South Strabane Fire Department

On Saturday, May 30th, South Strabane Fire officially welcomed Truck 44-2 home through a traditional Push-In Ceremony, placing our new 107-foot Pierce Mfg Ascendant aerial ladder into service.

Push-in ceremonies are a long-standing fire service tradition dating back to the days of horse-drawn fire apparatus. After returning from a fire, firefighters would unhitch the horses, wash the equipment, and physically push the apparatus back into the station so it would be ready for the next call. Today, we continue that tradition to honor those who came before us and to symbolize that this new apparatus is officially ready to serve our community.

This truck represents progress... a promise to the residents of South Strabane Township that we will continue to evolve and do everything possible to protect this community.

The journey to Truck 44-2 began years ago, accelerated by difficult lessons learned through incidents such as the Thomas Campbell Apartments fire. It challenged us to evaluate our capabilities and ensure that we were prepared to protect our growing community, including our mid-rise apartment buildings, nursing facilities, commercial developments, industrial occupancies, and the thousands of residents and visitors we serve each day.

Like many worthwhile endeavors, this project wasn't without challenges. But time and time again, this department demonstrated exactly who we are. Volunteer and career firefighters working side by side. Residents and stakeholders advocating for public safety.

To our residents and businesses: thank you for your trust, support, generosity, and pride in your fire department.

To the South Strabane Volunteer Fire Department: thank you for the countless hours spent fundraising, securing grants, operating bingo, and providing much of the specialized equipment carried on this truck.

To our Board of Supervisors and township leadership who supported this investment in public safety: thank you for recognizing the importance of preparing today for the emergencies of tomorrow.

To our Truck Committee and Advisory Committee: thank you for the hundreds of hours dedicated to designing, researching, and building this apparatus. Special recognition goes to Firefighter Bob Schuerle, Captain Brown, Assistant Chief Winter, and Committee Chair Captain Scott Effinger. Your commitment and attention to detail resulted in an apparatus that will serve this community for decades to come.

Finally, thank you to our neighboring agencies and partners who joined us for this special occasion:
• City of Washington Fire Department
• Canton Township Fire & Rescue
• North Strabane Township Fire Department
• Ambulance & Chair EMS, Inc.

Your presence reflects the strong partnerships that exist throughout our region and reminds us that no department serves alone.

Thank you to everyone who attended, helped push Truck 44-2 into its new home, shared in fellowship afterward, and continues to support the mission of the South Strabane Township Department of Fire & Emergency Services.

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Special thanks to the community volunteers who helped plan this event and to Krency's Bakery and Catering for catering and donating some of the food!

Engine 44-2 on scene assisting Canton Township Fire & Rescue with this unusual incident. Shortly after, South Strabane Firefighters were dispatched to another accident on East Beau Street. That makes 6 calls so far on this Friday.

Stay safe this weekend, South Strabane Township!

BREAKING: A woman was seriously hurt in a crash that shut down I-70 in Washington County on Friday. State police are now searching for a black pickup truck in connection with the alleged hit and run.