ADDRESS OF WELCOME / INTRODUCTION

The members of the Upper Leacock Fire Company wish to extend to you a sincere welcome to our organization as a new member.

All new Fire Company members are loaned a copy of our Standard Operation Guidelines, Housing Rules, By-Laws, and Constitution. All Fire Company members are expected to familiarize themselves with the information contained within this manual and adhere to the rules and guidelines set forth by the Fire Company. These same documents are available on-line at www.upperleacockfire.org.  This manual was designed for new members as well as veteran members to understand the methods of operation in an effort to provide a better service to the community we serve. New members are expected to ask an officer if there is information in this manual that they do not understand. This is the second edition of this manual.  Policies and guidelines outlined in this policy manual are subject to change only under the authority of the Fire Chief and/or Trustees and by majority vote during a Fire Company business meeting.

We hope you prove to be a vital asset to the Upper Leacock Fire Company and we look forward to working with you in our organization.

The History of

The Upper Leacock Fire Company

The Upper Leacock Fire Co. was formed on January 1, 1988. It was consolidated from the Leacock and Leola Fire companies, which were both established in 1910. The main reason for the consolidation was the duplication of equipment within half mile of each other and the reduction of operating costs.

The Leacock Fire Co. was formed on June 1, 1910. The citizens of the town then known as Mechanicsburg held a meeting on February 23, 1910 with the concern of the fire protection for their town. The fire company changed its name to the Leacock Fire Co. on August 3, 1942 in order to prevent further confusion of the Mechanicsburg Fire Co. not being in Mechanicsburg. The fire company was located at 143 W. Main St. The first officers of the Mechanicsburg Fire Co. were:

            President                   David Swope

            Fire Chief                   Jacob R. Echternach

Trustees                     Rufus K Cooper,

                                    George A. Bard,

                                    Samuel Bard

The first major purchase by the Mechanicsburg Fire Co. was an Over chain & Boyer Chemical Engine from Sprecher & Ganse of Lancaster Pa, at a price of $250.00. The price included six extra charges, 100' of hose and 45-gallon tank with springs on the truck.

The Leola Fire co. was formed on July 10, 1910. On March 8, 1910 a meeting was called in the office of H.M. Stauffer to discuss the formation of some sort of fire protection and a fire company. The first officers of the Leola Fire Co. were:

            President       H.M. Stauffer

            Fire Chief       Clayton M. Kulp

            Trustees         E.M. Zell,

                                    S.S. Shirk,

                                    Isreal Dunwoody

The first piece of equipment of the Leola Fire Co. was a hand drawn chemical engine purchased from Sprecher & Ganse of Lancaster, PA, at a price of $250.00 This same engine is still in good state of preservation and is housed at the current home of the Upper Leacock Fire Co.

Upon consolidation the apparatus of both fire companies stayed at their respective stations. In the early 1990’s all equipment was consolidated to the Leola station in effort to reduce operating costs and be more efficient in our operations.  In 2002 the Leola station underwent extensive renovations to improve both the structure and appearance of the building.  The Leacock station was rented to the Leola Ambulance Association beginning in 1997.  Eventually the former Leacock station was sold to the LAA in 2003. 

The first apparatus of the Upper Leacock Fire Co. was:

The first Officers of the Upper Leacock Fire Co. were:

The Upper Leacock Fire Co. provides fire protection, air truck operations, vehicle rescue services, and public services to approximately 2600 residences and businesses in Upper Leacock Township and parts of Leacock Townships. The Upper Leacock Fire Co. provides its services through approximately 50 members, which include a host of 25 life members who have exceeded 20 years of service to their community. The Upper Leacock Fire Co. is a volunteer fire company and retains most of its funding through donations and fundraising events. The most popular fundraising event is the annual pork and sauerkraut dinner that started way back in 1967.    

In 2001, The Upper Leacock Fire Co. put into service the first traffic unit in Lancaster County. This piece of apparatus was specifically designed to assist the local fire police traffic problems in the community during emergency calls such as an accident etc.

The Upper Leacock Fire Co. currently utilizes 4 pieces of apparatus:

Approved by membership vote on:   __________________

President:      ____________________

                              Ted Burkhart

Secretary:      ____________________

                              Pam Huber