Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department, Allegheny County Station 236, is  one of four fire departments serving Plum Borough, Allegheny County, which is located approximately 15 miles east of Pittsburgh,  It is the second largest borough in the state comprising 29square miles of land. Plum has a population of 45,000 residents and has several new housing developments and commercial/industrial parks.

HISTORY

The Holiday Park VFD was started in mid-summer 1962 by a group of concerned citizens, many of whom without any firefighting knowledge came together after they realized they needed to help their growing community. The nearest fire company was several miles away and Holiday Park was growing rapidly. Major housing developments were underway and many more were planned and it was increasingly evident that Holiday Park needed its own fire department. An official charter was granted on January 21, 1963 naming it the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department, a non-profit organization.

Holiday Park’s first fire engine was purchased used in 1963 from the Verona VFD. Because they had no building; it had to be housed at the Sardis Fire Department. On a fire call, one fireman went to bring the engine to the fire scene while other responders went directly to the incident. The newly formed fire department purchased a piece of property on Route 286 later in 1963 and the original fire hall was dedicated in April of 1964. In June of 1965, the department ordered their first new engine at a cost of $17,750.00.

By 1972 it was clear that the department had outgrown their current small building and plans were developed for a new fire station. In October 1972, a new building comprising a social hall and garage for four vehicles was completed and dedicated. Although this building was remodeled in 1987 and again in 2002 this is still the same building in use today.

Charter Officers (1963)
President: Robert Burkhouse
Vice President: William Kern
Treasurer: Thomas Puharic
Secretary: Glen Canfield
Assistant Secretary: Milt Harper
Fire Chief: Floyd Shaeffer
1st Assistant Chief: Richard Ellenberger
2nd Assistant Chief: William Wallace
Commissioner: James Wilson

There were no ambulance services in Plum Borough other than being transported by the police or waiting for a neighboring ambulance. The members of Holiday Park VFD had the same desire to help the community and there were talks of providing an ambulance service. In March 1973 Plum Council proposed that the Unity and Holiday Park Fire Departments initiate an ambulance service with the borough providing insurance, medical equipment, and ambulances. In subsequent years membership took classes for state certificates in addition to firefighting.

In 1986 with the increasing number of motor vehicle collisions as well special response due to the growing population, special businesses, and light industry in the borough; the fire department decided to add a specialized rescue vehicle. The vehicle was ordered in 1986 from Pierce Manufacturing and delivered in 1987. This vehicle was one of the first in the area to combine water, pump, walk-in rescue body, air storage to fill air bottles, and a large generator to supply emergency scene lighting.

The ambulance service was terminated in December 1989 due to lack of qualified medical personnel and tougher state regulations. In place of the ambulances, the department’s desire to help then decided they would provide “Quick Response Service” or “QRS” to supplement the medical services given by the newly created Plum EMS. The Holiday Park Fire Department became the first certified QRS in the borough with a new vehicle. The current membership roster includes Emergency Medical Responders (EMR), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMT), and Paramedics (EMT-P). All of the department’s firefighting and emergency personal are qualified in CPR, use of an AED, and other rescue techniques.

In 2001, the department added a combination engine/rescue vehicle to replace the 1987 Rescue Vehicle. The department after completing a needs assessment; realized the best was to help the community was to investigate the purchase of an aerial truck. In June of a 2008 Pierce Dash Custom Class A 105’ Quint was delivered and placed into service. Despite our prudent financial policies, the purchase of the ladder truck for $750,000.00 was possible because of a 2003 agreement reached between the Borough of Plum and the Plum Fire Chiefs Association (PFCA) representing the four volunteer fire departments.

The past twenty-five years have seen impressive gains by the department in the areas of a building addition, equipment, membership, and service to the community. The department began evaluating alternative options to increase the size of our facilities since 2000. The garage had become increasingly crowded with apparatus and associated gear, and there is insufficient space in the fireman’s dayroom and offices.

In 2012 a final decision was made to expand the current facility by adding a 5,000-square foot two story building adjacent to the current garage. This new facility was planned during 2011-2012 and ground was broken in December 2012. The building was completed in June 2013. The ground floor houses two vehicles plus storage space for gear, and equipment. The upper floor contains, offices, meeting rooms, and a firemen’s lounge. Ten bunk beds for our live-in program and occasions when the station must be manned 24/7, a kitchenette, toilet, and showers. The cost of the building when completed was $1,250,000.00.

With the department responding to over 450 EMS calls a year, it was decided in 2016 to add a new QRS vehicle, and a 2017 Ford Expedition dedicated QRS vehicle was placed into service in October of 2017.

The fire department had been planning to replace their 1995 Pumper since 2015 and in 2018 the department took delivery of a new 2018 Pierce Enforcer Custom Pumper.

In 2021, the department retired old 236-Squad for a new vehicle designed to be a fire ground support vehicle and secondary QRS vehicle: 236-Utility joined the fleet.

In 2023, with the gorwing number of calls involving Holiday Park VFD having to cover other districts as well as provide senior leadership onscene, the department purhased a 2023 Durango SUV to serve as 236-Command. This vehicle will be utlized by the chief officers as a command post and response vehicle.

While through the years there have been changing faces; the department has always maintained a strong cadre of members with years of experience. Our “Live-In” program ensures our station is manned during critical hours, and results in a fast response time.

Each member who belongs is dedicated to one purpose; they are here to help. No one should ever doubt the ability of Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department to respond to
the needs of our community when any peril threatens lives or property.

As we look forward to the future, we are secure in the knowledge that we have the personnel and drive to succeed.