THE HISTORY OF THE BLANDON FIRE COMPANY

            In the late 1700s, Robert Bland, a blacksmith by trade, acquired a large tract of land and founded Bland Town. He and his family settled there and started his business. It is now Blandon – the largest town in Maidencreek Township.

            In 1859, the East Penn Railroad passed through and began the growth of the town. By the 1900's more business started to
emerge including a roller mill, grist mill, a cider mill, distillery and public motel. With more families making their homes in town,
the ability to fight fires as a community was a growing concern.

           During the fall of 1909, the people of the village of Blandon discussed the necessity of fire protection for the small community. On January 8, 1910, when property holders and public-spirited citizens met at a public meeting in the P.O.S. of a Hall, the Blandon Fire Company No.1, came into existence.  The following paragraph is the outcome of that meeting as it appears in our first meeting book.

            Wilson Sell received from A.K Lorah $5.00. Adjourn to meet January 15, at 7:30 p.m.

            At the January 15^th meeting, discussions focused on the type of equipment most suitable for the use of the company. It was decided to buy a hand drawn chemical wagon at the cost of $251.00. This chemical apparatus generated enough pressure to cover a two story building. Several months later the officers saw a need for ladders. A hand drawn ladder wagon was then bought for $90.00.

            Because the community was growing and the equipment was being housed in different places, a decision was made to build a Fire Company hall. Mr. Samuel Seifert donated a piece of land to erect a station house. This Building still stands in the center of town, see the pictures below.

            Ellis Trafford, Blandon’s first fire chief, a blacksmith at the roller mill, was concerned with alerting the volunteer firemen quickly in the event of a fire.  Since they did not have any mechanical alarms, Ellis made a large hoop and fastened the hoop between two poles at the top. Ellis then took a hammer and attached it to a chain mounted on one of the poles. When the chain was pulled, the chain and the hammer would tilt and strike the hoop. This crudely-fashioned gong became Blandon’s first fire alarm.

            The company grew steadily and on March 1, 1919 they bought a Hahn chemical truck. This truck served until August 11, 1923, at which time Hahn Motor Co. rebuilt the truck and installed a 350 gallon per minute pump. The Depression period from 1929 through 1933 proved quite trying for the company as it did for many other organizations and business firms. To combat this situation the older members decided to put a membership drive on to get more young men interested in company activities. The membership drive was a success and the members decided to shop for more modern apparatus. In August 1935 Hahn Motors once again was the successful bidder for $5,500.00. This very same year the members saw the need for additional equipment for rescue work. A very faithful member and friend of the company’s Mr. Andrew Maier, the founder of Maier Bread who also lived in the township, solved this problem by donating a 1934 used baker truck which the members remodeled to serve as a emergency ambulance and rescue truck

           Following the housing of the new trucks in October 1935, the company saw the need for larger quarters. Joining hands with the Relief Association, the Fire Company got a new home in 1939 which is now used to house its reserved piece.

           During the Second World War, 1942 to 1946, many of our members served; a few paid the supreme price for Victory. Please see the Honor Roll on the Tribute Page. The Ladies Auxiliary served as firemen during the these years.

           The year 1947 saw most of our men home from far away places to serve our community as fire fighters again. Plans once again were started for bigger and better fire fighting equipment. After lengthy meetings and committee gatherings, Mack Truck was the successful bidder for a Mack fire truck with a 750 gallon pump for $14,500.00. This apparatus was delivered on March 12, 1949. In June 1950 the new apparatus was housed when we also celebrated our 40^th Anniversary with a parade. In this same year our faithful friend, Mr. Andrew Maier once again donated a truck for auxiliary rescue work.

           In 1959, the Fire Company saw a need for a larger heavy-duty rescue truck, again a committee went to work. This time International Harvester was the successful bidder for $14,800.00. Blandon Fire Company purchased a 1960 model civilian defense type piece of equipment, which was housed when the Company celebrated its 50^th Anniversary with a parade.

           The need for a truck to fight brush fires and assist with accidents became obvious in 1964 so the company bought a new 1965 International 4-wheel drive Hahn built brush/rescue truck with 300 g/pm pump.  The vehicles ability fight brush fires while mobile is called “pump and roll.”

           In 1977 the Blandon Fire Company saw the need to up-date and replace the 1948 Mack truck. Once again Hahn was the winner building the Fire Company a 1978 Ford/ Hahn fire truck with 1000 g/pm pump capacity. This truck was housed in 1979 at a ceremony dedicated to the memory of James Hecker, Past Fire Chief.

          A growth spurt starting in 1984 in Maidencreek Township brought about the necessity for the Company to devise and put into action a plan for the future protection of the people and property of the Township.

           Our good neighbors, Leesport Fire Department, had a 1960 Diamond T 1300 gallon tanker they were replacing and offered it to the Fire Company for a very reasonable price. Now the Blandon Fire Company had a tanker truck to run with our fire engine giving the people better protection and helping to cut the response time in some areas. The only problem, at this point, was lack of space to house the new vehicles.

           To resolve the housing problem, the members erected an addition with two additional bays and remodeled the rest of the old building to make room for more equipment. In 1985 Blandon Fire Company dedicated the new building at its 75^th Anniversary. Also in 1985 the Company purchased a refurbished former FDNY Mack fire truck from Northern Fire Equipment. This truck had a 1250 pump and held 1250 gallons of water, it was also Blandon's first truck that allowed the firefighters to ride inside instead of standing on the tailboard. This truck was purchased for $42,000.00 and was to be a hold over piece. The Company's plan was to get 10 years of use out of this truck and have it replaced with a new unit.

           In 1991 the Fire Company saw the first part of it's plan go into effect. The 1966 International brush/rescue truck and the 1978 Ford Hahn pumper were replaced with a 1991 International, 4 Guys built pumper/rescue truck. This truck is equipped with a full Holmatro cutter & spreader rescue system.

           In 1997 the second part of the plan started by replacing the FDNY Mack with a HME 10-man cab, 4 Guys built fire truck. This engine has a 1500 pump and a 1500 tank and is also equipped with a 4–cylinder 6000-psi high pressure cascade unit. Also at this time the Company felt a need for a smaller truck to get into tight areas, so a 1980 Mack fire truck with a 1250 g/pm pump and a 30 gallon on board foam unit was acquired. This little truck fit well with the needs of the Fire Company.

           Even though the 10-year plan took 12-years, Blandon Fire Company was just keeping up with all the residential building construction booming in Maidencreek Township. Plans were devised for the further expansion of the Fire Company to include classroom space and the possibility of an aerial truck in the near future.

           In the Spring of 2000 Blandon started building a third new bay and the demolition of apart the old section to add a second floor. This floor would hold a classroom and day room with a kitchen.  This construction was completed by the spring of 2001and at that point the Company started looking for an aerial truck to serve the community's needs.

           In the interim, Blandon acquired a 1997 GMC truck that was used previously as a Squad 691 Paramedic truck. This was refurbished into a brush truck. The unit was no sooner in service then Blandon acquired a 1982 E-One, 110 FT Arial that is designated Truck 12. The E-One has a 1500 g/pm pump, 200 gallon tank and 165 plus feet of ground ladders along with the 110 ft. Arial ladder.

           Blandon Fire company’s primary coverage area is 14.8 square miles and protects about 7,000 residents of Maidencreek Twp. The Company has about 40 active members, 33% being Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and 50% having Hazardous Material (Haz-Mat) certifications.  

           If you are ever in the area, feel free to visit our station, we would be more then happy to show you around.