Minersville Fire Department

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Company History

Station 1 - Goodwill

The Good Will Fire Company was chartered the 2nd day of September 1867 as the Good Will Fire Company No. 1. Company officers listed on the charter include:
• F.C. Bender


• Englehard Hummel


• Andrew Dolbin


• Jacob Kline


• John Mohan


• Terence J. Quinn


• John Quinn


• John Wadlinger


• George Bedford


• Jacob Bauer


• Michael Pauly


• Wm. D. H. Mason


• Matthew Beddow


The original station for the Good Will Fire Co was at 122 Lewis Street.In 1987 a new station was built at 25 North Street. An Office, sleeping area, and EMS Crew Area was added in 2000. Three new bays were added in 2004.

The Company built the Helipad on North Delaware Avenue in 2004.
In 2006 the Good Will Fire Co built the hangar on Old Phoenix Park Road in Cass Township. This Hanger is now leased to Geisinger Health System to operate the Lifeflight 5 Helicopter.

The first piece of firefighting equipment obtained by the Good Will was a hand-drawn hose carriage presented to the company by Minersville Boro Council in June of 1867.
A $1000 Muskegan Fire Engine was purchased on January 11, 1897. This was also hand drawn. Bitter company elections decided control of the engine and running of the company affairs. Alex Finkler was chief engineer of the new Muskegan, a chemical engine. A huge parade and housing program were held to celebrate this modern 1897 purchase.

The first motorized fire truck was purchased in 1914, a Maccar, maroon and gold striped, Miller Heckman was the first company chauffeur and learned the hand-cranking technique & other mechanical operations from the late George Ulmer, Sr. The first fire truck cost $3650. Loans were made by members to the company to pay for the truck, the largest amount, $500, by the late George Roller. The Maccar was replaced by a new American LaFrance in 1936. This truck was capable of pumping 500 gallons of water per minute. It was purchased by Mt. Pleasant Fire Co. in 1955.

On July 5, 1955, the Good Will purchased an American LaFrance (cab over engine) 1,000 gallons per minute truck at a cost of $21,882. Later a modern deluge nozzle was added at a cost of $625. In 1971 the Engine was refurbished. This Engine was purchased by the Clover Fire Company in Heckscherville.


In 1982 the company purchased an American LaFrance 1500 GPM Engine. This Engine had the unique feature of three fire hose reels. This Engine was refurbished in 1999 and 2010. The Engine was repainted red to blue in 2010. The Engine was purchased by a private collector.

In 2018 the Good Will Fire Company purchased a 2003 Spartan/ Crimson 1250 GPM Engine. This Engine was used by the Avoca Fire Department in Luzerne County.


Community Ambulance Service for Minersville and vicinity was inaugurated in 1939.

The first ambulance, a LaSalle, was purchased for $3500. Since 1939 prices for these vehicles have skyrocketed. The second Ambulance, an S. & S. Cadillac cost $7400, purchased in 1948. The S. & S. was replaced by a Cadillac Meteor at a cost of $11,036 in 1956. Then in 1963, we purchased a Cadillac Meteor that cost $16,000.
In 2017 The Good Will Fire Co went into partnership with Geisinger Health System to provide Advanced Life Support Services for our coverage area.  

The current list of EMS vehicles:
• 2008 Ford/Medtech  5203
• 2012 Ford/Osage  5201
• 2015 Ford/P & L Custom 5202

The Good Will Fire Co. also operates Wheelchair Vans:
• 2014 Chrysler Town & Country Wheelchair van
• 2015 Chrysler Town & Country Wheelchair van
• 2007 Ford Wheelchair/Litter van

MAJOR FIRES:
• March 7,1907, Minersville Brewery Fire.
• January 5,1911, 4 children lost their lives in a fire between 4th and 5th on Sunbury Street.
• May 25,1929, Fire at the corner of Lewis and Delaware Avenue, Bobs Factory destroyed.
• January 21, 1940, Historic Sunbury Street Fire destroyed 5 buildings, Patton Cafe, Morris Peckman's General Store, Gilbert's Grille, Direnzo and Suppowitz.
• March 7,1942, $30,000 Landers Cafe Fire.
• September 24,1943,14 men killed in an explosion at Lytle Colliery.
• February 1, 1953, Responded to a silent alarm in Llewellyn, 3 families homeless and a $50,000 damage.
• January 29, 1953, 5 homes burned out on Sunbury Street.

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