March 12, 1963
Incorporated
Incorporated as a non-profit corporation on March 12, 1963, the West Deer Township Volunteer Fire Company #3 has a long history of serving the community. Our modest beginnings started with a plot of land donated by Vernon G. Frey, upon which we hand-built our first fire station with the sweat of volunteers and donated materials. The original fire station comprised a single garage and dirt floor.
24 Original Members
There were twenty-four original charter members of our organization: Robert J. Ashcraft, John P. Bahorich, John E. Butler, Sam Caro, Frank L. Cooper, Thomas P. Gieraltowski, Richard E. Heck, Howard Keener, Arthur Kirschner, Frank L. Ladesic, William McDermott, Paul R. McHugh, William E. Moody, Charles Poplawski, Samuel Stevens, William Ratkus, Elmer Sauers, William J. Smith, Robert D. Stalker, John E. Sweeney, Thomas J. Sweeney, Thomas Szymanski, Louis Tuminello, W. Lee Worstell
1974
Yellow Truck
In 1974, the fire department purchased a yellow truck, and the members at the time had always intended to paint that truck red to match the other ones. However, due to monetary constraints, the truck was never painted red. Instead, the new yellow color was adopted, and when the time came to purchase another new fire truck, the department ordered it in yellow to match that first 1974 Ford Bean pumper. The yellow Ford Bean remained in service until 1995, and our trucks have remained yellow ever since.
September 10, 2021
New Building
West Deer VFC #3 purchased a new building, the former Krigger & Company building located at 4418 Gibsonia Road. This building is nearly double the size of our old station. This new facility will serve the needs of the fire company and community well into the future. This strategic investment was made possible through financing from Mars Bank.
The current station, built in 1963, has served the fire company well, but is no longer adequate to provide for the needs of a modern fire company in a growing community. The new station provides ample space for vehicle and equipment storage needs as well as maintenance. The new station will also provide space to conduct realistic training, additional work space for fire company officers and members as well as increase our fundraising ability through a more spacious and well-appointed social hall. In addition, the increased space will provide a physical fitness area, equipment and personnel decontamination areas and accommodate future departmental needs.