General Information
In 1948 the citizens of Greene Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania formed a community action group to determine what was needed to improve the standard of living in the community. After several months of meetings, the idea of a community hose company was brought before the group with great expectations.
The group sent to the state for a charter. The charter was received June 24, 1949, with the official formation of Kuhl Hose Company.
Except for the changes in technology and the modern theories of how to fight fire, the charter members had similar problem that modern day volunteer fire departments experience. They had to raise money, by raising chickens for sale, soliciting door to door, limited manpower, and the price of equipment for the day.
The first fire engine, a Ford 2 ton, two speed chassis, was purchased in 1949. A long way from the first fire engine we now operate out of three stations within the 37 square mile township, with 3 engine company's designated to operator in rural and urban settings, 2 water tankers 2 Basic Life Support Ambulances, and a rescue boat.
With the communications of the day charter members received a phone call then had to call every other member on the phone or be alerted by the fire whistle. Today we contract with Emergycare, Inc. for our dispatch services.. Citizens call 911 which is an enhanced system that allows the Communication Specialist to have instant information as to the phone number, address, and name of the residence where the call is being placed from. Fire fighters are then alerted be a small tone activated pager, using a frequency of 033.980. This pager gives a audible alert tone followed by a voice dispatch.
The department currently has open to the community the following membership categories:
Active
Honorary Active
Active Fire Police
Junior Active
Social Member
EMS Division
Life Member
The current membership has 42 personnel. 17 Active, 6 Honorary active, 2 Life Members, 4 Special Fire Police, 0 Junior Active, 1 EMS Division, and 12 Social Members.
Erie County Fire Department Numbering System
Each department in the county is assigned a block of 20 numbers. Kuhl Hose is assigned 680 - 699
The first two numbers uniquely identify each departments in the county. Those numbers are also used for station identification if the department wishes to. Kuhl Hose does not use station numbers.
The third number not only identifies the type of vehicle (or chief officer) but also identifies which piece of apparatus (or chief officer) of that type within the specific department.
Third number designations
0 - Chief Officers
1 - 2nd Assistant Chief or Captain
2 - Pumper (engine)
3 - Pumper (engine)
4 - Pumper (engine)
5 - Tanker
6 - Tanker
7 - Ambulance or Rescue Squad
8 - Ambulance or Rescue Squad
9 - Truck Company or Utility Vehicle
For a detailed list of Kuhl Hose Apparatus and Equipment see the Equipment Page.
Kuhl Hose works closely with it's mutual aid departments in the surrounding townships. Belle Valley Fire Department & Kearsarge Fire Department in Millcreek Township, Brookside Fire Company in Harborcreek Township, Greenfield Township Volunteer Fire Company in Greenfield Township, Wattsburg Hose Company in Venango Township, Stancliff/Waterford Fire Department in Waterford Township, and Perry Hi Way Hose Co. in Summit Township.
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