Ellwood City Fire Department Gets a Makeover

The Ellwood City Fire Department has gotten a makeover, and the old stucco siding that lined the building of the department has now been replaced by a powder blue siding.

The fire department is a combination fire department, which means they have both paid and volunteer firefighters. They are one of 2 in the County that have paid staff. New Castle City has a full time fire department and does not have volunteers. The ECFD members are highly trained in all aspects of the fire service.

“The building construction is complete, the only thing left to do is the graphics on the outside and that has not been finalized yet,” Rick Myers, Fire Chief said. “The change occurred due to the age of the building and the material. It was falling off and risking injury along with not looking cosmetically pleasing.”

The members of the department like the new look, but feel it will take some getting used to.

“A lot of people have commented as they are walking by the station how nice it looks and that it was a much needed face lift,” Myers said.

The State fire commissioners office has a participating program for fire departments and ECFD is at the top of the list in Lawrence County for certified fire fighters in our department. ECFD is closer to 100% with only 3 members not certified in the entire department, but it only goes from 75% to 100%.

“We provide rescue for multiple municipalities that surround us and we use our mutual aid as if we are 1 department. You will not find a tighter group of firefighters than what we have with Franklin Township, Perry Township, Wayne Township and North Sewickley,” Myers said. “We function as one department while all remaining separate.”

The ECFD is well trained in Emergency medical aspects of the fire service also. They provide quick response service [QRS] for all significant medical emergencies in the Borough. They have given multiple residents of Ellwood City the second chance of life utilizing an AED and effective CPR. ECFD puts on training classes for members and and the public.

Ellwood’s fire station training room is certified by PA DOH ( Department of Health) so that they can certify their members at the state level required. If someone has a question that nobody can answer usually the call ends up coming to the fire station. The department also calls out the Borough Electric and Street department for after hours emergencies such as power outages, trees and wires down, bad roads ETC.

“Here at the fire station we wear many hats. Fire Prevention at the schools and day cares, fire extinguisher training to staff at the local mills and medical facilities and the list goes on an on,” Myers said. “Our smoke detector program is for anyone in the borough who needs smoke detectors and they are free. The fire department will install them and make sure they are functioning before they leave.”

For more information and to stay up to date on the fire department events, including their 1st Annual Memorial Golf Outing in September, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Ellwood-City-Fire-Department-1637478459817803/