The Friendship Fire Engine and Hose Company was formally organized June 14, 1870. The Company's first quarters were located in the what is now known to be the old Reading Paint Shop at Pearl and Spurzheim Streets. At that time the equipment of the company consisted of a hand-drawn cart with a hose real. In the 1873 membership of the company was 30 members, and they decided to apply to the Northumberland County Courts for charter. On July 1, 1873 the members applied for a charter and it was granted on November 12, 1873, the Friendship Fire Company was the first company of the community to receive it's charter.
With the progress of the community and it's growth the Friendship also expanded, and in 1903 moved to its present location and quarters at Rock and Chestnut Streets. At that time the horse-drawn apparatus was the vogue and its team of black horses distinguished the Friendship's apparatus. With progress and mechanized machinery making steady inroads on civilization, the fire company had to keep pace with increasing improvements, so in 1920 Borough Council motorized the Friendship Fire Company with a LaFrance fire engine, which at that time was the most modern piece of fire fighting apparatus available. And then in 1947 Borough Council purchased a new Peter Pirsch 500-gallon pumper which served the Friendship and the city until 1975 when the City Council purchased one of the most modern and efficient fire fighting pieces of equipment at that time, at the cost of $74,000. It was a 1975 Bruco International with a Hendrickson Custom Cab, it was equipped with 1000 gallon per minute pump, 1000 gallon water tank, 30 gallon foam tank and four wheel drive, and powered by a Detroit diesel with a five speed automatic transmission. November 2002, once again with the assistance from the City of Shamokin and City Council the Friendship Fire Company progressed into the future with one of the most moderanized and most functional firefighting tools. For the price of $265.000, a 2003 1500 gallon per minute pumper equiped with 1000 gallon of water, a cab able to carry 10 firefighter, powered by a 350 horse cummons deisel. This 2003 KME Renegade will be able to provided the utmost firefighing protection to the city for many years.
Currently the Friendship Fire Engine and Hose Company # 1 is one of six stations in the City of Shamokin. The others being, the Liberty, Rescue, Independence, West End and the Rescue Squad. A city about 10,000 located in Northumberland County in the central north eastern of PA with an ISO rating of 4. Our company is comprised of over 200 members, of these, 30 are active fire fighters, all at volunteer status. Our primary coverage area consist of a one and a half square miles of residential area with some moderate industry and high-rises, we operate as an engine company. Today The Friendship Fire Engine and Hose Company # 1 remains consistent in providing the utmost fire protection to the citizens and visitors of Shamokin. In addition to the fire suppression activities we also play an active role in fire prevention and fire safety and the Six County Firemen's Association. In 2001 the Friendship Fire Company made history in the city by having two fire chiefs represent in the fire bureau at the same time, one being Chief Michael Snyder and the other being 1st Assistant Chief Stephen Jeffery.
The thirty active members of the Friendship Fire Engine and Hose Company # 1, we pride our selves on aggressiveness, all of our fire fighters are trained in fire ground safety, SCBA, EBM, and fire behavior; as well as incident command, engine company, search and rescue operations; as well as fire ground tactics and accountability, plus many more.
We are the Pride of the East Side |
