The South Brownville Fire Company #1 was officially organized on May 18, 1908. There is recorded history of a fire brigade in South Brownsville Borough as early as 1842, but a tragic event in the spring of 1908 forced Borough Council and several responsible citizens to take action and charter an official fire company.

In the spring of 1908, a group of seniors from the South Brownsville High School, which was located on Prospect Street, were assembled at the Plaza Theater downtown, enjoying their commencement ceremonies. Suddenly, someone burst into the theater, shouting that the high school was on fire. Folks hurried up the hill to the high school, but it was too late; the building was fully involved in fire and was completely gutted.

Just a few days later, the South Brownsville Fie Company #1 was officially organized and is still serving citizens to this day. The SBVFC #1 began with several hand pulled hose carts, which were lugged to fire scene by the “fire ladies” a nickname coined by reporters from Brownsville Clipper-Monitor, the primary town newspaper at the time.

In November of 1908, Mr. Morgan, a member of the company, installed a number of fire alarm street boxes throughout the borough, which were wired to a telegraph system that would punch out a numeric code that corresponded with each box. Each box was assigned a number and responding firemen would read the code off of a paper tickertape and find the number and location of the box on a chart that hung on the wall of the firehouse. This system was very quick and efficient.

On October 15, 1909, the South Brownsville Borough Council officially passed an ordinance acknowledging the creation of the fire company, and authorized the police to issue fines to anyone who dared interfere with the company during firefighting activities. Later that same month, the company took delivery of their first piece of apparatus, a horse-drawn chemical and hook-and-ladder wagon. Both the new fire engine and the two horses who puled her were housed in the newly built firehouse that stood along the railroad tracks on the 400 block of Water Street. The chemical wagon was sold to the company by Mr. F.W. Heinz of Pittsburgh, sales representative for the J.G Weir fire apparatus manufacturing company.

In 1914, realizing the need to raise funds, the South Brownsville Fire Company made arrangements with Kennywood Park in West Mifflin to host a community picnic. The fireman would sell the tickets and in return would receive a percentage of the proceeds. A few years later Brownsville Fire Company #1 joined in, as did the West Brownsville Fire Company. Kennywood Day soon became a beloved tradition that continues to this day.

As time went on, the company grew and changed with the times, eventually retiring the chemical engine and her faithful team of fire horses and switching to a chain-driven Seagrave motorized pumper.   The modernization also resulted in the adoption of our white-colored apparatus, and every fire engine and truck purchased since has sported this beautiful paint scheme. Throughout the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s, the company took delivery of a series of open-cab Seagrave pumpers, which became our signature apparatus.

After the merger of the South Brownsville Borough and Brownsville Borough in 1934, the company moved its quarters from Water Street to the newly-constructed Borough building at the intersection of Second and High Streets. This remained the home of the company until 1985, when we moved in to out current firehouse at 530 Water Street, The building was a former Kaiser-Frazier automobile dealership and an armory before being vacated. After being purchased by the company, many of the members worked day and night on their own time to remodel the building, making it suitable to serve as a firehouse. Not long after moving in, the Flood of 1985 struck, and the building suffered extensive water damage. Frustrated but not deterred, the members rolled up their sleeves and got back to work, repairing and replacing damaged carpets and flooring.

In 1974 the company bought a Chevy van and hand-made the first Air Cascade unit in the area. This specialized apparatus contained large breathing air tanks, which could refill SCBA cylinders at the fire scene. In 1982, we purchased a 1954 Seagrave aerial ladder truck from the Glenolden Fire Company in eastern PA. In 2006, we received a federal FIRE Act grant that enables us to retire our 1974 Seagrave pumper and purchase a custom 2006 Pierce Contender pumper. This was our first brand-new pumper in 32 years and still serves the company today. In 2014, we purchased a 1981 Mack 75’ Tower Ladder, which replaced our 1974 Ex. FDNY ladder truck purchased from the Franklin Fire Company in central PA. The 1981 Mack purchased from the Smithfield Township Fire Company had been completely refurbished by Pierce in 2001 and has served us well since being placed into service. We also run a 1993 Pierce Dash back-up pumper purchased from the Malta Ridge Fire Department in upstate New York. Our newest Air Truck is a 2011 Ford F-550 that is certified through the PA Department of Health as a licensed Quick Response Service.  The Department also operates one River rescue boat and a 10ft inflatable boat for various types of water emergencies.

In 2008, we celebrated 100 years of service to Brownsville and surrounding communities and despite the challenges we face, that tradition of excellence continues today. We look forward to the future and hope to continue to serve and protect out friends and neighbors for many years to come.