Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company

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Water Rescue

In 2010 the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company was recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner thru the Pennsylvania Voluntary Rescue Services Recognition program as a Level 2a Swiftwater Team. We are the first team in the state to reach this level of recognition.

The Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company is apart of the Allegheny County Swiftwater/Flood Response Team. Members of the Water Rescue team make up the roster for the Allegheny County Swiftwater/Flood Response Team. The Allegheny County Swiftwater/Flood Response Team is recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner thru the Pennsylvania Voluntary Rescue Services Recognition program as a Level 1a Swiftwater Team. The Allegheny County Swiftwater/Flood Response Team is the first and only team in the state to reach this level of recognition.

At this time we maintain 7 water craft for fire/rescue use. Two of these watercraft are maintained on the Allegheny River during the boating season with the remaining watercraft on trailers allowing for quick deployment to the surrounding area.

Our quick deployment watercraft are two Seadoo Wake jet skies, an inflatable Avon boat and a Creature Craft. The Creature Craft is an inflatable Rescue Boat for Low Head Dam Rescue. The Rescue Craft has a unique design for safety including a seat belt and roll cage to assure that no rescuer will fall in the water. The Rescue Craft also has a 10-hp motor for motorized boat operations. The inflatable Avon is provided by Pennsylvania Region 13. In addition to the sonar that is mounted on our Pontoon Boat we also have portable side scan sonar and portable underwater camera capabilities.

The Blawnox Water Rescue Team has been deployed as part of the Allegheny County Swiftwater/Flood Response Team by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to multiple natural disasters including Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and Hurricane Sandy.

376 Freeport Road Blawnox, PA 15238
Emergency Dispatch Phone: 911 Business Phone: 412-828-6380 Business Fax: 412-828-1114