News and Events

The chassis for the new tanker apparatus has arrived at the manufacturer. The drawings have been finalized and signed off. The tank has been ordered and confirmed with a delivery of August. Then the department will have a pre-build meeting with 4Guys and construction can begin. The tentative delivery is slated for sometime in October.

The annual street fair was again a huge success this year! The department would like to thank everyone who came out to support our mission. We hope you enjoyed this years carnival. Events for next year are already in the planning and we look forward to next year's carnival.

The committee and department wanted a "basic water hauler", like what we have, to bring the water supply for rural fires. After months of research through numerous manufacturers, the committee settled on a spec for the new tanker. The company has entered into a contract with 4-Guys Fire Apparatus - Meyersdale, PA, for a new tanker apparatus. 4-Guys offered exactly what we needed in an apparatus, within our budget. A deal was struck on a chassis 4-Guys had on order with a "pre-2010 emissions" engine. This saved the department about $10,000. The new tanker will be built on a 2010 International 7400 series chassis. Powered by a 330 HP Maxforce engine, and automatic transmission. It will have a 2000 gallon poly tank wrapped in stainless steel. It will have a 500 gallon per minute pump. A full LED lighting package, 3 electric dump valves, and be fully compliant with NFPA 1901 (standard for motorized fire apparatus) 2009 edition. Scheduled delivery is late fall early winter 2010.

Brockway Volunteer Hose had their Annual Banquet January 16^th, 2010 at the Hose Company with 152 attending the banquet. The meal was served with choices of stuffed chicken breast or roast sirloin of beef. Many of the servers were high school kids from the Brockway Area School District and some were even sons and daughters of members of the Hose Company and they did a great job serving the guest and members. We also had young men for a local boy scout troop serving up the meals.

Chief Benson presented his annual report and introduced his Line Officers for 2010 he also spoke of the accomplishments for 2009 and the need of a new engine or tanker which we are pursuing for 2010. President Jeff Knapp introduced his Company Officers for 2010 and the Trustee’s, he spoke on how all volunteer firefighters work hard to achieve what needs to be done not only in training but in fundraisers. He thanked all the members for their help and cooperation and a special thanks to all the wives, husbands or family members who have firefighters living with them for stepping up and standing behind the volunteer firefighters. Several guest were honored for their assistance and helping us at any time day or night and were presented a Brockway Volunteer Hose Company Jacket. Asst Chief Mike Hoskavich recognized all members and reported on each individual for their years of service, and he also spoke of the man hours involved in training and the classes that were taken. The 2010 also passed out new badges to members and also to a great surprise a Plaque was presented to President Jeff Knapp from the Line Officers thanking all the Brockway Volunteer Hose Company Members for their help and dedication in 2009 as there was a ZERO FIRE LOSS for Brockway Borough and Snyder Twp. which was a great accomplishment.

There were door prizes awarded and following the dinner a social hour was held where numerous members and guest enjoyed the rest of the evening.

Today the new Brush 1 was officially put into service. The new brush is a 2009 Ford F-350 4x4 crew cab with seating for 5 firefighters. It is equipped with a V-10 engine, automatic transmission, heavy duty suspension, air conditioning for the crew, 15,000 lb. Warn winch and brush guard, and a LED lighting package. The skid unit in the bed is a 150 gal. poly tank, 18 hp V-twin Honda on a 200 gpm Hale pump, 200' 3/4" lightweight booster hose, and 100' 1-1/2" hand line. Equipment carried: 6 indian tanks, numerous brush rakes and shovels, 2 axes, a mattock, 2 chain saws, Pro-pack Class A foam pack, and 6 traffic cones.

The company had a party to recognize the members that were being deployed over seas with the armed services this fall. Members gathered for good food and some good talks. Every member in attendance gathered for a membership photo that will be displayed at the hall and a copy given to the Brockway Historical Society.

Snorkel 1 was advertised on e-bay and sold to an agency that was taking it to Vietnam. The buyers drove the truck from Brockway to Texas South of Huston. It was to be loaded onto a boat with 30 other apparatus to be delivered to Vietnam for firefighters. The buyers called and said they made it to Texas and it ran great! They told us it would be used at a training facility to train Vietnamese firefighters. It was a great truck in its 34 years at Brockway, and traveled to many other neighboring towns for fires. If anyone has any pictures of it in action, please email the station.