A Little About Us

Located just of exit 143 of Interstate 81, in lower Luzerne County is the village of Harwood Mines.  Harwood is one of many smaller villages that make up the Township of Hazle.  Hazle Township is serviced by two fire companies, the Harwood Volunteer Fire Company and the Hazle Township Fire Department.  Harwood Fire Company responds jointly with HTFD to the western portion of the township which includes the villages of Cranberry, Crystal Ridge, Hollars Hill, Harwood, and Humboldt, and the ever expanding Humboldt Industrial Park.

A Bit of History

Chartered on June 3^rd, 1949 by a group of area residents who saw the need for fire protection, the company’s first piece of apparatus was a 1920’s American LaFrance Engine.  This piece of apparatus was originally stored in a local resident’s garage.  In 1958, the members converted the LaFrance into a pumper/tanker with an REO chassis from a moving van and purchased a 1937 International/Howe pumper.  With the added equipment members saw the need to build a station of their own.  This new structure consisted of a small garage and social area, and in 1971 with the purchase of a new FWD 2000 gallon tanker an addition was added to the building.  This addition would include a larger apparatus bay, banquet hall, and a kitchen.  Shortly after the addition members saw the need again for expansion and added a large 70 foot by 40 foot apparatus bay and began looking to replace the aging REO.  Finally in 1987 the members located and purchased a 1966 Seagrave 1000 GPM pumper from the Ebenezer Fire Company in Lebanon County.  In 1998 a plan was made to purchase a tanker to replace the FWD, and in 1999 delivery was made on the 1999 KME 1800 gallon elliptical tanker in service today.  In 2002 the Seagrave was replaced with a 1985 Pierce Arrow 1500 GPM pumper that offered a larger pump capacity, an enclosed cab, and a greater storage area for equipment.  

Time Line of Events

•  1949 -  Company Chartered / Purchased LaFrance pumper
   

• 1950’s -  Howe pumper purchased / Outgrowing current housing arrangements
   

• 1958 -  Land purchased and original station built
   

• 1960’s -  LaFrance converted to REO chassis
   

• 1971 -  FWD purchased new / First addition to building
  
   

• 1980’s -  Large apparatus bay added to building
   

• 1987 -  Seagrave 1000 GPM pumper purchased
  
   

• 1999 -  KME/International 1800 gallon elliptical tanker purchased
   

• 2002 -  Seagrave replaced with 1985 Pierce Arrow 1500 GPM