| ABOUT US |
| COCHRANVILLE FIRE COMPANY 3135 Limestone Road Cochranville, PA 19330 Business Phone 610-593-5800 Social Phone 610-593-5007 Fax Phone 610-593-9945 |
The Cochranville Fire Company is a 100% Volunteer organization that provides fire
protection for the Village of Cochranville and the surrounding communities. The company
responds from one station with a total of eight pieces of apparatus. All of our equipment and
apparatus are bought and paid for through fundraisers, like our carnival and the car show.
We proudly serve around 10,000 people in the area of about 50 square miles. Our first due
response area is mainly rural, however we provide mutual aid to Chester County, Lancaster
County, and parts of Maryland and Delaware.
protection for the Village of Cochranville and the surrounding communities. The company
responds from one station with a total of eight pieces of apparatus. All of our equipment and
apparatus are bought and paid for through fundraisers, like our carnival and the car show.
We proudly serve around 10,000 people in the area of about 50 square miles. Our first due
response area is mainly rural, however we provide mutual aid to Chester County, Lancaster
County, and parts of Maryland and Delaware.
| OUR HISTORY |
The idea of establishing a fire company in Cochranville began with a fire on February 2,
1945, which destroyed an auto repair garage, and ice cream shop, and some apartments in
the center of the Village. This disaster, which could easily have cost the community several
other buildings as well, convinced a number of individuals that a local fire company was
essential. With the advice and assistance of fire company representatives from neighboring
communities, these individuals solicited funds, constructed cisterns, and obtained a charter.
With the signing of that charter by twelve local men on February 5, 1946, the Cochranville
Fire Company was born. Within the next year, the new company obtained both a temporary
fire house, a barn and a fire engine. The barn and a 3/4 acre plot of land was bought for
$1,375. The engine, a 1923 American Lafrance pumper, was purchased from the Coatesville
West End Fire Company. For the next fire years this pumper, with no cab, a chain drive, and
two-wheel brakes, would be the sole
apparatus in Cochranville. To build a
new fire house and obtain needed
equipment, the fire company began a
tradition in the summer of 1946 by
holding the first Cochranville Fire
Company Carnival. Ever since then,
the carnival has been held during the
last weekend of July and the first
weekend of August. In late 1949 the
barn was dismantled and construction
of a new firehouse was begun on the
site. The first company meeting in
the new building was held on
February 9, 1950. In a little more than
five years, the company was able to
pay off the mortgage. As the population and needs of the community increased, the
company added newer and more sophisticated equipment. The first brand new apparatus
the company bought was a 1951 Ford Pumper. The pumper had a 500 GPM pump and a
1000 gallon tank. In 1956, another new pumper was bought with the same specs. Due to
the remoteness of water supplies in the area, the company bought a 2,600 gallon tractor
trailer tanker in 1959. This tanker would be replaced in 1968 by a new 3,500 gallon Ford
Tanker. With the purchase of a new brush truck and a new engine the cycle of updating
apparatus continued. New innovations in apparatus and equipment will keep appearing and
so will new trucks to keep us up with the times.
1945, which destroyed an auto repair garage, and ice cream shop, and some apartments in
the center of the Village. This disaster, which could easily have cost the community several
other buildings as well, convinced a number of individuals that a local fire company was
essential. With the advice and assistance of fire company representatives from neighboring
communities, these individuals solicited funds, constructed cisterns, and obtained a charter.
With the signing of that charter by twelve local men on February 5, 1946, the Cochranville
Fire Company was born. Within the next year, the new company obtained both a temporary
fire house, a barn and a fire engine. The barn and a 3/4 acre plot of land was bought for
$1,375. The engine, a 1923 American Lafrance pumper, was purchased from the Coatesville
West End Fire Company. For the next fire years this pumper, with no cab, a chain drive, and
two-wheel brakes, would be the sole
apparatus in Cochranville. To build a
new fire house and obtain needed
equipment, the fire company began a
tradition in the summer of 1946 by
holding the first Cochranville Fire
Company Carnival. Ever since then,
the carnival has been held during the
last weekend of July and the first
weekend of August. In late 1949 the
barn was dismantled and construction
of a new firehouse was begun on the
site. The first company meeting in
the new building was held on
February 9, 1950. In a little more than
five years, the company was able to
pay off the mortgage. As the population and needs of the community increased, the
company added newer and more sophisticated equipment. The first brand new apparatus
the company bought was a 1951 Ford Pumper. The pumper had a 500 GPM pump and a
1000 gallon tank. In 1956, another new pumper was bought with the same specs. Due to
the remoteness of water supplies in the area, the company bought a 2,600 gallon tractor
trailer tanker in 1959. This tanker would be replaced in 1968 by a new 3,500 gallon Ford
Tanker. With the purchase of a new brush truck and a new engine the cycle of updating
apparatus continued. New innovations in apparatus and equipment will keep appearing and
so will new trucks to keep us up with the times.
| OUR FIRST APPARATUS, A 1932 LA FRANCE PUMPER IN FRONT OFTHE BARN THAT SERVED AS OUR FIRST FIREHOUSE, CIRCA 1946 |
COCHRANVILLE FIRE COMPANY
