It was August 13, 1928, about 2:00 a.m., and a raging fire blazed out of control at the dancing pavilion and restaurant at Riverside Park in Bunker Hill, Swatara Township. A messenger on a motorcycle raced from the Bunker Hill Cottage Settlement to alert firemen in neighboring Jonestown.
Fire apparatus arrived, followed by additional volunteers in more than a dozen automobiles. The structures, built of heavy oak timbers, were a total loss, but firemen spared the Riverside Park cottages.
It was the second fire within two years. The first fire destroyed a barn, locker-house, auto shed, trucks and coaches owned by the park proprietor, Max Cherwinski.
Bunker Hill was primarily a cottage resort area at the time. Therefore, it was fortunate that eight months later, a year-round cottage resident spotted smoke coming from the southern end of the wooden covered bridge spanning the Swatara Creek.
A bucket bridge formed by residents of Bunker Hill and Prospect Park, formerly Riverside Park, saved the bridge. It was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin in August 1949.
For the residents who lived in the converted cottages of the Old Bunker Hill area, the loss of the bridge was a genuine hardship, leaving them with only a pedestrian bridge to cross the creek into Jonestown for about a year. Residents were cut off from easy access to schools, shopping, and churches. All vehicular traffic, including emergency vehicles, was detoured.
“The burning of the bridge was what convinced us that we needed a fire company in Bunker Hill,” the original chief of Bunker Hill Fire Company, Reginald Daubert Jr., recalls.
The first known meeting to discuss the organization of a fire company for Swatara Township was held in the Jonestown fire hall on November 6, 1957. There were 35 men in attendance for this meeting. The first officers elected were: Carl Morrow, President; Albert Schultz Jr., Vice President; Carl Robb, Secretary; Charles Troutman, Financial Secretary; and John Lentz, Treasurer.
Their objective, the story noted, was the” betterment of the community”.
Goals were set including building a firehouse and obtaining equipment.
One of the youngest fire companies in the county, Bunker Hill Fire Company, was chartered through the Lebanon County Courts, on May 19, 1958. That same year, volunteers held the first official meeting on December 4th in the new fire company home.
The fire company purchased the property from Charles Troutman in 1958. One year later, construction of the firehouse at its current location, 434 South Lancaster Street, was completed, with only one apparatus bay.
The first elected officers for the fire company were: Carl Morrow, President; Verling Krissinger, Vice President; Charles Troutman, Financial Secretary; and Ralph Shay, Treasurer.
Firefighters raised funds by distributing coin cards and holding ham smokers, turkey socials, and block shoots. They also peddled chicken barbecues, advertising “We deliver anywhere”.
The women’s auxiliary, which held their first meeting on November 17, 1957, was a strong supporter of the fire company, running soup sales, and sponsoring concerts and other ventures to raise funds for the fire company building fund.
The fire company’s first piece of apparatus was a 1927 Ward LaFrance. The LaFrance was still owned by the fire company in 1973, when it appeared in the fire-convention parade in Quentin.
By 1969, the fire company was still operating fundraisers, but hadn’t responded to any calls. The district attorney’s office issued an ultimatum – reorganize as an active fire company or disband.
The small group of determined volunteers wasn’t willing to give up on the idea of a Swatara Township-based fire company. That winter, a major snow storm struck the county and rendered roadways leading to Old Bunker Hill impassable. Who would save their homes if the neighboring fire companies could not make it through the snow? It was an additional motivation to spur the volunteers into action. So in 1969, the decision was made to reorganize and seek ways of increasing membership.
On January 25, 1970, a reorganizational meeting was held. 26 men gathered at the Bunker Hill fire station, with Carl Morrow at the forefront of the effort. During the meeting, officers were re-elected. Officers elected were: Carl Morrow, President; Arthur Granger, Vice President; Ernest Dotter, Secretary; Howard Gingrich, Treasurer; and Norman Allen, Financial Secretary. During this meeting, 18 new applicants were accepted for membership. Reginald Daubert was also elected Fire Chief.
An equipment committee composed of Samuel Poorman, Lester Trego, and Russell Waltman evaluated several pieces of used fire apparatus for use until new equipment could be purchased.
Meanwhile, the fire company began a membership campaign open to all male residents of the area. Class "A" or Senior Membership for males over age 21, and Class "B" or Junior Membership for males from 16 to 20 years of age.
It was a busy year for the fire company. In February, the fire company purchased a 1949 Darley GMC 500-gallon-per-minute pumper for $800 from Weavertown Fire Company.
The following month, Bunker Hill was accepted into the Lebanon County Firemen's Association.
Chief Daubert made the announcement that the Bunker Hill Fire Company was officially in service to respond to fire calls, in the August fire company meeting. Bunker Hill Fire Company responded to their first call, a brush fire on Mountville Drive, on August 1, 1970, according to Chief Daubert.
