Hickory Twp. Vol. Fire Department

02/20/2026

We are writing to extend our sincere appreciation to the entire team at Bulldog Fire & Emergency Apparatus for the exceptional work in manufacturing our new fire apparatus. The meticulous attention to detail and superior craftsmanship evident in every aspect of the truck's construction have truly exceeded our expectations.

The entire acquisition process, from initial design consultation to final delivery, was remarkably seamless and professional, a testament to your outstanding customer service and efficient operations. We are grateful for your unwavering support and clear communication throughout this significant purchase.

The new apparatus has now been successfully delivered to Keystone Fire Apparatus, where it is undergoing the final stages of equipment mounting and integration. We anticipate its full completion and readiness for active service within the projected timeframe of four to six weeks.

Our entire department is eagerly looking forward to deploying this state-of-the-art vehicle. It represents a vital enhancement to our operational capabilities, and we are confident it will serve our community effectively for many years to come.

12/25/2025

From the members of Hickory Township, warmest Christmas wishes to you and your loved ones. May you have a merry Christmas.

10/24/2025

Today, three members from Hickory Township VFC embarked on a 4-hour journey to Crash Course Village in Fairborn, Ohio. The members undertook 8 hours of rigorous training on complex heavy extrication scenarios. The first exercise involved learning techniques to successfully cut through the roof and side of a school bus to rescue patients trapped inside. The second exercise required lifting a cement truck off a vehicle and extricating the driver. The third exercise entailed stabilizing a semi-truck on top of a car and creating holes in the semi to rescue a patient. The fourth exercise involved utilizing wooden 4x4s and pry bars to lift a 3,000-pound concrete slab. Additionally, the members had to relocate a 6,000-pound concrete barrier 20 feet using pipes and pry bars. The final exercise focused on the proper use and maintenance of winches, including a simulated rescue of a victim trapped under a car and lifting heavy concrete blocks off a victim. The training session was highly productive, and appreciation is extended to Jeff, Tommy, and Tom for dedicating a day off to enhance their skills. As motor vehicle incidents increase in Hickory Township, the department is committed to ongoing training for its firefighters to ensure resident safety. The community's continued support is gratefully acknowledged. As a reminder, the department encourages donations of aluminum cans to support travel expenses.

10/21/2025

The burn ban has been lifted. Please use caution when burning especially on those windy days.

10/08/2025

The Lawrence County Commissioners, in conjunction with Lawrence County Department of Public Safety and your local fire chiefs have initiated a ban on all outdoor open burning for the next 30 days.

This includes the lighting of and burning of any combustible material, including leaves, garbage, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative matter from land clearing or any debris, in either a burn barrel or on the ground.

Even though it rained Tuesday, the Lawrence County commissioners declared a countywide ban on open burning as a result of recent and ongoing dry weather.

10/07/2025

09/13/2025

The Hickory Township Volunteer Fire Company is conducting an aluminum can collection drive and invites you to contribute. Instead of recycling or disposing of your cans, we encourage you to support this initiative. Please communicate with us to schedule a pickup at your convenience. Your participation will contribute to a valuable cause. Our recent visit to the scrap yard yielded substantial revenue, as we successfully converted a trailer full of cans into funds to support our fire department's operational expenses. This endeavor allowed us to recycle 113 pounds of aluminum cans. Local businesses interested in supporting our fundraising efforts are invited to contact us. We appreciate the ongoing support of our donors and kindly request that you refrain from including trash like glass cans, plastic bottles, or paper products with your donated cans.

09/04/2025

The Lawrence County Crisis Management Exercise took place last night, with three members from Hickory Township participating in the simulated Emergency Operations Center. This exercise brought together multiple agencies from across the county to respond to a large-scale hazardous materials scenario. The training was highly effective, and participants look forward to the next exercise. We gratefully acknowledge the members' time and effort in participating in this valuable training.

Last evening we had the pleasure of hosting a tabletop exercise based on a transportation incident. We had multiple participants representing Fire Departments, EMS agencies, Hazardous Materials Teams, Emergency Management, Amateur Radio Services and Public Utilities. This was an excellent opportunity to work through a complex incident in a controlled setting. These exercises afford us the opportunity to review plans, find strengths, and most importantly, identify areas for improvement so we are better prepared when a real incident occurs. Thank you to the Shenango Area Fire District for allowing us to host this at their South New Castle Station and to CAI Central for facilitating another great exercise. And most importantly, thank you to all the participants who made this exercise a success.

05/24/2025

The members of the Hickory Twp. Volunteer Fire Department would like to take a moment to honor the extraordinary life of our brother, Justin Bittner, Firefighter/Instructor of the Neshannock Twp. Volunteer Fire Company, who sadly lost his courageous battle with glioblastoma.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy, thoughts, and prayers to the family and friends of Justin, celebrating a life that touched so many. RIP Brother

As our nation pauses this weekend to remember those who have served, we also pause to remember our brother, Justin Bittner, who slipped the surly bonds of earth earlier today after a courageous battle with glioblastoma.

As a veteran of the Neshannock Township Volunteer Fire Company, the Evans City Area Volunteer Fire Department, and as Pennsylvania State Fire Academy Instructor, Justin has dutifully and selflessly served others for nearly 20 years.

Though he is gone from our presence, we can never truly know how many lives have been saved by the skills he has taught to so many public safety professionals throughout the Commonwealth.

We offer our thoughts and prayers to Justin’s young family and join them in their journey through grief, remembrance, and celebration of a life now completed.

Instructor Bittner, we’ll take over now. Thank you for your service.

03/22/2025

The Hickory Township VFC is seeking aluminum can donations to aid in our fundraising endeavors. Previously unknown to some, our department collects aluminum cans to generate revenue. Today, we successfully transported a 6’x12’ trailer filled with aluminum cans to the scrap yard, subsequently filling two dumpsters. We would like to express our appreciation to all those who have participated in this initiative by saving and donating their aluminum cans. Your contributions are vital to our ability to purchase new equipment. Please contact us to arrange a donation.

03/16/2025

The members of the Hickory Township Vol. Fire company received their newly acquired gear today, courtesy of the 2023 FEMA AFG Grant. This grant allowed the department to acquire essential equipment for 11 firefighters, including pants, coats, helmets, boots, gloves, and hoods. In addition, tonight, the department brought eight Unication pagers into service, funded by a separate grant received earlier this month.

The members express their appreciation to FEMA for this opportunity and to the residents of Hickory Township for their continued support.