The company was formed in 1899 as the Union Fire Company and changed its name to Alpha Fire Company in 1900.
Mission and community service
The mission statement of Alpha Fire is: "To protect the lives and property of the members of the Borough of State College and surrounding communities." Volunteers who serve with the company are each required to undergo various training modules, the first of which amounts to approximately 80 hours over the members' first 12 weeks with the company. All members are required to obtain their national Firefighter I Certification within 24 months of joining.[3]
In addition to protecting property and lives,[4] members of the fire department also engage in activities that foster positive working relations between the department and members of the community. In the past, such activities have included transporting Santa Claus through the borough during State College's annual Christmas Eve celebration.[5]
Apparatus
Alpha Fire Company operates a fleet of 27 vehicles.
Command 5 - 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe (Incident command post rotated among the line officers)
Car 5 - 2022 Ford Interceptor (Fire Chief's car, additional command post)
Car 55 - 2022 Ford Interceptor (Fire Director's car, additional command post)
Traffic 5-1 - 2021 Ford F-350 Fire Police Traffic Unit
Traffic 5-2 - 2021 Ford F-350 Fire Police Traffic Unit
Traffic 5-3 - 1996 KME Renegade with Scorpion II Attenuator Fire Police Blocking Unit
Special Unit 5 - Modified 2005 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab
The Main Station is in Downtown State College at 400 West Beaver Avenue opened in 1974. The Main Station has a Meeting Room, Maintenance Shop, Lounge, Watch Office, Kitchen, Administration Office, Gym, and Bunk room. The bunk room houses 6 live-ins and has room for 17 total bunks. The station houses 5 pieces of apparatus, Engine 5-1, Engine 5-3, Truck 5-1, Rescue 5, and Tanker 5-1. Traffic Units 5-1 and 5-2, Utility 5-2, Utility 5-4, Service 55, Special Unit 5, and Command 5 are also housed here.
College Township Station
The College Township station is a sub-station housed in the basement of the College Township Building at 1481 East College Avenue. This station has a watchroom, office, lounge, bunkroom, live-in rooms for 4 live-ins, and a kitchen. Engine 5-2, Quint 5, and Utility 5-1, are housed here.
Patton Township Station
The Patton Township Sub-Station facility at 2598 Green Tech Drive opened in 2001. It has rooms for four live-in members and a bunkroom for 6 additional firefighters. The station houses Truck 5-2, Engine 5-4, Tanker 5-2, Traffic 5-3, Utility 5-3, and Utility 5-5.
↑"Regional Fire Protection Program". State College, Pennsylvania: Centre Region Council of Governments – Centre County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
