Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department

The Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department, Penn Hills, Pa Station #2 was founded in 1923 and is in operation today, responding to over 250 calls of service annually.

Penn Hills Firefighters operate out of seven stations, spread throughout the Municipality of Penn Hills and are all 100% volunteer. The volunteer firefighters are alerted through pagers and respond to various types of emergencies, including structure, vehicle, brush, and gas fires, odor investigations, vehicle, water and technical rescues, and other public assist calls.

Rosedale VFD (Allegheny County Station 222) is located at 5806 Verona Road in Penn Hills. RVFD assists other Penn Hills Fire Companies, Verona and Oakmont. They currently operate two Engine Pumpers (#1:1969/93 American LaFrance, #2:1981/05 American LaFrance), a Rescue Truck (1992 Ford Rescue), a Squad, River Rescue Units, and an ATV (2008 Kawasaki Mule), capable of acting as an off-road rescue vehicle for accidents or brush fires in wooded areas. Fire Chief Matt Henshaw and President Paul Weir lead the organization.

Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department is part of the Penn Hills and Verona Volunteer Fire Association, Western PA Firemans' Association, the East Boroughs, and the Allegheny County Firefighters Association. RVFD is alerted to respond to emergencies through the Allegheny County 911 Emergency Center.

The Rosedale Firehouse is also home to Boy Scouts of America Troop 7891 of Penn Hills.

Support

RVFD hosts fundraisers throughout the year to operate, including an Annual Outdoor Sportsmans' Bash, a Golf Outing, and a Spaghetti Dinner. Other fundraisers usually occur from time to time. RVFD is always looking for volunteers. Fighting structural fires isn't required of all volunteers, as support personnel are essential on emergency scenes. Training and equipment are paid for by the department, free of cost to the volunteers themselves. The Volunteers meet on Tuesday evenings, year-round.

History

Rosedale VFD was founded on the 8th of April, 1924. Fire Department members responded to alarms originally from the garage of the C.W. Wilson, whose residence was located on Verona Road. Rosedale VFD was the second fire company in Penn Hills, founded after the Lincoln Park VFC #1.

The first fire was on July 29, 1924. The Fire Company didn't have any equipment yet.

RVFD ordered an American LaFrance Engine on May 8, 1939, which was delivered on July 3, 1939. On the 6th of July, the new Engine was given its Underwriters Test at the Rosedale Beach Club at 300 lbs for four hours. Its first parade was in Kitanning, PA on the same day. The Engine responded to its first alarm to the Sheppard's Garage on July 9, for an automobile fire around 22:00 hours.

The new Rosedale firehouse was built on Verona Road in 1948 - the first alarm came on January 28th at 07:45, a fire at the Italian Club in Renton (Plum Borough). Rosedale responded with North Bessemer, Universal, and Unity Fire Companies.

The Rosedale VFD provided the first ambulance service for Penn Hills, having its first ambulance delivered on the 31st of January, 1942. The contract for ambulance service was signed on January 24th, 1942 and the first stretcher was delivered on February 2nd. The first ambulance call for Penn Hills was a fall from a 2nd story porch on Saltsburg Road at 16:10 on February 8th, 1942. The crew transported the patient to the then Columbia Hospital.

See also

* Fire engine
* Fire fighter
* Fireboat
* Fire safety
* Firefighting worldwide
* Glossary of firefighting equipment
* Glossary of firefighting terms
* Glossary of wildland fire terms
* History of fire brigades
* Incident Command System

External links

* [http://www.phvfd222.org Penn Hills (Rosedale) Station 222]
* [http://www.pennhillsfire.com Penn Hills Fire]
* [http://www.pennhills.org Penn Hills Municipality]