Ford Q.R.S./Command unit. Then less then one year latter the fire company took delivery of there band new Ford F550 Rescue Truck.
In late 2008 the long loved Riverfest was about to end until the firefighters got together and said they would take it over and keep the event going for the town. So with hard work the department save the annual riverfest and held the first annual Elizabeth Firemens Riverfest. The event was a successful with no major fights or public displayed that gave the passed riverfest a bad name.
Then in 2009 the department took another step forward and refurbished the old Chevy rescue into a brush unit. The unit is fitted with a 330 gallon water tank and equipped with brush firefighting tools. Then the department purchased a new river rescue boat. The boat is equipped with water rescue and recovery tools and protects the Mon river.
The Elizabeth VFC is still a full function fire company that deals with most duties of public safety. The fire company responds to calls that range from house fire to car crashes even to public service calls. The fire company is one of the Mon Valley’s Oldest and Loyal fire departments. The members of the fire department still have the same ideas of the first firefighters, which makes each of them loyal to there duty.
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