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West Hanover, PA

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Animal Rescue - July 8, 2026 - Rescue 36-1 assists Company 39

Rescue 36-1 was dispatched to assist Company 39 on a horse rescue. It was reported that the horse was trapped under the gate of his stall. Units responded and AOS to find the horse down in the doorway of the stall, with the door removed by the owner. The horse is 32 years old and was unable to get up on his own due to how narrow the doorway was. A horse expert was called in to assist with the extrication. Crews were able to harness the animal and pull him clear of the doorway and into the next stall where he had enough room to get up with assistance of the FD personnel. The horse, while extremely tired, was in good spirits and uninjured. The owner took over care of the horse and FD went in service.

Big Boy visits the Mid-State - Overview Drive in South Hanover Township

4th of July Severe Weather response

On the 4th of July, West Hanover Township and Dauphin County were hit with a high wind and rain event that caused significant damage to property around 7 pm. The West Hanover Twp. Fire Company responded to numerous calls for trees down blocking roadways throughout the Township as well as a multitude of trees down on power lines and utility poles broke off with wires on the ground. The township had hundreds of residents without power during this event. Members of the Fire Company as well as the West Hanover Twp. Road Crew were out for hours attempting to keep roadways open and blocking roads, where a number of trees and utility lines were down and could not be cleared immediately until PPL could repair their equipment first. In all, 14 severe weather incidents from the County were handled as well as 20+ additional trees or limbs down / roadways blocked that units had come upon while enroute to another call. The Fire Company also handle a number of Fire Calls including structure fires and an accident with injuries that occurred when a tree smashed the windshield of the car traveling on the roadway and sprayed the occupants with glass shards.

Thank you to all the West Hanover Twp. EMA, Fire Department personnel and West Hanover Twp. Road Crew that came out, opened roadways where possible and kept the Township safe.

The West Hanover Township Fire Company wishes everyone a Happy and Safe Fourth of July - 250 Years and Counting !

Animal Rescue - June 11, 2026

This afternoon the Fire Company was dispatched for a report of baby ducks in the storm drain. DO36, Engine 36 & Squad 36-2 responded to the incident. Crews found multiple baby ducks in a storm drain with the mother duck circling the area. Crews were able to retrieve all 8 baby ducks from the drain and reunite the family.

Previous Postings

Congratulations to Kyle Miller

Congratulations to our very own Kyle Miller on being honored with the Craig Webb Firefighter of the Year Award by the Dauphin County Commissioners!

Kyle’s impact reaches far beyond the fire company, serving West Hanover in numerous roles including Township EMA Coordinator, Assistant Fire Marshal, Public Safety Advisory Board President, Planning Commission Board Member, and Township Supervisor, among many others. We are grateful for Kyle’s years of service, leadership, and dedication to our community. Thank you for all that you do, we truly appreciate you!

BINGO Blast a Success - May 3rd, 2026

Thank you to all the patrons that supported our Fire Company by taking part in the Bingo Blast. And thank you to all the personnel that came out to run the games, make the food and standby for any calls. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Squad 36-2 transfers to Wiconisco Station 23 - April 27, 2026

Squad 36-2 was requested to transfer and cover for Wiconisco Fire Company while most of the Upper Dauphin County units were assisting Schuylkill County with a 2nd Alarm structure fire. The building was originally a roller-skating rink, then a warehouse and most recent apartments.

Squad 36-2 and Elizabethtown Tower Ladder 74 on standby - April 10, 2026

Squad 36-2 was dispatched to transfer to Palmyra Fire Station with Tower Ladder 74 from Elizabethtown to cover their district. Palmyra FD and mutual aid units were on a working 2nd Alarm residential structure fire in Palmyra Boro. Dispatchers said the fire was first reported around 2 p.m. in the 200 block of North Chestnut Street. A caller reported flames were showing from the building.

Forcible Entry training - March 26, 2026

This evening crews from West Hanover Twp. and East Hanover Twp. Fire Companies trained at the Grantville Fire Station on forcible entry. Personnel were able to train with the blue door simulator and fine-tune their skills on forcing steel door assemblies.

