SMETHPORT — Bradford Township Fire Chief Dan Burkhouse highlighted historical events at the Tri-County Fire School Saturday when he was the guest speaker at the Smethport Fire Department’s 137th annual Appreciation Dinner.
Soon to begin its 55th year as a training center for volunteer fire departments and industrial brigades, the Tri-County Fire School in Smethport traces its origins back decades to a major fire in Shinglehouse when valuable time was lost since the responding companies worked independently because not all them had the same diameter hoses for connections, according to Burkhouse, a veteran of 45 years in the fire service and currently the fire school’s chief director.
“The need for standardized equipment, especially in mutual aid calls, was apparent,” Burkhouse said.
Despite its name, the Tri-County Firefighters Association, which owns and operates the fire school, actually has four members: McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter counties.
Thanks to efforts of well-known area firemen, eight departments belonged to the first Tri-County Firemen’s Association, as it was known then. The first meeting was held on April 27, 1938.
“The fire school, which is located on Forest Avenue property purchased from Smethport Borough, held its first class on August 26-27, 1965, with 181 students and 13 instructors,” according to Burkhouse.
Improvements to the grounds included such facilities as the office and oil tank site in 1967, burn building in 1969 and tanker truck for oil fires in 1972.
As enrollment increased — 445 in 1973 to 547 in 1976 to the peak of 800 in 1980 — permanent classroom buildings replaced the tents and pavilions.
Says Burkhouse, “During the 1970s and ’80s, we would meet initially at Smethport Area High School in the morning for our briefing and class assignments. At lunch, we went at the Smethport Fire Hall where that department’s auxiliary would provide our meal.”
In the early 2000s, Tri-County Fire School was certified as a testing center for those candidates who had completed basic firefighting classes and were testing for Firefighter I and II certifications.
“Once they finished the written test and demonstrated their skills, their scores were sent to the state fire academy in Lewistown, which issued the certificates,” Burkhouse said.
A devastating flood in 2010 when water was up to the doorknob of the office led to major renovations, such as computer equipment being installed in all the classrooms. Sprinkler systems were added later.
The number of volunteers in the fire services in Pennsylvania and around the country began to drop several decades ago, a trend that continues today even though the number of emergency calls continues to mount.
Burkhouse said. “Now the average attendance at fire school is 75 per weekend,” Burkhouse stated. “Even with these lower numbers, our fire departments are too important to lose.”
Since 1965, approximately 19,260 firefighters have completed basic and advanced training at the Tri-County Fire School. “It’s gratifying to see Smethport recognizing so many people for their training,” Burkhouse noted.
During the awards presentations, Ken Mostyn, a McKean County native and currently an emergency management specialist with the western regional office of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, was honored with a plaque naming him an honorary Smethport fireman in recognition of his almost 20 years of serving as master of ceremonies for the department’s annual appreciation dinner.
Guests included chiefs and representatives of the following fire departments: Bradford City, Derrick City, Clermont, Norwich Township, Bradford Township, Eldred Borough, Eldred Township, Lafayette Township and Smethport. McKean County Commissioner Tom Kreiner also attended.
Smethport Fire Department President Greg Rounsville introduced his 2020 administrative officers: Charlie Jones, vice-president; Jim Daugherty, secretary; Bob Dunn, treasurer; and Perry Tanner Sr., Verne Ritts and Ted Mead, trustees.
The department’s line officers, introduced by Chief Wayne Foltz, are Eric Barber, deputy chief; Dana Spittler, assistant chief; Jim Neely, captain; Randy Taylor and Bryan Austin, lieutenants; and Jeff Young, safety officer.
Fire Police Captain Bob Dunn recognized his officers for 2020. They are Greg Rounsville, lieutenant; Perry Tanner Sr., sergeant; John Tanner, corporal; Jim Daugherty, secretary; and Ted Mead, safety officer.
Daugherty showed a short video that he produced, “Firemen — Only a Call Away,” that featured scenes of Smethport firefighters at the scenes of fires and accidents, as well as parades.
A local 4-H group assisted with the meal.
The following members received membership awards:
One Year: Vicky Neely, Angie Fuller, Jesse Haggard, Clay Barber, Janice Stanton and Jim Wenner.
Five Years: Perry Tanner, Jr. and Tanya Tanner.
Ten Years: Ed Hairston.
Fifteen Years: Tom Field and James Taylor.
Twenty Years: Dana Spittler (life membership); Bryan Austin, (life membership); Jon Sanderson, (life membership); Rob Dickinson (life membership); Roger VanGorder, life membership) and Nate Tanner.
Twenty-Five Years: Rob Dickinson.
Thirty Years: Steve Field, Bill Gallup, Eric Barber and Brian Gustafson.
Forty Years: Fran De Lancey, Gary Isadore and Lynn Fiegl.
Fifty Years: Glenn Cunningham and Warren Semmel.
Sixty Years: Richard Rounsville.
Other awards included:
Top Call Runners-Firemen: Randy Taylor, Barry Austin, Dana Spittler, Jim Neely, Bryan Austin, Jefff Young, Garrett Bickford, Marlin Hairston, Holly Austin and Scott Herzog.
Top Call Runners-Fire Police: Ted Mead, Jim Daugherty, Bob Dunn, Perry Tanner Sr., John Tanner and Greg Rounsville.
Chief’s Award: Dana Spittler, Eric Barber, Tanya Tanner and Brenden Rowley-Thompson.
Bill Lake Award: Dana Spittler.
Don Farrell Award: Holly Austin.
Harold Bell Award: Randy Taylor.
Honorary Department Member Plaque: Ken Mostyn.
