History of the Lionville Fire Company

The beginning of the Lionville Fire Company dates back to February 2, 1911.  On this day, several citizens of the community gathered at the General Store to discuss the long felt need for fire protection.  These citizens formed the Lionville Fire Company, and elected Thomas F. Ferry as President, George S. Acker as Secretary, and James Simpson as Treasurer.  The first Trustees were Charles C. Morr, James Quaintenance, and Davis Meredith.

The first entry in the Treasurer’s book was on February 7, 1911.  Sherman Kirkpatrick and Charles C. Moore were instructed to solicit funds for the purchase of a hand-pulled fire pumper from a resident of Chester Springs.  The purchase price was soon collected and the hand-pull was bought.   It was originally stored in multiple locations throughout the community, mainly in Thomas  Ferry’s shop or at Harvey Moore’s farm.  In 1915, the hand-pull found a permanent location in a one-story frame building rented from C.H. Oberholser.  The initial rental fee was 25 cents per year, which was later raised to $1.00.  At this time, a belfry was purchased to summon the volunteers when an emergency occurred.  The hand-pull fire pumper and this belfry are still in the possession of the Lionville Fire Company today.

In 1926, an electric siren was purchased to replace the belfry and to act as a warning device for the community.  Electric had been installed 3 years earlier, which replaced oil lamps.  Also in 1926, a plot of ground was purchased from C.H. Oberholser, which would eventually become the home of the Lionville Fire Company.  In 1929, plans were approved and a contract awarded to build this station.  This original station is still a part of our facilities today, and our Company meetings are still held in the original, 2^nd floor meeting room.

The next twenty years brought numerous changes to the apparatus at Lionville Fire Company.  Most notably, a 1935 Reo pumper was purchased and housed in 1936, becoming the first motorized pumper for the department.  This truck is still in possession of the fire company, and was even in service until the mid 1990’s.  This unit was, and still is, designated 47-1.  In 1954, the company purchased a Mack chassis and installed a 3000-gallon water tank to carry water to the scene of a fire.  In 1958, a Diamond-T pumper was purchased, and designated 47-2.

The 1960’s also brought many changes to Lionville Fire Company, from the purchase of improved apparatus as well as additional equipment.  Most importantly, an addition was added to the building.  This addition, consisting of 4 apparatus bays, numerous offices and storage areas, kitchen, and banquet facility, was designed and constructed by the members of the department.

In 1975, a new piece of apparatus was added to the department.  The purchase of a Ward LaFrance 1250 gallon per minute pumper with a 55’ Telesquirt provided not only improved pump capacity and elevated waterway, but also the increased reach of a ladder to perform any rescues from the new multi-story buildings of the community.  This truck, designated 47-3 and later changed to Squirt 47, served as the company’s first-out apparatus until 1994.

A parade and housing in 1986 welcomed two new apparatus to the community.  A 1980 International with a Liberty rescue body became the new rescue truck, providing the department increased equipment for auto extrications, as well as a cascade system for refilling SCBA cylinders.  Also housed was a 1986 Peterbuilt/Ward 79 pumper, which replaced the 1958 Diamond T.

In 1994, the Lionville Fire Company saw its next building addition.  This addition added to the apparatus bays, increased the banquet facility, and added an elevator, air conditioning, and sprinkler suppression system.  The facelift to the building and facilities made the “Village Room” one of the most popular banquet facilities in Chester County.  Also in 1994, a Pierce engine with 1500 gallon per minute pump, 750-gallon water tank, and eight person enclosed Lance cab arrived and replaced the Squirt as the first-out apparatus, a position it still holds today.  The end of the 1990’s saw the replacement of the company’s brush truck, as well as the addition of a GMC Suburban to serve as a Squad to transport personnel to emergencies, as well as training events.  Traditional housing ceremonies were held on August 15, 1997 to house these three new pieces of apparatus, as well the official dedication of the new addition.

 Since the housing in 1997, the Lionville Fire Company has added three new pieces of apparatus.  In 1999, the company replaced the 1980 rescue truck with a Pierce heavy-duty rescue truck.  This new rescue, with an eight person enclosed Lance cab and 18 foot non-walk through body, provides increased equipment capabilities, as well as a larger SCBA cascade, 25kw generator, and a 6000-watt telescoping light tower. The increase in equipment storage space has allowed the Company to increase their rescue abilities into skills such as water and ice rescue, high angle rope rescue, and confined space rescue.  In 2002, the apparatus committee began meeting to design a new engine to replace the 1986 Peterbuilt.  While this process was being completed, the apparatus committee became aware of a 100’ ladder tower that was for sale by Pierce Manufacturing, the company that was designing the new engine.  This tower, a 2001 Pierce SkyArm, possessed all the functions, which were needed by our company in regards to adding an aerial device to our apparatus fleet.  In late 2002, the Lionville Fire Company welcomed Tower 47 to our station.  The 2000 SkyArm features a six-person Dash cab, 2000 gallon per minute pump, 300-gallon water tank, and a 100-foot ladder with a bucket to operate out of.  A unique feature of the SkyArm is the articulating last section of the ladder, which allows the ladder to go up and over such things as parapet walls, a common design trait of many of the buildings in our coverage area.  In the summer of 2003, the arrival of a Pierce engine completed the apparatus replacement project.  A six-person Dash cab, 2000 gallon per minute top-mount pump, 750-gallon water tank, and 6000-watt light tower are just some of the distinguishing features of Engine 47-2.

Through the years there have been numerous pieces of apparatus used by the members of the Lionville Fire Company to protect the citizens of our surrounding communities, and on October 16, 2004, we officially welcomed Rescue 47, Tower 47, and Engine 47-2 to service during the Triple Housing Celebration. 

During 2008, Engine 47-4 (1994 Pierce) and Tanker 47 (1977 Autocar) were both sold. A 2008 Pierce Quantum Pumper Tanker was purchased to consolidate the two outgoing apparatus into one, holding a new designation, Engine 47-5. It has a 3000 gallon water tank and 2000 gallon per minute pump, allowing it to function as a water carrier, or a fire pumper. Additionally, Brush 47 (1997 Ford F350) was retrofitted, the pump and tank were removed, and the unit was redesinated as Utility 47. 

In 2015 The Lionville Fire Company replaced Engine 47-2 with a 2015 Pierce Arrow XT Engine with 750 gallons of water and a 2000 gallon per minute pump. The new engine was built to be smaller, more maneuverable, and more capable for the increasing population density seen in the area. The outgoing engine was sold to Media Fire Company in Media, PA, now designated as Engine 23-2.

2017 saw the next phase of building changes for The Lionville Fire Company. The banquet facility (Village Room) was permanently closed. 4 individual bunk rooms were constructed, which allow our all volunteer fire company to have staffing overnight to ensure quick responses for the community. The Lionville School of Dance had a facility built upstairs, and the old dance studios were renovated to become the fire company museum and a fitness center for the membership. The museum now houses the original belfry, the hand pull, and Engine 47-1, along with various other historical pieces of the company within the walls of the original building.

In 2020, while working through an unprecedented time in the current lives of those in the community, the 2000 Pierce Dash Tower was replaced with a new, 2020 Pierce Arrow XT Tower. The new Tower has a 100 foot heavy duty steel aerial, and 200 gallons of water and a 2000 gallon per minute pump.