An open house dedication was planned for August 29th. Meanwhile, work parties were held nightly to make renovations to the station. It was a promising year for Bunker Hill. In just a short period of time, the membership had grown from 15 to 290.
The fire company's first fire queen, Bonnie Kramer, a freshman at Northern Lebanon High School, was selected second runner-up during the annual Fire Prevention Queen Contest held in October.
Officers elected for 1971 were: Carl Swoyer, President and Assistant Fire Chief; Donald Heagy, Vice President; Ernest Dotter, Secretary; James Kramer, Treasurer; and Vincent Laudermilch Sr. and Harry Poorman, Trustees. Reginald Daubert was re-elected as Fire Chief, with Leonard Snavely serving as Second Assistant Chief.
In May 1971, the company announced that a recent purchase of additional fire gear meant that nine firefighters could be fully outfitted.
A fund drive for future expansion of the station was under way. Leonard Snavely was appointed building-fund chairman.
The company added two pieces of apparatus that year, a 1951 1,000-gallon International Tanker purchased from Neversink Fire Company, and a 1964 Ford Squad Truck.
The year 1972 began on a somber note. In January, Bunker Hill Fire Policeman Vincent S. Laudermilch Sr. suffered a fatal heart attack while directing traffic at a structure fire.
Lebanon County fire companies were overwhelmed when Hurricane Agnes swept through Central Pennsylvania in June. Bunker Hill and othe local volunteers had a backlog of pump details and water rescues.
In August, the fire company sponsored the first pumping and bucket-brigade contest, held in the Boscov's parking lot. Mount Zion Fire Company placed first, with Ebenezer and Lawn fire companies receiving second and third place honors respectively.
In June 1975, the fire company took delivery of a 1970 Chevrolet 2,600-gallon tanker with stainless steel tank, and 350 gpm pump for $15,000. The old tanker was sold to Donaldson Volunteer Fire Company in Schuylkill County. The new tanker responded to its first call, a silo fire at Maple Lane Dairy Farm, two miles west of Jonestown, on August 3.
According to the August fire company meeting minutes, construction of the building addition, including banquet hall, had begun.
In 1976, Bunker Hill Fire Company held the first event in the completed banquet hall, a joint Christmas banquet with the auxiliary.
The occasion was more than just a celebration of the season. The $13,000 banquet hall was debt free.
Chief Daubert presented a plaque to Carl Morrow that named the hall in his honor for his many years of service to the fire company.
In 1977, the first female volunteer firefighter joined the fire company.
In October 1977, the fire company ordered a new Dodge Mini-Pumper at a cost of about $24,000. The four-wheel-drive vehicle, purchased from W.S. Darley Company of Melrose Park, Illinois, replaced the 1949 Darley GMC. It was specifically designed to navigate the narrow streets of Old Bunker Hill and alleys in neighboring communities. The new mini-pumper was delivered in March 1978.
On September 1, 1977, the Fire Company and Jonestown Ambulance took part in a ceremony to officially open Old Bunker Hill Road, connecting Old Bunker Hill to New Bunker Hill on Route 72. It was a major milestone for local emergency units, improving access to the highway, and thus decreasing response time.
The fire company purchased a new 1991 Darley International Pumper-Tanker to replace the Chevrolet tank truck. PT47 was equipped with a 1,000 gpm pump and 2,000-gallon water tank.
In 1992, the fire company began operating as a Certified Quick Response Service Unit, utilizing a 1980 Ford Bronco.
The fire company purchased a new Darley International Rescue Truck in 1993. Rescue 47 was equipped with an Amkus Rescue System and other heavy rescue equipment along with self-contained breathing apparatus.
That same year, the fire company added a bay to house the QRS Unit.
Bunker Hill Fire Company was one of the first fire companies to carry an Automated External Defibrillator in Lebanon County. The unit was placed in service on February 17, 1996.
In 2000, Rick Kreitzer was elected Fire Chief, following the retirement of Reginald Daubert.
By 2005, the fire company was prepared to upgrade apparatus. A new Ford F-550 4x4 Darley mini-pumper was purchased. Attack 47 was equipped with a 1,000 gpm pump, 300-gallon water tank, and 25-gallon foam tank.
The QRS unit was replaced in 2008 with a new Ford Explorer.
The Following year, Bunker Hill Fire Company received a $61,483 equipment grant from the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
Twelve complete sets of fire gear, including Nomex hoods and gloves, a projector, thermal-imaging camera, and two laptop computers were purchased for the company.
In June 2010, Bunker Hill Fire Company set a county record for the number of trophies received at the 88th annual Lebanon County Firefighters Association parade. First-place awards were received for best-appearing heavy rescue, best-appearing EMS unit, best-appearing fire company, and second-place for best-appearing engine (1,250 gpm and under).
Currently, Bunker Hill Fire Company is seeking to purchase a new pumper tanker.