Department History

Hanover Township is located in the heart of Northeastern Pennsylvania approximately 2 hours north of Philadelphia. It is 45 minutes south of the City of Scranton. Hanover Township is surrounded by the City of Wilkes-Barre to the north, the Susquehanna River and borough of Plymouth to the west, the City of Nanticoke to the South, Warrior Run to the southeast, and Ashley due east. Hanover Township is 25 sq. miles with a population of over 12,000.

Hanover Township Fire Department 
Hanover Area Fire District 
Charter Date: 2011
County Station Number: 137 

Fire Companies in the Township 

Goodwill Fire Company # 1
Charter Date: August 25, 1913 

Newtown Fire Company #2
Charter Date: September 3, 1929

Preston Hose Company #3
Charter Date: June 15, 1929

Franklin Fire Company #4
Organization Date: December 30, 1912
Charter Date: April 15, 1913

Breslau Fire Company #5 
Charter Date: November 5, 1913

Askam Fire Company #6 
Incorporation Date: March 1, 1920

In may of 2008, Hanover Township closed the Lee Park Fire House because there was no fire apparatus stationed at that location and the building was becoming structurally unsafe. 

In 2011, the Six Fire Companies consolidated to become the Hanover Area Fire District but all six fire company charters remain active. 

In 2018 , a new fire department headquarters was built in the center of the Township along the Sans Souci Parkway. The Goodwill Fire Station , Preston Fire Station, and Breslau Fire Station were closed and the apparatus is now running out of the new Fire Headquarters . The Newtown Fire station remained open as an active fire station, Askam Fire Station would close and move into the Warrior Run Borough Fire Station, and the Breslau Fire Station would remain open with no Apparatus and become a social and rental hall. 

A Chronological History of the Hanover Township Fire Department 

1913 - The Township Purchased a new hand drawn hose cart to be housed at the Franklin Fire Station.

1913 - The Township Purchased a second hand drawn hose cart to be housed at the Hanover Green (Goodwill Fire Company) Station. 

1913 - The Township purchased a third hand drawn hose cart to be housed at the Breslau Fire Station.

1927 - The Township purchased a new American LaFrance Engine with 500 gallons of on board water and a 150 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Franklin Fire Station. 

1929 - The Township purchased a new hand drawn hose cart to be housed at the Preston Fire Station. 

1934 - The Township purchased a new GMC/American LaFrance Engine with 350 gallons of on board water and a 300 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Breslau Fire Station and was 1 of only 7 of these Engines made. 

1947 - the 1927 American LaFrance Engine was sold. 

1948 - The Township purchased a new GMC Engine. This Engine was housed at the Franklin Fire Station. 

1952 - The 1934 GMC/American LaFrance Engine was hit by a streetcar in Kingston while enroute to assist at a Fire. There was structural and frame damage to the apparatus. 

1954 - The 1934 GMC/American LaFrance Engine was sold to the Rice Township Fire Company in Luzerne County, PA

1954 - The Township purchased a new Ward LaFrance Engine with 1000 gallons of on board water and a 500 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Breslau Fire Station. 

1956 - The Township purchased a new Ford F/Central Engine with 500 gallons of on board water and a 500 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Askam Fire Station. 

1956 - Breslau Fire Company purchased a new Ford / Reading Utility Body Truck and installed a 40’ RM Ladder affixed to the vehicle. 

1957 - The Township purchased a new Seagrave 100’ TT Tiller Ladder 

1960 - The 1956 Ford F/Central Engine was sold.

1965 - The 1957 Seagrave tractor was removed from the 100’ TT Tiller Ladder and was replaced with a 1965 GMC Tractor 

1967 - The 1948 GMC Engine was sold.

1969 - The Township purchased a new International VCO/Maxim Engine with 1000 gallons of on board water and a 500 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Franklin Fire Station. 

1970 - The 1965 GMC / 1957 100’ TT Tiller Ladder was sold. 

1970 - The Township purchased a new GMC/Maxim Engine with 1000 gallons of on board water and a 600 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Goodwill Fire Station. 

1974 - The Township purchased a new Seagrave Engine. This Engine was housed at the Goodwill Fire Station. 

1974 - The Township purchased a new International Fleetstar / Maxim Engine with 1000 gallons of on board water and a 500 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Askam Fire Station. 

1975 - The Township purchased a new Maxim Engine with 500 gallons of  on board water and a 1250 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Newtown Fire Station. 

1978 - Franklin Fire Co purchased a used 1950 American LaFrance 700 Series Open Cab 65’ MM Ladder from Delaware Water Gap Fire Company in Monroe County, PA 

1978 - The Township purchased a new Ford C8000/E-One  Engine with 500 gallons of on board water and a 1000 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Preston Fire Station. 

