West Mifflin #2 Duquesne Annex VFC STATION 294
Proudly serving since 1931
For Fire Services Dial 911
Looking to volunteer?
Why should I volunteer?
Volunteers help their fellow citizens in times of need. You will enjoy a sense of accomplishment, achievement, and pride in the work you do. In addition, you will learn new skills, make new friends, be a part of a team, give back to the community, and make a real difference. Volunteering also opens the door to higher education through the FireVEST Scholarship.
What are the requirements?
We accept applications from anyone 14 years or older. If you are under 18 you need parental permission.
You must also be able to pass background checks.
Do I need to buy my own equipment?
We provide the essential equipment you will need to serve the borough and save lives.
What will I do as a volunteer?
As a volunteer you will be called to...
- Structure Fires
- Traffic Incidents
- Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Response
- Search and Rescue
You won't be required to respond to all incident types
You can also attend and help with...
- Public information and education
- Fundraising
- Public Events
What kind of training will I need?
We pay for all the classes you will need.
- To enter a burning structure you must have at least modules 1,2,3,4 of the Essentials of Firefighting.
- To extricate a patient from a car you must have the PA Department of Health NBVR Technician certification.
- If you wish to take other classes such as Rope Rescue, Fire Dynamics, or any other class that will better the community you may do so with company approval.
In addition to official classes, we run in station drills every Thursday night.
Our History
The Duquesne Annex Volunteer Fire Company was chartered on a petition of 159 residents of the Duquesne Annex and Polish Hill areas of what was then Mifflin Township. The Charter was granted April 15, 1931. Operations began in a garage on the rear of Jake Weinstein’s property, a Charter Member. That operation consisted of one Ford chassis-equipped ladder truck with a foam supply. An adequate facility was required if the Company was to serve the purpose for which it was chartered. So, the Company acquired the property at 1620 Pennsylvania Ave (then Crawford Ave) on which the present fire company stands.
With the acquisition, a building suitable for two trucks was constructed and served the purpose for several years. However, with the construction of Riverview Homes in 1940, the district saw considerable population growth, and many of these new residents became members of the Company. With the increase in membership came new ideas which were adopted. During this period, a used pumper truck was purchased from the City of McKeesport Fire Department, giving the fire company its second piece of firefighting equipment. With the increase in membership, it became necessary to expand. The building was expanded 50ft along Pennsylvania Ave and 30ft back. This new space served as a meeting room and gathering space for social activities.
In the late 40s, the Company began a basic ambulance service for the people of that area. At this point, ambulance services existed solely to transport people to the hospital as quickly as possible but did not render medical aid. The original garage was expanded 60ft back to accommodate this new service. Around this time, we purchased our first pumper truck with funds from the Borough of West Mifflin.
The 50s saw a liquor license’s acquisition, spurring further building expansion. A 258ft by 40ft addition was built on the Mellon Ave side of the existing structure. This new space served as a social club that helped fund fire operations. A new chapter began for the Company at the end of the decade when the groundwork for the Duquesne Annex VFC Relief Association. This association serves to provide life insurance for our members, as well as help fund the purchase of equipment.
Many members began talking about a new building on the rear of the property and the later demolition of the existing structure; however, a building could not be constructed on the site due to a natural gas right-of-way.
After years of planning, a solution was drafted, and in January 1964, construction began on the second-story. This construction was unique in that the expansion was built over the existing building without any interruption of the functions of the fire department below. The completed building was dedicated on June 27, 1965.
Aware that expansion was a trend throughout our Company’s history and that the Pennsylvania Ave property had no more room for development, a property on Homeville Rd was acquired to serve as a site of potential growth, which will place the Company on a more significant road to improve response times across the area.
We are still writing our story and would love for you to be a part of it!
The first structure built by the company. This 1 bay garage stood at 1620 Pennsylvania Ave.
Weather STation and air quality
Accurite Weather Station
We have installed a Accurite Weather station on the outside of the station for our members to know of upcoming weather changes on a moments notice. This can also be accessed by the community .
Purple Air
We have installed a PurpleAir sensor outside of our station. This device records 2.5 particulate matter, temperature, and humidity. Click the button below for a map of the local air quality.
West Mifflin's First Responders
Do you want to rent the Banquet Hall or Donate to our Fire Company