On February 27, 1921, a group of North Irwin residents who, recognizing the need for fire protection within the Borough, met in the Eureka Club building for the purpose of organizing the Borough's first Fire Company.
At this meeting the Company was organized and the following officers were elected, John Hensler, President; Thomas Harrison, Vice President; Mathias Yost, Recording Secretary; Andrew Kosko, Corresponding Secretary; Harry Pringle Jr, Treasurer; John Caroll, Chief; Thomas Steel, Assistant Chief; Michael Shea, Captain.
The first money taken into the treasury was from a pie social held in the North Irwin School Building. Additional means of raising money were held from time to time with considerable success.
On October 6 1921, the meeting place was changed to the basement of the North Irwin School Building. It was on that date the company became active and commenced negotiations for the purchase of fire-fighting apparatus. The first equipment, buckets and ladders purchased February 2, 1922 was followed by the purchase of six two-gallon soda acid tanks on March 1, 1923. On July 25, 1923 the Company bought two 50 gallon Apex chemical tanks, each mounted on a two wheel chassis. A Building for housing the company was erected by the borough on Second Street and was opened on November 5, 1925.
Following an interval of inactivity, the company was re-organized on September 22, 1930. By this time, the need for motorized equipment was well established, and consequently, the company devoted considerable time discussing means of obtaining this equipment. As a result of this endeavor, on April 4, 1935, the company was able to purchase its first motor driven apparatus, an American LaFrance pumper for $4,200.00. The original equimpment included a 100 gallon booster tank, a 500 GPM gear driven pump, and a hose bed capable of carrying 1000 feet of hose.
The purchase of the pumper was the first sizeable financial obligation of the company and served to strengthen the organization considerably. Realizing that hard work and dedication would be needed to keep the company active, many members spend a large part of their time raising money with activities sucha as street fairs.
One of the largest ventures was the Old Home week and Firemen's Jubilee held from June 10th thru June 15th, 1935. Held under the backing of the Fire Company, the week was highlighted by the dedication of the new addition to the School building and included other events such as concerts, amateur performances, and a firemen's parade.
With the new truck and equipment, the Fire Company was now in a position to better protect the borough residents, by making it possible to reach fires more quickly with more effective equipment. In addition to greater mobility, the company could provide mutual aid assistance to neighboring companies at larger fires. The later purchase of a squad truck, a 1936 Chevrolet mini-bus off of Magil Lincoln Coach for $100.00, made it possible to get a large number of men to the scene of a fire quickly. With the addition of a resuscitator and other rescue equipment the company could now provide other additional emergency services to the borough residents other than those of fire-fighting.
In 1936, the company organized the Junior Drum Corps. and uniforms were purchased, not only for the Junior Corps. but also for the firemen who had been participating in parades without formal uniforms. The Corps. continued until 1942, when it was broken up by the enlistment of the members into the armed services. Following the example of other fire departments, the North Irwin Volunteer Company obtained a license to conduct a social club in the building near Second Street. Opened November 11, 1940 the prosperity of the adventure was assured from the start, attracting not only a rapidly growing associate membership, but a large number of new active members
Continuing to grow and keep up with the times, the company decided to look around for a new quarters. The vacant Helman's Bakery Company on ther corner of Broadway and Second Street offered perfect facilities for the growing company. The building was aquired on September 8, 1943 off of the First National Bank of Irwin. Immediately plans to enlarge and renovate the building were developed and accepted.
Financially, it was realized that much volunteer work would be required to make the project practical. Members gave hours of their time performing work such as reinforcing the building with steel I beams, to finishing the carpentry work required for the cove lighting and horseshoe bar on the first floor. With a few exceptions, most of the major construction items to the building were completed by bolunteers. The building was officially opened on May 1, 1948 with a huge celebration. Along with providing the adequate facilities for the company to conduct its own business, the building provided a location to carry out other business and social affairs. Used by the the Borough Council and the North Irwin Women's Club for meetings, the hall was often patronized by other organizations for banquets. In 1958, the forst motor driver peice was replaced by a 1948 enclosed cab American LaFrance purchased from the Cresson Volunteer Fire Company. A major accomplishment of the company occured in may 1963 when the final payment was made on the mortgage, followed by the purchase of a 1963 Ford van style truck which was placed into service as a squad truck on Jun 12, 1963.
Built on a Ford chassis with a Boyertown bodycab, it replaced an older truck that was in service for 27 years. The old style air plunger whistle, run with a Maytag washing machine motor and several compressed air tanks, was also replaced in August of 1963 with a Civil Defense Alerting System. The later part of the 1960's also proved productive with the official opening of the Bowling Alley's in May of 1965; and the purchase of a 1957 American LaFrance pumper off the Brownsville Volunteer Fire Company in July of 1968 for $11,000.00.
The 1970's and the Steeler's brought a new look into North Irwin, with the shaved heads and Steeler helments painted on their heads, Sid Snyder, Joseph topinka, Hoss Shelgren, and Jim Harrison brought entertainment to all.
The 1963 Ford was convertedinto an Air Truck in 1977 and sparked new life and morale into the company. On September 3, 1976, the arrival of North Irwin's first new pumper, the pride of the company, a 1977 Mack pumper equipped with 1000 gallons of water and a 1000 GPM pump, powered by a 300 Maxidyne engine was delivered after over one year of controversy and fund raising. The original double door garage was replaced in November of 1980 with a single door that was activated by the siren. Realizing the cost up keep upon the 1963 Air Truck was getting to be too much, it was replaced in 1985 with a C-60 series GMC chassis with a Merion body. With additional compartment space, bigger cascade system and a larger 12.5 Kw generator, the truck could be utilized better at fire scenes. The 1957 American LaFrance was replaced in 1990 after 22 years of service by the 1990 E-One Ford pumper. With a 1250 GPM pump and a 500 gallon booster tank, it became used as the quick attack truck for fires in the Borough. As a new Fad, Cosmic Bowling hit the western United States, and the membership of the company soon found a new enterprising way to raise funds. The new glow in the dark bowling with lasers, light shows, and music soon proved to be a valuable asset to the North Irwin Alley's. As word began to spread about the new addition to North Irwin, adults as well as children were coming to book Birthday and adult parties from all around. North Irwin, with its continuing quest to better itself and the assistance it provides to neighboring companies, ordered a 1995 International chasis to replace the wore out GMC. The new International still boasts the Marion body used on the GMC, however a new cascade system and air manifold capable of holding 6000 psi was placed into service. Also, a new 12.5 Kw Deisel generator was placed on the truck replacing the old PTO driven generator.
In 1995, the Borough's Centernnial Celebration occured during the week of June 4th thru June 10th. The Westmoreland County 60th Annual Convention was held in conjunction with the celebration. Although a huge down pour occured during the Convention Parade, the convention proved to be an overall success. Activities included a week long fair, water battle, firemen's picnic at Oak Hollow Park during parade line up as well as the normal business proceedings. After some controversy and a lot of planning, the companies first new peice of apparatus, the 1977 Mack was sent out to be refurbished in December of 1997. Included in the refurbishment was to be a new enclosed 8 man cab, the manual 5 speed transmission was replaced with an Allison automatic, and a new body with larger compartments capable of carrying more equipment was installed. After nearly 120 days, the pumper returned and was once again the first unit out of the garage.
In 1998 as part of the Westmoreland County EMS Council's project, the company received and placed into service and Automatic External Defibrillator. Improving once again the quality of Emergency Service the company provides to borough residents.
The year 2000 once again brought new prospects to the company. The acquisition of a Thermal Imaging Camera as well as some needed remodling to the social quarters were just some of the plans for the ever growing company