1979 - The 1970 GMC/Maxim Engine was sold to Rinehimers Equipment on Route 11 in Berwick, Columbia County, PA. 

1979 - The 1954 Ward LaFrance Engine was sold to a local farmer. 

1979 - The Township purchased a new Hahn Engine. This Engine was housed at the Breslau Fire Station. 

1980 - The Franklin Fire Company purchased a used 1956 Ward LaFrance Open Cab 75’ MM Ladder with an on board water tank of 400 gallons and a 750 gpm pump from the Wallington Fire Department in Bergen County, NJ

1980 - Breslau Fire Company purchased a new GMC Cab and Chassis, Installed a new Morysville large utility body and the 40’ RM Ladder from the 1956 Ford/Reading ladder truck.

1982 - The 1934 GMC/American LaFrance Engine was sold to Jim Sturdevant from Dalton, Lackawanna County, PA 

1985 - The 1974 Seagrave Engine was rehabbed by J.C. Moore in Fredonia, Mercer County, PA

1988 - The 1969 International Co / Maxim Engine was sold.

1990 - The Township purchased a used 1975 International / Car Mar Mini from the Meshoppen Fire Company in Wyoming County, PA . This unit was housed at the Newtown Fire Station. 

1993 - Askam Fire Company purchased a 1977 Dodge Ram Pick-Up Truck from Government Surplus and made it into a Brush Truck. 

1993 - The Township Purchased a new KME Renegade Engine  with 1000 gallons of on board water and a 1250 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Franklin Fire Station. 

1993 - The Township Purchased a new KME Renegade Engine with 1000 gallons of on board water, 30 gallons foam, and a 1250 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Goodwill Fire Station.  

1993 - Franklin Fire Company sold the 1956 Ward LaFrance Open Cab 75’ MM Ladder to a private party. 

1995 - Franklin Fire Company junked the 1985/50 American LaFrance 65’ MM Ladder 

1995 - Franklin Fire Company purchased a used 1969 Seagrave 100’ RM Ladder from Collingdale Fire Company # 1 in Delaware County, PA 

1996 - Breslau Fire Company purchased a used 1986 GMC/Marion Rescue from Indian Mills Fire Company in Burlington County, NJ

1998 - Breslau Fire Company sold the 1980 GMC/Morysville 40’ RM Ladder to Gene Ditaolo in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, PA whom is a dealer that sells fire trucks overseas. 

2000 - The township gave the 1974 International Fleetstar/Maxim Engine to the Hanover Township DPW.

2000 - The Township Purchased a new Spartan Advantage / Smeal Engine with 1000 gallons of on board water and a 1500 gpm pump. This Engine was housed at the Askam Fire Station. ** This Engine remains in service as Hanover Township Engine 6. 

2001 - The 1978 Ford C/E-One Engine was rehabbed with new high side compartments by students of the Wilkes Barre Area Vo Tech School 

2001 - Breslau Fire Company purchased a used 1977 GMC/Reading Utility Body Truck with a large body cap from Exeter Fire Company in Luzerne County, PA  The Body Cap was removed and scrapped. 

2005 - Franklin Fire Company took the 1969 Seagrave 100’ RM Ladder out of service because of a bad rotation bearing in the turntable. In 2006, it was sold to Greg DiPaolo in Bensalem, Bucks County, PA. This vehicle was then sold in 2012 to Pat Shoop Jr. of Lewistown, Mifflin County, PA who owned it for a few months and then sold it to George Kaiser in Collingdale, Delaware County, PA.

2006 - Goodwill Fire Company  Purchased a new Haulmark Trailer for use as a support unit. 

2006 - A refurbished KME Excel Heavy Rescue was purchased by all 6 Township Companies.

2006 - Goodwill Fire Company purchased a new Ford F250 pickup truck to haul the support trailer. This vehicle is still currently in service out of Fire Headquarters as Light Brush 3. 

2007 -  the 1986 GMC/Marion Rescue was sold to Independent Fire Company in Kingston, Luzerne County, PA 

2007 - Breslau Fire Company purchased a new Ford F550 / KME Utility Body Truck for Use as a water rescue Vehicle. 

2007 - Breslau Fire Company removed the skid unit from the 1977 Dodge Ram Pickup and sold the truck to a private party. 

2008 - Askam Fire Company acquired the 1977 GMC/Reading Utility truck from the Breslau Fire Company and installed the skid from the 1977 Dodge. This vehicle is still currently in service as Light Brush 6 housed in the South Station.

2008 - A new 2008 KME Predator 75’ RM Ladder was purchased with the help of a FEMA AFG Grant. This vehicle is currently housed at Fire Headquarters and is in service as Truck 4. 

