CNBNews

Pennsylvania Fire/EMS Company Ends 190 Years of Service

At 7 a.m. this morning, Hanover Fire Co. No. 1 EMS Lt. Larry Appel radioed York County Control, placing Ambulance 46-1 and 46-2 permanently out of service.

With his eyes glistening, Appel turned the key and shut down the ambulance - signifying the end of Fire Co. No. 1.

"It's a sad day for all the company members and it's a sad day for the community," Appel said.

And as the 190-year old fire company ended its service in the borough, Penn Township ambulances began to roll in.

In September, the Hanover Borough Council entered into a two-year agreement with Penn Township for basic life-support service within the borough.

Fire Co. No. 1 was given a 180-day cease-operations notice, which expired today. The council issued the notice in May after internal problems, including altered trip sheets and misappropriated funds, came to light.

Appel worked a 38-hour shift over the weekend to ensure the ambulance would be on the road as the cease operations notice winded down.

"I feel like we are at someone's execution," Appel said early Monday as he counted down the minutes to 7 a.m. "It's been like we are on a death watch."

Fire Co. No. 1 responded to its last call at 8:22 p.m. Sunday. It was a mutual aid call in Berwick Township. Appel and his son, Ryan, made the final run.

Appel said he personally has run 409 calls over the past year.

"I'm going to miss running the streets in this thing," Appel said staring at the ambulance.

Vicki Hertz, a 12-year member of the fire company, showed up early Monday morning to pay her respects to the company.

"I just wanted closure," she said. "I wanted to say good-bye to the ambulance."

But Hanover hasn't seen the last of the company.

"We might be down but we're not done," said EMT Trent Funt.

Appel said the two ambulances will be put in storage at a secure barn.

"They don't belong in a barn," Hertz said. "I think I'm going to cry when I see them get put in storage."

The fire company's rescue truck was given to Clearview Co. No. 3

The company began the moving process Nov. 15, taking boxes, filing cabinets and computers to their new office on Baltimore Street.

As Hertz went through some boxes, she found photographs of various incidents the company was called out on. She reminisced over past ambulance calls. But her voice turned sad as she realized those memories will soon fade.

Although Fire Co. No. 1 will no longer be in Wirt Park Station, Hertz still will. She is a member of Penn Township and will start as a full-time employee Wednesday.

"Yeah, I'll be in here with Penn Township but it won't be the same," she said. "It's not going to be home."

Even though it was a sad day for the members of Fire Co. No. 1, Appel said the organization would remain afloat.

"It's a very sad situation right now," he said. "But don't count us out. We are leaving with dignity and our heads held high. We will be back to serve the citizens of Hanover sometime."