Vehicle Rescue training - March 24, 2026

Crews reviewed Vehicle Rescue procedures, from Scene Safety and apparatus placement to Vehicle stabilization. Crews utilized cribbing and several styles of struts to stabilize the F350 pickup we have to train on. We will continue to work with this pickup over the next few weeks, utilizing hand tools and powered rescue tools, and the limitations of each.

Annual Hazardous Materials Operations refresher training

Members of the West Hanover Twp. Fire Company and South Hanover Twp. Fire Company attended a 2 evening Hazmat Ops refresher training provided by the Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Team members, on February 10th and 17th. Students were provided information on Chemical properties, Chemical hazards and concerns for life and environment as well as different containers and vehicles that they can be transported in. A review of the ERG and other reference materials and online resources was covered. The second evening included hands-on Multi-gas meter chemical detection, the limitations of the meters and proper use of the meter. A total of 27 personnel were in attendance.

Rescue 36-1 assists with Horse rescue in East Hanover Twp. - January 22, 2026

Crew of Rescue 36-1 assist the Grantville Fire Company with a horse trapped in a pond, covered with ice. The horse fell through the ice 3:25 pm and the Fire departments were dispatched to assist with the rescue. Fire units from Grantville, West Hanover Township, and boats from Rescue of Susquehanna and Fort Indiantown Gap responded on the call. With crews working together the horse was removed from the pond around 4:20 pm. The horse was uninjured from the incident.

 

 

 

 

 

Assistant Chief Justin Kwasnoski in the water rescue gear

New Utility 36-1 placed in service - January 22, 2026

The West Hanover Twp. Fire Company is proud to announce Utility 36-1 has been placed in service. The new vehicle is a 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW 4X4 4-door pickup with a Lancaster Truck Bodies utility body. Utility 36-1 will be able to carry up to 4 firefighters to calls and be used on Structure fire calls, Rescue calls, Medical assist calls, Forestry and Brush fire calls, and assist with Traffic control on the scene. The unit as 2 SCBA's, medical equipment, hand tools for firefighting and traffic cones. This vehicle will run out of Station 1 on Jonestown road.

2026 Executive Officers and Fire Chiefs sworn in January 6, 2026

The elected Executive Officers and Fire Chiefs were sworn in last evening at the January Company meeting. 2026 Fire Officers were announced.

 

Executive Officers:

President - Mike Keller

Vice President - Dave Stepler

Recording Secretary - Tara Rex

Treasurer - Angie Senft

Financial Secretary - Don Poole

Trustees - Kyle Mille, Justin Kwasnoski, Jason Barnes, Bill Haig

 

Fire Officers:

Fire Chief - H. Steven Smedley

Deputy Fire Chief - Matt Senft

1st Assist. Chief - Dave Stepler

2nd Assist. Chief - Tyler Kerstetter

3rd Assist. Chief - Justin Kwasnoski

Captain 36 - Tyler Smith

Captain 36-1 - Mike Keller

Lieutenant 36 - Dylan Vandernick

National Traffic Incident Management training - January 13, 2026

Last evening, the West Hanover Twp. Fire Company sponsored a Traffic Incident Management program (TIMS), instructed by Todd Leiss. Todd developed and has continued to update the TIMS program and present it to Emergency Services across the country. Todd is the founder of TIM Heroes, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to provide outreach material, resources, and training related to traffic incident management (TIM) to the public, schools, motorists, and emergency responders. Members from neighboring Fire Companies, Fire Police, and Wrecker services were invited to attend the program. A total of 45 students attended the program and was well received.

Happy New Years to all, from all of us here at West Hanover Township Fire Company!

