Quick Facts Columbia Borough's designated Rescue Company Columbia Borough's designated Communications Command Center Busiest Rescue Company in Lancaster County in 2002 - 2005, 2008 and 2009. Among the first in the county to have Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) First River Rescue unit in this immediate region American Red Cross Disaster Shelter designee Featured in the IFSTA Rescue manual First Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) in the County. Although a standard piece of equipment by today's standards, we set the bar in Lancaster County for this important piece of equipment. In 2002, became Columbia Borough's first and only Fire Company participating in the Professional Certification Program of the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. We became QRS Certified in 2005. Championed the first Risk Watch Safer Community in the state of Pennsylvania in 2006. In 2006, we also became certified in the PA DOH Voluntary Rescue Service Program at the Technician Level. Members of the following: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Lancaster County Fireman's Association (LCFA) Lancaster County Chief's Association (LCCA) Columbia Borough Fireman's Relief Association Columbia Borough Safety Committee Columbia Borough Fire Safety Education Committee (Chair) Columbia Borough Training Committee Columbia Borough Pre-Plan Committee Our team consists of over 25 highly skilled firefighters with training in: NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Operations NFPA 1001 Firefighter Certification NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator NFPA 1006 Rescue Technician NFPA 1021 Fire Officer Certification NFPA 1031 Fire Service Inspector Certification NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor Certification NFPA 1521 Incident Safety Officer Essentials of Firefighting High Angle Rescue Vehicle Rescue Technician Confined Space Rescue Water Rescue Incident Command Trench Rescue Rapid Intervention Training Engine Company Operations An Abridged History In May of 1872, the Borough of Columbia opened Plane Street and Ninth Street to the Washington Boro Pike. October of that year saw the extension of Manor Street to Tenth Street and the opening of Tenth Street to Barber Street. January of 1874 brought the opening and grading of Manor Street to Twelfth Street. Eleventh Street was opened from Manor Street to the Lancaster Pike. The East End of town was beginning to grow at a rapid pace. The idea of fire protection in the East End was discussed in September of 1888 when the Borough held its Centennial celebration. However, nothing came of these talks and the growth of the East End continued. In 1895, the population in the East End was great enough to warrant the Borough to build the Manor Street Elementary School. Something needed to be done—the residents needed fire protection. A petition was brought before Borough Council on April 2, 1895 from "the citizens and taxpayers on South Fourth Street, Manor Street and East Columbia praying council to place a hose house and buckets for brigade at Plane and Manor Streets. It recites that the distance of the Shawnee fire engine house is estimated at about one mile distant and the taxpayers of that vicinity claim that they have no protection in case of fire and they pray council to grant the above request.  The resolution was ordered to lie for one month” (Columbia Weekly Spy, 4/5/1895). Another petition was filed before Council in May.  In June it was mentioned, “the Fire Committee reported progress in establishing a hose house in East Columbia” (Columbia Independent, 6/11/1895).This progress was halted for various reasons and nothing more occurred until September of 1896. When the Columbia Fire Company No. 1 held their Centennial celebration on the dates of September 23rd to the 25th of 1896 the talk continued—this time in earnest. The Chief Engineer of the Columbia Borough Fire Department, William Given, in an address to Council at their February meeting, recommended some form of protection to the property in the Manor Street and Eastern section of the Borough (Columbia Independent, 2/9/1897). Plans were developed and on February 11, 1897 the first seeds were planted for the organization that would in time become known as The Hambones. Click Here to view our retired apparatus page. For those interested, download the detailed version of our history, listing detailed dated highlights.