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The Hummels Wharf Fire Co. was organized by a group of citizens in the Evangelical Church where Henry Tharp was namedpresident. The charter was granted in 1932 with Levi Moyer as president. The company has been serving Hummels Wharf and surrounding communities since it was instituted in 1924.
The equipment first used by the company was a 1925 Model T Ford truck purchased by contributions and efforts of volunteers. The original Hummels Wharf fire Co. was located for approximately 20 years in a building on land acquired from J.P. Kessler, which is presently located where Ink Spot Printing is between Rts. 11&15 and the Old Trail.
The company outgrew its small building and purchased the building that formerly housed the "Snyder County Bank
of Hummels Wharf" from Wilson Stone. Located along the "Old Trail" about 5 blocks from the old location. The company then
occupied a two-story brick building which housed a 1947 White truck with a 1200 gal. booster tank. In 1949-50, improvements
were made, including a large social hall, the construction of a 4 lane bowling alley in the basement and a new truck room. A
1951 Mack sedan-cab pumper was purchased. Later, a 1958 equipment truck was added to the fleet.
In 1975, a new MB Mack /Howe, 1000 GPM Pumper with a 1000 gallon tank was placed in service. This was the first
diesel-powered fire apparatus in Snyder County. The equipment truck was replaced with a 1977 Chevrolet Step-van. This unit
was equipped to function as a Command center and a Quick Response Vehicle. The 1947 White was sold. A 1974 MB Mack was
purchased from Avoca Fire Company and was later refurbished by SWAB Wagon Co. An oil delivery truck was purchased from
Scullin Oil and transformed into a 4200 gallon water tanker. The tank was later remounted on a used 1984 MC Mack. The 1975
Mack was sent to SWAB Wagon Co. to be refurbished and a new truck bay was built by the firefighters to house it. Both
engines were very successful in winning many trophies at many parades as "best equipped" including 1st Place at the
Pennsylvania State Convention.
At the beginning of the new century, it was realized that the apparatus was getting old while the township was
rapidly growing. A Fire Task Force was instituted by the Monroe Township Supervisors to identify the problems and plan some
possible solutions to those problems. A Strategic Plan was written that would serve the company for many years. The
Township Supervisors approved the plan and began assisting the fire company in making it work. Between 2001 and 2005,
several grants were received and the following equipment was purchased: an eight-wheeled amphibious vehicle and trailer,
Automatic External Defibrillators and Thermal Imaging Cameras for both Engines and the Squad, and, finally, a new Squad.
Squad 7-1 is a 2006 Ford with a Reading body. It is equipped as a Quick Response Vehicle for medical emergencies, as a
rescue support vehicle including an AMKUS Spreader, Cutter, and Power Unit, and as a light tower. This was the first NEW
vehicle purchased by the company since 1975. The 1951 Mack was "sent to prison". Actually, it went to Albion State Prison
where the prisoners took it apart, sandblasted the entire body, repainted it, and replaced all the old running boards with
new diamond plate. It will be completely restored and will be housed in our new truck room and taken to parades to show our
heritage.
2005-2006 marked a new beginning for the fire company. We received an "Assistance to Firefighters Grant" for
over $200,000 from the Federal government to replace the tanker. In August 2006, we took delivery of a 2007 Mack
Granite/SEMO stainless steel 3000 gallon tanker with a 1250 GPM pump and a Class "A" foam system. We also placed orders for
a new Engine and an Engine/Rescue from Crimson Fire Apparatus. Both will be mounted on a custom Spartan chassis and will
have 2000 GPM pumps, with Class "A" & "B" foam, as well as being the first Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) in Snyder
County. They are scheduled to be delivered in the next couple of months. In addition, the small, existing truck room was
demolished and a new, much larger truck room is in the process of being constructed.
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