Dave Torrence vividly remembers his first fire call in 1974 with the Highland Hose Volunteer Fire Company — it was the night he joined the Tarentum department. “I got in bed and the whistle blew,” said Torrence, 72, a lifelong borough resident. “I just thought, ‘Here we go.’ ” Fellow
Tarentum Council is ramping up donations to its three fire departments, acknowledging the struggle volunteers face with decreased public aid. Direct contributions for each department will increase $4,500 to $17,000 each for Eureka Fire-Rescue, Highland Hose and Summit Hose. Council approved the amounts in its preliminary $16.4 million budget, which
Highlands first grader Isabella Young didn’t seem fazed that the Eureka Fire-Rescue engine she was admiring at school this week cost more than $1 million. She only wanted to know what all the buttons were for. “Where do the firetrucks come from?” she asked. “How do you put out the
Tarentum native Bob Sims turned 18 in 1948 and was crestfallen to learn he couldn’t join his two older brothers on the front lines as firefighters. The charter for Highland Hose Volunteer Fire Company was full, said Sims, who at 93 easily recalls his disappointment. “I had to wait three