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LEWISTOWN -- Representatives from two volunteer fire-rescue companies that serve Lewistown Borough in Mifflin County jointly have announced they are starting a new chapter in their combined 400-year history. The new Heritage Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 is a cooperative effort by United Fire and Rescue Services (the previously-merged Fame Fire Company No. 2 and Henderson Hose, Hook, and Ladder fire companies) and Brooklyn Hose Company.
The new company is being formed to improve public safety services and create a stronger volunteer fire-rescue system to serve the borough and surrounding communities. "For the past two years, the officers and members of both fire companies worked tirelessly to plan a single organization that will be a key part of the Lewistown Fire Department," Brandon Basom, the newly-elected president of the new fire company, said.
"The continued decline in volunteer firefighters, not just locally, but statewide was one of the reasons we decided to move forward to create a new partnership between our organizations," Abbey Espigh, merger steering committee chairwoman, said.
"The new company is the first step in our plan to address those and many other challenges facing today's fire and emergency services." Espigh said. "We are looking to the future," she continued.
"I would like to congratulate the officers and members of the United and Brooklyn fire companies of the Lewistown Fire Department on their merger to become one strong organization," Bob Douglas, Deputy Fire Chief of the Lewistown Fire Department, said. "I'm excited at what the merged company brings to the whole department,and I look forward to working with them," he continued.
The newly-merged fire company will have over 40 active volunteer members and will respond to over 300 calls for service a year and will protect the same coverage areas focusing on providing service to Borough of Lewistown and mutual aid to surrounding communities in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.