Schuylkill County Firefighting

From the inception of the Friendship Hose Company No. 1 of Orwigsburg in 1820 to the organization of the West Penn Fire Company No. 1 in 1999, more than 130 volunteer fire companies have served Schuylkill County. This proud tradition of volunteer service for the protection of fellow man continues strong to this day as scores of volunteer firefighters continue to serve their communities. Using the archives of the Schuylkill County Historical Society, Schuylkill Historical Fire Society, and many fire companies and individuals, Schuylkill County Firefighting captures in its images the daunting challenges faced by generations of Schuylkill firefighters. Block-burning conflagrations, deadly explosions, and traumatic rescues reveal the heroic battles faced over the years by these dedicated public servants.

Michael R. Glore and Michael J. Kitsock are veteran Schuylkill County firefighters and authors of Pottsville Firefighting and Reading Firefighting. Glore is a career firefighter with the Reading Fire Department and a member of the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society, Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, and Phoenix Fire Company No. 2 of Pottsville. Kitsock is a fire instructor and serves as president of the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society and is a member of the Seltzer Hose Company and Pennsylvania National Fire Museum.