2008 - The 1979 Hahn Engine was relocated to the Preston Fire Station from the Breslau Fire Station. 

2008 - The 1993 KME Renegade was relocated from the Franklin Fire Station to the Newtown Fire Station. 

2008 - The 1974 Maxim was sold to a private party.

2009 - Breslau Fire Company and the Breslau Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary purchased a used GMC Envoy for use as a support vehicle. 

2009 - Preston Fire Company purchased a leftover Chevy 3500 HD pickup truck from Valley Chevrolet and installed a skid unit for use as a brush truck. This vehicle is currently in service as Utility 7 and the skid unit was removed and placed into the 2006 Ford F250 Pickup Truck. 

2010 - The 1975 International / Car Mar Mini was given to the Township Street Department 

2010 - The Township Removed the 1978 Ford C8000/E-One Engine from service and sold it for scrap at Spencers Junkyard. 

2010 - The Department acquired a used 1997 Ford F250 Crew Cab Pick up truck from PA DCNR for use as a brush truck. 

2010 - The Township Purchased a new Ford Expedition from KME and had upfitting completed for use as a duty officer vehicle. 

2012 - The Department acquired a 1987 AM General 6x6 from PA DCNR for use as a Brush Tanker.

2015 - The 1997 Ford F250 Crew Cab Pick Up truck was returned to DCNR to be scrapped after the motor on the vehicle blew on a fire response. 

2016 - The 1979 Hahn was removed from service and donated to the Schuylkill County Fire Museum. 

2017 - The Department with help from Hanover Township and the assistance of a FEMA AFG Grant purchased a new E-One Typhoon Engine. This unit is currently in service as Engine 1 and is housed at Fire Headquarters. 

2017 - The Township Purchased a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Truck with Utility Cap from the Ashley Ambulance Association , Luzerne County, PA for use as a Duty officer vehicle. 

2017 - the 2010 Ford Expedition was repurposed as a Fire Police vehicle. 

2018 - Purchased a used 1998 E One Cyclone Heavy Rescue from Emergency Services of Moosic Borough , Lackawanna County, PA  This unit was delivered on March 29, 2018 and placed into service shortly after. This unit is currently in service as Rescue 5 and is housed at Fire Headquarters. 

2018 - The 2006 KME Excel Heavy Rescue was sold through Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus Brokers to Versailles Fire Department in Versailles Indiana. 

2019 - The Department acquired a 2008 GMC/KME Mini Pumper from the Sugar Notch Fire Department, Luzerne County, PA  through an intergovernmental agreement for Fire Protection Services. This unit is in service as Engine 3 and is housed at Fire Headquarters. 

2019 - The 1993 KME Renegade Engine was decommissioned to a Reserve Engine and placed into storage. 

2021 - The 2010 Ford Expedition was damaged in an accident and retired from service. 

2021 - The Department purchased a 1994 Freightliner/KME Walk In Rescue Unit from the Weatherly Fire Department  in Weatherly, Carbon County, PA for use as a Water Rescue and Support Unit. 

2021 - The 2008 Ford F550/KME Utility truck was sold to Commodore Fire Co. in Indiana County, PA 

2022 - 2006 Arctic Cat ATV was acquired through an intergovernmental agreement from the Warrior Run Fire Company, Luzerne County, PA 

2022 - The Township purchased an Argo Aurora 8x8 Amphibious UTV from Argo North in Clifton, NJ

2023 - The Department acquired a 1993 Ford F250 with a Reading Utility Body from the Sugar Notch Fire Department, Luzerne County, PA for use as a Fire Police Traffic Unit. 

2023 - The Department acquired a 1996 KME Renegade Engine through an intergovernmental agreement for fire protection services from the Sugar Notch Fire Department, Luzerne County, PA

Breslau Hose Co #5 - Hose Company History 

Breslau Hose Co. # 5, was chartered on the 4th of October 1913, with 15 members signing the Charter. The original hose company site was on Ferry Rd. in the Breslau section of Hanover Township. It has continued to grow and in 1954, showed a membership of 20-30 active members. The hose co. remained on the site until the flood of 1972 where damage from the flood forced the township to build a new building at the corner of  First and Delaney streets in the Lyndwood section of Hanover Township which is a 1/2 mile from the original location. A 2 bay building was built to house the present day pumper and the ladder truck. Within a short period of time, the hose co. added on to the building.

On Feb 20 1984, the Water Rescue program was started after an unfortunate drowning by the Breslau Bridge. In 1996, the Hose Co. purchased a Squad Truck from Indian Mill, New Jersey. Within a few months and great support from the Hanover Township Ambulance and the Breslau Hose Co. Ladies Aux. the Hose Co. put the Squad truck into service as Rescue 5.