A Brief History of Seville Volunteer Fire Company

Allegheny County Station 251

It was 1932 in western section of the Township of Ross in the county of Allegheny just outside of the city limits of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A group of men from this area saw the need for fire protection in this community. These men formed the last of the six original township fire companies. Being in the seventh district of the township, they believed that the appropriate name should be “The Seventh District Volunteer Fire Company”, and so it was.

The original firehouse was a converted schoolhouse located at the bottom of what was known as Neely Hill (now the 300 block of Jacks Run Road). The membership quickly grew to thirty-five. A second-hand chemical truck was purchased and became the first piece of fire apparatus. The residents of the community recognized the efforts of these men and, being pleased that there was protection in their neighborhood, became avid supporters of the newly formed fire company. This enabled the purchase of hose and other needed equipment and converted the chemical truck into a hose truck in 1933. A five horsepower siren was added in the spring of 1933 and the Company was underway.

In 1934, the company applied for and received their incorporation status. By 1935, things had progressed to the point where the chemical truck was traded in on a brand new 2 ½ ton Studebaker Fire Truck. The truck had a 500-gallon per minute water pump and the latest in fire fighting equipment.

The company continued to grow and the need for larger quarters became evident. In 1942 the company moved to its present location on Enger Avenue. The building had a single bay garage large enough to hold a pumper and a squad and a social hall where events were held to help support the company. This was the beginning of new ventures for the members. The Studebaker was replaced by an International; the International by a Mack in 1958; another Mack in 1978 and now a 1996 E-One. In 1985 the International Squad was replaced with a Ford E/50 Van, which remained in service until 1994 when it was replaced by a new Suburban.

Originally known as the “7th District Volunteer Fire Company”, the name was changed to “Seville” when Ross Township changed the voting district boundaries and the building ended up in the 6th District. The fire district boundaries remained the same.

The company continued to grow and by 1980 the need for changes was recognized. A few members began discussing an addition to the building to accommodate the growing list of equipment. A three bay garage with offices and recreation area on the second floor was added to the front of the original building and dedicated in October of 1982.

Over the ensuing years and continuing today, the members trained in rescue, hazardous materials, and as first responders at County, State and National Fire Academies as well as Regional and Local Fire Schools. At present the company has four Paramedics, 5 Emergency Medical Technicians and First Responders and responds as part of the Township QRS team. Following an extensive training program in 2004 involving both classroom and practical exercises, 14 members became Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) Certified. The company is often called by surrounding communities in this capacity.

In 1999 the County wide 911 system was set in place and we were assigned the number 251.