A fire-fighting family tradition
WAYNESBURG – For many at the Waynesburg-Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company, fighting fires is a family tradition.
Ron Fox, president of the fire department, saw his father and grandfather serve Waynesburg as firefighters. As of today, he has been with the company for 45 years – half of its history.
This year, the fire company is celebrating 90 years.
“It’s been a big part of my life, and I’m very proud to be a part of it,” Fox said. “I’ve met a lot of great people, great friends.”
Fox has seen many changes during his tenure with the fire department. He said there have been several updates in technology, and everything has been carefully guided to match the industry standard.
“Our line officers have always been on top of change,” Fox said.
These changes include the introduction of breathing apparatuses and new fire truck designs, as well as new firefighter certification.
Fox said the days of firefighters hanging on the sides of fire trucks are now long gone. Due to increased efforts to enhance firefighter safety, firefighters are prohibited from standing up on a fire truck while driving to a fire.
Though many aspects of the Waynesburg-Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company have changed, Fire Chief Jeff Marshall has seen a constant.
“We feel that we have a very positive relationship with the community,” Marshall said.
Like Fox, firefighting runs in Marshall’s family. His father and grandfather served the Waynesburg community as members of the fire department, and his father even served as fire chief for 25 years.
Marshall, who has served as fire chief since 2009, has made it a focus to stay involved with the Waynesburg community. He said Waynesburg Borough formed the fire department in 1926 after a horrific fire broke out in town, and several neighboring fire companies had to defeat the flames. Following the tragedy, 43 volunteers joined together and the Waynesburg Volunteer Fire Company was born. The Waynesburg-Franklin Township Fire Company was organized in 1989 through a partnership comprising of Waynesburg Borough and Franklin, Washington and Whiteley townships.
Today, this partnership provides workers’ compensation and money from tax dollars that allow the fire company to ensure the community’s safety is maintained with up-to-date firefighting technology.
“We know what the community has given us,” Marshall said. “If there’s something we can do, we do it.”
Volunteers train year-round at the fire station. Everyone is required to complete a minimum of 180 hours before being considered ready to enter a burning structure. The company has five state-certified instructors for the training sessions, which they open up to all of Greene County.
Marshall said he is impressed with the amount of volunteers the fire department has trained recently and is not worried about involvement decreasing in the years to come.
“We’ve got about 16 members that have less than five years of experience,” Marshall said. “I’m proud of the work they do and I’m sure the community is too.”
Marshall said most of the younger members are children of current firefighters or friends of those volunteers. The fire company currently has 50 active members.
Although there are companies that may be experiencing difficulties with sustaining membership, Marshall said, “We are very fortunate to have the membership that we have.”
Marshall said the younger members have the added benefit of learning from the more experienced fire fighters who they can work with and look up to. That is one reason why this company has lasted for over 90 years.
Generations have ridden in and out of the fire station during Fox’s time, but he is happy to have spent following in his family’s footsteps.
“Anytime we roll out of here,” Fox said, “I’m proud of this department.”
To commemorate the fire company’s 90th anniversary milestone, a celebration was held March 5 at Waynesburg University. During the ceremony, company officials thanked the many partners who have assisted over the years in the company’s success.