Slippery Rock fire, EMS personnel celebrate 50 years of ambulance service
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team and EMS personnel donned neckties and suits instead of their usual helmets and fire gear in recognition of a historic occasion Saturday, Jan. 13.
The fire station on Elm Street was filled with laughter and applause as the group celebrated 50 years since the creation of the EMS service and swore in new officers at their annual installation dinner.
Since the service was implemented in 1974, eight medical commanders have sat at the helm of the operation, and all were present to celebrate the momentous occasion Saturday.
“Historically when you look back at it, Pittsburgh’s EMS started in 1975,” according to Rob McLafferty, Butler County’s 911 coordinator. “EMS was just getting started in the country ... It was brand new. I’m not aware of anyone else in our area who’s done this.”
McLafferty said the 50-year milestone met by Slippery Rock’s EMS service was impressive, and the sentiment was shared by Steve Elliott, the current medical officer for the service.
He remarked how difficult it is to keep an EMS service running.
“I’ve seen others in the area close due to funding, increased costs, manpower issues,” he said.
The Slippery Rock service was started after several incidents in the 1970s that resulted in delayed patient emergency care. Today, the ambulance service always has a paid staff member on call, according to Elliott.
That was no different for the fire department during the installation dinner festivities, according to Chief Ryan Hanchosky.
“We’ve got a crew that is committed to covering our calls,” he said.
Hanchosky made it clear the fire department and ambulance service personnel were committed to helping each other, adding that three firefighters completed testing to become EMT certified in the past year.
“It’s not fire department and ambulance service ... we’re a team,” he said. “There’s some times I feel I’m on the ambulance more than the fire truck ... but as I always say, we’re a team ... We’re celebrating 50 years and other places are shutting down, which is sad,” he said.
Before the department officers took their oath, Hanchosky and Elliott announced both the fire department and ambulance responded to a record-high number of calls in 2023. The fire department responded to 556, while the EMS service responded to 1,514 calls.
“Last year we were at a record high, and we broke it again this year,” Hanchosky said. “That’s without getting paid for anything. These people drop what they’re doing, leave their families, to answer calls.”
Elliott said the ambulance service had even more to celebrate, as a new ambulance would be ready for use in 2024.
The line officers were sworn in by Mayor Jondavid Longo, who said the installation is one of his favorite events.
“I was reflecting on the way in on how you could possibly impart the right words to thank them for their service, and there are no words. They are servicing a population that rivals the city of Butler, especially when school is in session,” he said. “We’re really blessed to have a special group of individuals here who serve us.”
Various awards were given to firefighters and EMS personnel for their service throughout the year.
One such recognition was for Mark Bell, who served as a paramedic for Butler County for 29 years before he was injured on a call with the Slippery Rock ambulance crew.
All eight of the commanding medical officers in Slippery Rock’s ambulance service history were present at the installation, including Sandy Fox, the very first to hold the post.
Fox was followed by Jim North, Monica Resek, Nico Soler, Tina and Brian Alben, Doreen “Puddie” Taggart, and Elliott.
According to Fox, it was a mail carrier who stopped by the Slippery Rock newsstand where she worked who convinced her to join the service in the first place. She was trained at Butler County Community College to be an EMT and went on to serve for 10 years.
“I just loved it,” she said. “I loved running calls. I loved helping people.”
Fox said she was glad to have been invited to celebrate the 50-year anniversary.
“I think it’s fantastic, I really do,” she said.
Fox was the one who inspired Taggart to join. Taggart would become the longest serving medical officer, hanging up her uniform in 2021 after 16 years of service.
“Everyday (Fox) would say, ‘You need to be an EMT,’ and she wore me down,” she laughed. “I think it’s a God-given gift. I loved it.”
She said she was proud to see the service still standing.
“It’s awesome because you see so many volunteer services folding, and we’re still here giving 24-hour care,” she said.
Elliott said he believes the Slippery Rock EMS has another 50 years ahead.
“I see continued dedication to the community that we proudly serve,” he said. “It’s definitely rare in today’s day and age.”
