AT HV FIRE COMPANY
The Huntingdon Valley Fire Company is looking to grow.
The professional volunteer unit has been serving Lower Moreland Township and surrounding areas in Montgomery and Bucks counties, through mutual aid agreements, for more than 100 years.
Want to learn more? The company hosts monthly Fridays with Firefighters open houses and accepts applications year round. Training and drilling takes place every Monday at 7 p.m.
Members must live within 3 airplane miles of the township.
The minimum age is 16. Those applicants start out as junior fire- fighters. At age 18, they can op- erate hose lines, climb the ladder and go inside buildings. At age 21, they can drive a truck.
Members can be firefighters or fire police, or help out administratively.
Once a member is approved, he or she must complete 192 hours to earn certification at public safety training centers in Croydon and Doylestown.
“We have something for everybody to do here,” said Sgt. Kate Valesky, an 18-year veteran who is also a trustee and new member officer. “We have positions all throughout the firehouse. For people who have the opportunity to give back in their ever-busy lives, this is a great way.”
The Huntingdon Valley Fire Company was organized in 1911, with a fire station approved in 1912 and the charter signed in 1913. The motto, printed on the firefight- ers’ patches, is service, honor and courage.
The company, based at 636 Red Lion Road and featuring the iconic brick hose tower, responds to fires and rescues, and visits public events.
The apparatus includes Engine, Utility, Squad, 95-foot Tower, Chief, Fire Police and Special Service vehicles.
There are about 50 active volunteer members, along with life members with 25-plus years of service. There are minimal out-of-pocket costs.
The station is staffed weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with members responding to calls from home in the evenings, early- morning hours and on weekends.
“We’ve been around since 1911 and have men and women of all ages and from all walks of life giving back to the community,” Valesky said.
Ron Herwig is a safety officer and for- mer chief who has been with the company for 53 years.
“This is our way of giving back,” he said.
Funding comes primarily from the Low- er Moreland Township fire tax, with other money coming from grants and an annual letter to residents. Township residents seem appreciative.
“People are generally supportive of the public service sector,” Valesky said.
Tom Campbell is a former chief who joined the company at age 16 while still a student at Lower Moreland High School. His dad, Tom, was a member, along with his sons, Tom and Ian. In February, Campbell will celebrate 60 years with the company, with no plans to retire.
“It’s super fun,” he said. “I don’t know how you stop.”
The chief today is Bob Schadegg. He’s been with the company for 45 years and is proud of all members for being willing to run into a burning building to rescue oc- cupants.
While Schadegg is modest, others in the company recall how he saved an 82-year-old man’s life after he suffered a heart attack in December 1984 as he was placing a Christmas star atop Bryn Athyn Cathedral. Schadegg helped him rappel down a steeple.
Schadegg noted that the number of volunteer firefighters has declined sharply over the years, largely due to people not having the time. Still, he encourages others to join the “brotherhood.”
Asked why he remains a member after so many years, he has a quick answer.
“Working with the guys,” he said, “no doubt about it.” — 19006
For more information, call 215-947-2454, go to hvfire.org or visit the Huntingdon Valley Fire Company page on Facebook. For fire emergencies, call 911.