West Hanover Twp. Santa Run - December 14, 2025

  • Santa getting ready to visit the families in the Township
  • Children waiting to tell Santa their wish for Christmas
  • Santa and his helpers from the Fire Company

The West Hanover Twp. Fire Company wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas

Cub Scout Pack 361 Chili Cookoff - December 7th, 2025

Cub Scout Pack 361 Scouting for Food Success! November 26, 2025

We couldn’t be prouder of these Scouts! This week, Pack 361 collected over 1,600 food items through the Scouting for Food drive, an incredible show of generosity from our families, neighbors, and community.
Every single donation is already making a difference. All items were delivered to:
• The Blessing Box
• LifePoint Church
• The local food bank supporting the Central Dauphin School District
Thank you to everyone who contributed, shared, and supported the Scouts in this service project. Your kindness helps fill shelves, support families, and teach our Scouts the true meaning of helping others.
Great job, Pack 361 and thank you, community, for making this possible!

Tractor Supply - Hometown Hero's Event - November 1, 2025

The Fire Company was invited to take part in the annual Tractor Supply Hometown Hero appreciation day. Engine 36-2 and Rescue 36-1 provided Fire Prevention materials for the visitors and a tour of the apparatus and equipment. Tractor Supply presented a donation check for $500.00 to help with equipment and gear. Pictured are L to R: Fire Chief Steve Smedley, Rob the Manager and Becky an Associate from Tractor Supply, Fire Police Officer Sam Swartz and Fire Company President and Lieutenant Mike Keller. Thank you to Tractor Supply and their continued support.

Cub Scout Pack 361 - October 20, 2025

We had the pleasure of welcoming Cub Scout Pack 361 to the station for their weekly meeting. We hosted a hands-on fire prevention presentation and gave the scouts a full tour of our trucks, tools, and gear.
It’s hard to believe that just last year, Pack 361 started with zero members and now they’re growing into a strong, curious, and engaged group of future leaders. Watching their excitement as they explored the equipment and asked thoughtful questions reminds us why community outreach matters so much.
We’re proud to support these young scouts and help spark their interest in safety, service, and teamwork. Thank you to the pack leaders, families, and our dedicated firefighters who made the evening so memorable!

 

Fire Prevention - October 7, 2025

Today, our Volunteer Firefighters had the privilege of visiting West Hanover Elementary School and Inspire Daycare! We loved spending time with the kids, sharing fire safety tips, and showing them what it means to serve our community. Their smiles and curiosity made our day! Thank you to the amazing staff and students for the warm welcome — we’re proud to be part of such a caring and connected community.

 

Fire Prevention - Station 36-1 Open House - October 7, 2025

We’re excited to welcome our comm unity into the firehouse for a special Open House event! Residents explored our station, met the dedicated volunteers who proudly serve our township, and learned more about the work we do to keep our neighbors safe. Thank you to everyone that came out.

 

 

The West Hanover Township Fire Company No. 1, better known as Company 36, is an all-volunteer company that proudly protects the residents of West Hanover Township and neighboring communities. Our humble roots began in 1946 when a small group of township residents visited the New Holland horse sale with plans to purchase some horses, but instead came home with a used American LaFrance fire engine.

For 79 years, through the generous donations and support provided by our township residents, we have grown to 3 stations and 10 pieces of apparatus. During 2024, your all volunteer fire company responded to 474 calls that equaled a total of 1,416-man hours. Additional volunteer hours included 817 hours for training and more for other community engagement activities. The total of volunteer man hours was 4,720 for 2024.
Every contribution, big or small, directly supports the safety and well-being of our community. By donating, you’re investing in the future safety of our community helping us continue to provide critical support to those in need.

Pennsylvania's volunteer fire service is facing a critical shortage, with the number of active volunteers dropping from over 300,000 in the 1970s to approximately 38,000 today. There are many opportunities to open for residents to get involved with the Fire Company. Whether you want to service as a fire fighter, or in other essential administrative roles, volunteering with us helps to make a direct positive impact in our communities. Stop by any Tuesday evening to talk with one of our volunteers.

Stop by Station 1 at:
7624 Jonestown Road

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Monthly Calls

CALLS for 2026West Hanover Twp. CallsMutual Aid CallsTOTAL CALLS
January212647
February162238
March232750
April192241
May234154
June313566
July000
August000
September000
October000
November000
December000
Year131165296

Contact Information

West Hanover Township
Fire Company
7624 Jonestown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112

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Phone: (717) 652-9019
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