Scandia department celebrating its 60th anniversary
Tradition of commitment
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Sixty years have come and gone and Scandia Volunteer Fire Department has come from humble beginnings to become a respected and reliable organization.
Twelve men in the small village of Scandia, had the foresight to see the need for a fire department in this hilltop community in Warren County. In 1966 with no equipment, training, building or money, they knew determination would help them succeed.
The first order of business was to recruit volunteers, elect officers and raise money. Fund raising events were started including 50-50 raffles, pancake dinners, auctions and even raffling off a horse named Charlie.
The department incorporated in October 1966 and in December of that same year, by-laws were written. The membership purchased their first vehicle, an International Travelall. Duane Kittner was elected fire chief and, ironically, the first fire alarm was at his home.
Early in 1967, the department joined the Warren County Firemen's Association and closed its charter with 29 volunteers on the roster. Tim Birt donated two acres of land, to be used to build a fire station. The original building was dedicated in October of 1968. A base radio station was installed, followed by an emergency phone system, in private homes, a few years later.
More trucks were purchased in those early years including a GMC fire truck, the Buffalo pumper and Engine I.
When money was tight, the members had to dip into their own pockets a few times to pay the bills. In 1972, the Elk Township supervisors added a 2mil fire tax, which helped the department stabilize.
1975 saw a change in the by-laws, to permit women to join the Department. Gretchen Nasman was the first female to volunteer. Ten years later, Linda Ferrie and Sharon Johnson became the first two EMTs. And Sharon Johnson would become the first female President.
The same year, their members, Ron Johnson, Jim Kilby and Terry Park successfully completed the first EMT course held in Warren County.
The next year, the department obtained an old Army truck and converted it into a 1,200-gallon tanker. Fund raising continued with bingo at the Warren County Fair, followed by a food concession trailer, where Italian sausage was our specialty. A large food booth was erected to replace the trailer and smaller first building. The fair concession was a joint effort with the Ladies' Auxiliary.
1978 and Beyond
In 1978, the department purchased a 4-wheel drive demo ambulance to better transport our patients. Ron Johnson and Jim Kilby completed the first Paramedic course in Warren County. They were the first two men in Warren County to use a defibrillator and save the life of a 21-year-old man, several years later, when WGH began their ALS (Advanced Life Support service.) Our ambulance service, by far, is the busiest part of the department.
Fire Training was now serious business with weekly drills held at the firehall and training was available at Warren County Fire School. Gear had to be purchased to protect the firefighters and was a major expense. We have had our share of structure fires, vehicle fires and forest fires. Fortunately, we have never lost a firefighter in the line of duty.
One of the worst disasters occurring in Scandia was a plane crash that killed two men, during a freak April snowstorm, 1982. A new base radio station was donated by Control Chief, Inc. in memory of the two men who lost their lives.
In 1984, Scandia VFD started a water rescue service, to be of assistance on the Allegheny Reservoir. Our first boat, dubbed "the ark", was donated by the Forest Service, but never saw water. It was too costly to repair. The first seaworthy vessel, a 23-foot Seabird, donated by Art and Jane Anderson. The final watercraft was a 21-foot pontoon boat that served as an ideal platform for our rescue divers.
The two divers were Chuck Carter, and Richard Barrett were certified in 1995. The department responded to several boating accidents over the years, but the worst two recoveries were a 21-year-old male, whose canoe was swamped during hunting season and a 12-year-old girl, who fell off the front of a pontoon boat. Both victims lost their lives. We eventually gave up the Water Rescue Service, as our divers had dwindled.
The mortgage was finally paid off in 1984 and in 1985 a two-truck bay addition was added to our existing building dedicated in memory of Clay Hansen and Kenneth Johnson.
In 1986, the department started an official Junior Fire Department, under PA State guidelines, giving young people ages 14-18 to serve. Our first junior members were Tom Ferrie and Troy Moreland. Tadd Moreland was our first junior member to become an EMT, at the age of 16. Today, Haley Ferrie is our newest junior firefighter.
Successful fundraising events over sixty years included: the annual fund drive, two Turkey parties, the Chain Saw Cave, Cash raffles and the Golf Tournament hosted at Blueberry Golf Club.
The next big project is enlarging our dining room and the addition of a larger, more efficient kitchen. This was financed by our Ladies' Auxiliary. 2001 saw the addition of our handicapped restrooms, as well. We also purchased our first AED, with funds donated by local businesses and memorial gifts.
In 2001, we purchased a gently used Rescue truck, which replaced our old ambulance, used to transport forest firefighting equipment.
Recent Years
Within the last few years, a used 1000-gallon rescue pumper was purchased and a surplus brush truck was added to the fleet. Training continues to improve the skills, so members are better prepared for alarm responses, whatever they may be.
At this point, it’s worth mentioning Kelly Ferrie, who served as Fire Chief for the longest tenure in the department. He was a charter member, an awesome advocate for the fire service, an EMT and served the Warren County Fire School board and the Haz Mat team for many years. When Ferrie passed away, the department was devastated.
Scandia VFD has come a long way in 60 years, with a small but active group of volunteers. Without the support of the community and the township supervisors, we wouldn't thrive in this community.
But the backbone of the organization continues to be the unwavering dedication of those who continue to serve as Firefighters, EMTs, and Fundraisers, who remain on call 365 days a year. Volunteers are a dying breed, but we the members of Scandia VFD know the importance of helping our neighbors in their time of need. We are in crisis, as are all other volunteer departments. So, we have always relied on our mutual aid companies, when our alarms need additional assistance. Heartfelt thanks go out to Russell, Glade, North Warren and Frewsburg, NY fire departments.
Scandia VFD is small, but proud of its 60 years of accomplishments.