Department History
History of the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire DepartmentOn November 12, 1947, thirty men me and out of their dedication an total commitment was born an organization whose service to the Community of Forest Grove, as well as Robinson Township, has provided protection from fire, aid to accident victims, assistance in times of flood and support to all other organizations in the Community. November 12, 1947 8:15 PMFirst meeting of the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department is held at the Groveton Recreation Building with thirty members present. Groveton Fire Department donates the first truck. G. Douglas is elected President and Herbert Porter, Sr. is elected as the first Fire Chief of the Department. 1948 January - First hose and nozzle bought @ $0.25 per foot 1000 feet - $265.00 Paid - Purchase of fire truck from East Mckessport - $500.00 - Siren is donated by Community Club March - First Fire Call 3:20 pm to 4:10 pm Forest Grove Road - Brush Fire - Purchase Lot on Sterling Drive - $1000.00 August - Purchase Lot on Forest Grove Road
1949 February - Motion passes to spend $6000.00 on building
1950 February - Building Complete Cost $7079.64 June - Herbert Porter, JR. appointed Fire Chief of the Department
1955 September - First Official Fund Drive - $800.00 October - Jake Phillips donated 2500-Gallon tank truck
1959 January - Major Fire Arnold Farm Loss: 2 barns, 33 cows, 5 horses
1962 November - Mike Koller elected President
1963 November - Ordered new truck Ford Chassis-Equipped by American Fire Apparatus - $16000
1964 January - Department received Award of Merit from Kennedy Township for past help August - Fire Eichelberger Farm
1967 March - 20th Anniversary Dinner Corpen Hotel
1970 January - Fire Pennsbury Village Damage $50,000.00
1972 September - Fire Cornell High School Damage $1,000,000.00
1974 June - New 74 Ford American Fire Apparatus Delivered - $35,000.00
1975 February - Fire Gooding Rubber Campbells Run Road
1977 March - Forest Grove, Moon Run & Groveton Fire Departments form Robinson Township Firemens Association MORE TO COME SOON!! IN Recent News: 2004 Station 243 has been busy updating some of its equipment. It has just purchased 18 new Dragger Air Packs. The packs include built-in PASS and LED display in the mask for air pressure. Also recently received is a new K-12 saw, Roof Saw, Rabbit Tool, K tool, jacks, Axes, TNT Tools, Craftsman Tools, tool boxes, battery powered sawzaw, circular saw, drill, 19 sets of bunker gear, Smoke Ejector, PPV Fan, Port-a-Power, Humat Valve, Rope, and cribbing from Turtle Plastics. Recently added to Tower 5 have been 2 electric reels with 200 feet of cable each and a new remote control nozzle. 2005 February (2/16) - Took ownership of its brand new squad. Squad 3 replaces a 1978 Chevy 4x4 van. It is a Ford F-350 Pick Up with crew cab. Purchased from 1st Out, it arrives with LED lighting all around the truck. It has 2 radios, remote control spot light, Rhino lining, Nurf bars and Bully Bar Front Bumper. (2/24) - Station 243 was toned out 0430 hours to assist Kennedy Township with a House Fire on Mckees Rocks Road. It was 20 degrees and snowing. House was deemed unsafe and the fire was attacked from the outside with multiple house lines and Kennedy's Stick Truck. At around 0620 hours another alarm went out for additional man power. Groveton - Station 244 responded. At 0724 hours the fire declared under control. (Photos) (2/26) - Station 243 was toned out at 0331 hours as an automatic 3 department alarm along with station 244 and station 245 for a fully involved structure fire on Station Street, Groveton, PA. House was fully involved on arrival. It was noted that the house was slate for demolition. At that point only exposures were protected. At 0530 hours the two chimneys were leveled to the foundation with 3" hose. Hot spots were extinguished. Cleared of the scene at 0625 hours. (Photos) April (4/30) - Station 243 was toned out at 1125 hours as an automatic 3 department alarm for a structure fire at Matco Inc on Campbells Run Road along with Station 244 and 245. Upon arrival 243 Tower was set up to vent the roof. Roof construction made it impossible to vent using a chainsaw. Ventilation was then done by breaking windows and PPV. While 243 Eng 2 did an interior attack along with 245 and others. Station 129 (Renerdale) and (Presto) of Collier Township were also responded. The address was latter learned to be in Collier Township close to the Robinson Township border. Fleming Park and Preston were also called in for RIT.
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