Welcome to the official website of the West Lake Fire Department, located in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Who?
The West Lake Fire Department was founded in 1937 and was the first volunteer fire company in Millcreek Township. The department is comprised of two firehouses, Station 48 and Station 49. West Lake is one of four volunteer fire departments that operate in Millcreek Township. West Lake is the second busiest company in the township and third busiest in Erie County averaging around 1,800 calls for service annually, following the Erie Fire Department and West Ridge Fire Department. West Lake is 100% volunteer with approximately 60 active members.
Where?
West Lake is located in Millcreek Township, a suburb of the City of Erie, Pennsylvania’s 4th largest city. Our first due response district is a suburban setting with residential properties, industrial properties, commercial properties, elementary, middle and high schools, hotels and motels, and most notably Erie International Airport (Tom Ridge Field), Presque Isle State Park (including Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay) and Waldameer Amusement and Water Park.
What?
West Lake is a full service fire department providing coverage for the following: fire suppression, vehicle rescue, hazardous materials, emergency medical services, water rescue (open water/swift water and ice rescue), public relations and fire prevention. Our current apparatus includes two engines, one 75′ ladder truck, one medium rescue, one utility truck, two jet skis, one ice rescue boat and one zodiac rescue boat.
Who assists?
West Lake Fire Department runs mutual aid with the following agencies: West Ridge Fire Department, Lake Shore Fire Department, Kearsarge Fire Department, Belle Valley Fire Department, Erie Airport Fire Department, Erie Airport Police Department, Millcreek Paramedic Service, Presque Isle State Park Rangers, Presque Isle State Park Lifeguards, Emergycare Inc, Erie Fire Department, Fairview Fire Department, Perry Hi-Way Hose Company, McKean Hose Company, Lake City Fire Company, United Stated Coast Guard and Millcreek Township Police Department.
Where?
Again, we operate out of two firehouses, strategically located in our “first due” district, which is within the blue lines in the picture below.
Station 48 is located at 3762 West Lake Road, at the intersections of West Lake Road and Powell Avenue. Station 48 is a five bay station, with a meeting room, computer room, full kitchen, locker rooms, board room, living quarters (sleeping quarters and lounge), chiefs office, maintenance room, treasurer’s office and a detached garage. Station 48 houses 2 engines, 1 ladder truck, 1 medium rescue and 2 jet skis.
Station 49 is located at 2942 West 12th Street, just west of the intersections of West 12th Street and Peninsula Drive. Station 49 is a two bay station, with a common/computer room, lounge, restrooms and upstairs storage. Station 49 houses 1 utility truck, 1 ice rescue boat and 1 zodiac rescue boat.
The map above shows the first due coverage area for the West Lake Fire Department. The coverage area is from Pittsburgh Avenue on the east to Watson Run on the west, the northern railroad tracks by West 23rd Street to the south and Lake Erie to the north. Coverage includes all of Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, Presque Isle State Park & Erie International Airport.
