MAIN STATION

SUB STATION

MAIN STATION

SUB STATION

HISTORY

The Coraopolis Volunteer Fire Department protects the 1.36 square mile community of approximately 6,500 citizens and over 300 businesses.  The Ohio River town of Coraopolis is located down river  (north-west) of  Pittsburgh; it's main corridor is PA State Route 51 (Fourth and Fifth Avenues).  

Currently, the department has 25 active members.  The main station is located on State Avenue which houses two (2) engines and one (1) aerial truck.  A second sub-station is located on 1^st Avenue, “below the tracks”, and houses two (2) engines, squad, rescue boat, and one (1) aerial truck.

The town of Coraopolis was founded in 1886.  Around the same point in time a water plant was constructed and the Coraopolis Fire Department existed. 

There is very little recorded information about the fire department prior to 1898.   On March 14, 1898 the fire department was reorganized “Coraopolis Hose Company #1”.  At this first meeting a gentlemen by the name of Stanton, acting as safety commissioner, held the first recorded meeting of the Coraopolis Fire Department.  Jay Moore was present at this meeting and was elected the first Fire Chief of the Coraopolis Hose Company, in 1899.

The first Coraopolis Hose Company Fire Station was located at 1015 State Ave (next to the current main station).  The station housed equipment including the 2 horse drawn wagons with hoses and ladders.  The horses were used from a funeral home located across the street.  The original fire station still exists today as a private business; however, the funeral home does not.

CORAOPOLIS HOSE COMPANY #1

1015 STATE AVENUE

In 1921, The Coraopolis Hose Company #1 purchased its first triple combination fire engine, an American La France Metropolitan Engine. The 1921 engine remained in service until 1939 when it was replaced with an Ahrens Fox Engine with mid ship pump.  The department still possesses  "The Fox", housed at the substation on 1^st Ave.

In 1929, Hose Company #1 moved to its existing home, 1012 Fifth Avenue, adjacent to the municipal building on Fifth Ave.   The station has three (3) bays to house trucks and various firefighting and rescue equipment.  Its location provides quick access to all of Coraopolis.

Throughout the last 75 years the Coraopolis Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD), as it is known today, made many advancement in protecting the community.  During the early 1980s the members of the CVFD donated their salaries of $4 per hour rate per emergency call, back to the department to supplement their fundraising.   A second building was obtained from the public works.  With the additional garages at 1^st Avenue the CVFD also became river rescue.  

 Recently, the CVFD has purchase a 2005 Sutphen 75’Aerial.  The six (6) person truck is housed with a 1978 American La France and a 1995 Freight Liner/Boardman Engines.  The apparatus carry firefighting and rescue equipment for the 25 active members.

2006 MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

2005 SUTPHEN 75' AERIAL LADDER

More History 1986 Coraopolis Centennial The local fire department was organized in 1898, the equipment consisting of hand drawn hose reels by volunteer firefighters.  The the first fire to which the department responded was at  A.D. Guy's store on the corner of Chestnut Street and State Avenue.  Since then the fire calls have run into the thousands.  The Coraopolis Fire department has been continuously in the service and has seen the transformation of the system from the hand drawn hose reel to present modernize department.   The Fire Department has efficiently handled large fires including the Vulcan Oil Refinery, two at The Glass Factory, and the Canfield Oil Works.  More recent major fires include the Triko Apartments (1993). Photographs by CVFD   MORE COMING SOON