History

History

At the urging of Ernest Dupille, twenty-six men met on December 18, 1922 with the purpose of forming a volunteer fire company to service the residents of Marple Township. At that time Marple Township’s 10.5 square miles was a rural community of farmers and tradesmen. Its population centered around the small town of Broomall, located along West Chester Pike and serviced by a trolley line running between Upper Darby and West Chester.

On January 8,1923, the group met again to adopted a Constitution and By-Laws. Also during this meeting Mr. Dupille was elected President and W.E. Clark Sr. was elected the first Fire Chief. In the ensuing months much work was done by these men to see their idea grow to fruition. In May a lot was purchased on West Chester Pike for nine hundred dollars; raised in nine days from the pockets of the original twenty six and other community members. In August, the official charter of The Broomall Fire Company was received and signed by sixty men. A hand operated gong was received from the Oakmont Fire Company and placed on the recently purchased lot to act as an alarm. Two hand extinguishers were received from the Highland Park Fire Company and resident Alphonso Fox donated a hand drawn hose reel.

Donating their talents, in 1924 the tradesmen of the Company erected a two story stone building on the West Chester Pike lot which became the first home of The Broomall Fire Company. In July of 1925 the Company purchased its first motorized apparatus, an American La France pumper for $5700.

On May 15,1926 the Company conducted its first fund drive collecting $284.50 through door to door solicitation. In the beginning years, financial difficulties continually plagued the Company. In 1933 the bank holding the mortgage on the Fire House closed its doors and an attorney was appointed to oversee the Company finances. Township resident Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes took over the mortgage and Company held dinners, plays, and other activities in a constant effort to raise funds. In 1938 the Company put in service a field-fighting unit built on an old school bus chassis purchased for one dollar from the school district. It was not until 1944 that the Company was able to afford the purchase of a new Mack pumper.

The fifties were a time of rapid growth for the township and the Fire Company. In 1954 the fleet consisted of two Mack pumpers, an International field piece, and a new equipment truck built on an International chassis. As apparatus and equipment needs continued to expand the need for additional space in the Fire House grew critical. In January 1956 the company purchased property on Malin Road and placed the Fire House on the market. On June 10,1957 ground was broken for the new Fire House which was dedicated on November 2,1957. In 1958 the Company took delivery of two new trucks, an FWD pumper and an FWD field piece and radios were installed on all trucks.

Growth continued in the sixties with the two Macks and the International field truck replaced by two new FWD trucks similar to those purchased previously. A Jeep brush truck and a Chief’s car were also purchased. However, the most significant addition to the fleet occurred in 1965 when the Company took delivery of High Ranger articulating aerial platform mounted on an FWD chassis. This necessitated the addition of a third bay onto the Fire House.

The seventies and eighties brought new equipment and apparatus, which led to two more additions to the Fire House and the purchase of an adjacent residential property that is used as executive offices. It also brought to a close the sounding of the Firehouse siren and ringing of house bells in favor of pocket pagers to alert members. New firefighting helmets, coats, pants, and boots were introduced along with improved air packs.

The nineties brought major advancements in firefighting equipment and apparatus. In 1995 a new pumper, designated 53-4,was placed into service. This truck was actually a conversion piece in which the body, pump and other equipment from an older truck was mounted on a new HME chassis. This enabled the addition to our fleet of a major pumper meeting current standards while attaining a significant cost savings. In 1996 Rescue 53 was purchased in response to the significant increase in service demands placed on BFC with the opening of Interstate 476 ("The Blue Route"). The celebration of our 75th anniversary began in 1998 and spilled over into 1999. Numerous events were held including a community day and parade. The parade also celebrated the placing into service Snorkel 53 and the transferring of the High Ranger to the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center. Major advancements in equipment included additional hydraulic operated rescue tools and the purchase of two infrared cameras for search and rescue operations.

Providing the community with the very best in emergency service has always paramount with The Broomall Fire Company. The safety of our citizens and members is our primary concern. It is for this reason that we continually strive to update and modernize our equipment and methods. Today we operate a fleet of vehicles specifically designed and equipped to meet the current and future needs of our community. Our members receive the finest in protective equipment and training. As we endeavor to meet the challenges of the twenty- first century, we encourage you to join with us and continue our volunteer tradition.