About Ickesburg Fire Company

The Ickesburg Volunteer Fire Company, founded in 1953 has been, and continues to be, committed to protecting life, property and the environment for our 5000+ residents within our 70 square mile coverage area of northwestern Perry County, PA.

Nestled in the shadows of the Tuscarora Mountain, our fire district supports the residents of Saville, Northeast Madison and Tuscarora townships. With over 50% of our fire district being either woodland or open space, you will find several State Game Lands, Mennonite farms, Amish sawmills and some unique shops sprinkled throughout the area.

We are very blessed to have a close-knit group of 40+ dedicated, civic minded volunteers (that we call our neighbors), willing to give of their time and talents for our community. That’s less than 1% of our residents. Think about that for a moment…

It’s not just about putting water on fires or cutting wrecked cars apart. It’s about bringing together a community with some of our many events: Carnival, National Night Out, Bingo, Raffles, Easter Egg Hunt, Dinners, etc. Yes, we work hard, but we play even harder.

The IVFC takes great pride in being a truly 100% volunteer organization.  Men, women, boys and girls make up our diverse team. Ages range from 16 to very seasoned veterans. It takes a special type of person to help their community, and we trust the people reading this statement will realize that they too have a special talent to offer and will join our team.

The History of Ickesburg Fire Company

Ickesburg Fire Company was officially organized on January 19, 1953, when company president Donald E. Kerr called the first meeting to order. Forty-seven members were in attendance.

Among the company’s early officers were W.E. Hoffman, vice president; Thomas N. Rice, secretary; Stanley Shiffer, financial secretary; L.C. Dobyns, treasurer; and Ted Shiffer, the company’s first fire chief.

The first item of business at that meeting was the appointment of Roy Kline as the company’s first assistant fire chief. Soon after, the members began the important work of outfitting the company’s first fire truck, a 1946 Chevrolet. A fundraising committee was appointed to help obtain protective equipment for the new department. That effort was later supported by William America, who donated coats, boots, and helmets.

In March 1953, the company purchased its first tanker, a 1959 Ford. That tanker served the community for many years and remained an important part of the company’s early operations. The original truck and tanker continued in service until 1965, when a 1965 Chevrolet tanker was placed into service. The booster tank and pump were removed from the 1946 Chevrolet and installed on the Ford, which was then converted to serve as the company’s primary pumper. The Chevrolet chassis was later sold.

In 1967, a committee was appointed to study pumper design in preparation for the purchase of a new piece of apparatus. The Ford/Howe pumper was placed into service in November 1977 under the designation P-31. The older Ford was renumbered as Auxiliary Pumper P-31A.

The company’s rescue truck, P-33, was donated by the Saville Township Supervisors in 1977. The 1953 Dodge military ambulance was equipped to perform a variety of support functions and became a valuable resource at fire and accident scenes, especially in rural and off-road conditions.

Throughout its history, Ickesburg Fire Company has continued to upgrade its facilities, improve its equipment, and strengthen its operations. The firehouse has long served not only as an emergency services facility, but also as a gathering place and focal point for many community activities in and around Ickesburg.

Ickesburg Fire Company remains committed to protecting lives and property through continued training, equipment improvements, and dedicated volunteer service. Since the company’s 30th anniversary celebration in July 1983, the fire service has changed significantly. Call volume has increased, training requirements have expanded, and the types of incidents handled by the company have grown to include trees and wires down, EMS assistance, vehicle fires, automatic alarms, landing zone operations, carbon monoxide and gas emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, out-of-county responses, and other emergency calls.

Today, Ickesburg Fire Company continues to move forward while honoring the work of those who built the organization. Staffed by volunteers, the company remains guided by its motto:

Intrepid. Faithful. Compassionate.

To continue serving Ickesburg and neighboring communities, the company remains in need of volunteers. There are many ways to help, both on emergency scenes and behind the scenes. Anyone interested in serving their community is encouraged to learn more about joining Ickesburg Fire Company.

From the President

Fire Companies face challenges today, such as rising costs, regulatory demands and staffing issues. Addressing these issues requires a well-structured, strategic approach.

However, with fire company trends shifting rapidly, adopting a forward-thinking approach for the company and the men and women at Ickesburg Fire Company is a priority.  These people are always looking to enhance and increase efficiency to our service for the community.  Implementing best practices and new technology helps the brave and dedicated members provide the safest/timely response to any call.

The success of your fire company is dependent on your support as a community to help preserve the quality and professional company you want to see for the community.

We ask for your support as this is the key to our ability to serve and protect the community.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to providing service to our community in the coming year.

Regards,
Gregory Fuller
President
Ickesburg Fire Company

A Message from the Fire Chief

2025 has been a very busy year for Ickesburg Fire Company. Our firefighters have participated in many hours of training to ensure they are ready when the call comes in.

We always welcome new volunteers and would love to talk to you about what we do and how you can help. Have you ever considered joining the fire department? There are many ways people in the community can offer their support to this vital organization and aid us in fulfilling our mission. A few examples are below:

Make sure your driveway or land is clearly marked with the correct name and number so you can be found in an emergency.

Consider donating toward new gear.  Not paying for staff is only part of the story.  Most people don't realize that a new set of gear costs about $9000.  It is required that we keep the gear up to date and in compliance with regulations.  This also keeps our members safe while they work to keep the community safe.

Consider donating toward a new truck. Our trucks may not get a lot of road miles on them but they make up for it with engine and pump time.  We do our best to maintain our apparatus so that it lasts as long as possible. At some point, they need to be replaced. This is not a matter of grand wishes or vanity. There are regulatory and safety reasons why trucks must be upgraded.  We have worked to find dependable used vehicles but this is becoming more and more of a challenge. Most volunteer fire companies are in the same boat. If we could purchase a new vehicle built to our specifications, it would last us 25 years.  The cost would be $1.4 million, and the cost goes up 7-12% a year. A used unit only lasts 8-10 years and we never get the money back we put into it.

Support our fundraising evernts. Money is tight. When planning family time consider attending one of our community events. All proceeds go toward financing our operations.

Thank you for your support. Have a Happy, healthy, and Safe year.

Shane Wolf
Fire Chief
Ickesburg Fire Company