Unionville Volunteer Fire Company

10/07/2026

Tuesday Drill Night Recap

Grain Bin Rescue Training

Yesterday evening, members of the Unionville Fire Company and Butler Township Volunteer Fire District participated in a Grain Bin Rescue class instructed by Jason Butterfield.

During the training, crews reviewed critical safety precautions for working in confined spaces and grain bins, including the hazards responders may encounter during an emergency. Members also learned the key differences between farm silos and grain bins and the unique challenges each presents during a rescue.

Crews practiced and discussed various rigging systems used for patient removal and rescuer safety, as well as the key priorities for patient care, stabilization, and safe removal during a grain bin incident.

Grain bin rescues are extremely dangerous and responders must understand the hazards associated with flowing grain, entrapment, confined spaces, and structural conditions before entering or attempting a rescue. Proper training, communication, scene assessment, personal protective equipment, and the use of appropriate rescue systems are critical to protecting both the victim and rescuers.

This training was extremely important for the safety of our responders and our local farming community. Having the proper knowledge, equipment, and training allows us to respond more effectively and safely should a grain bin emergency occur.

This training was provided as a BC3 class, and members from both departments were also able to receive EMS continuing education credits.

A special thank you to Ryan Graham of Graham Farms for taking the time to welcome us to his farm, allowing us to train on site, and sharing valuable information about grain bins and the safety precautions our responders should take when operating around them.

09/23/2026

Tuesday Night Training – Tree Stand Rescue 🌲🦌

Yesterday evening, members of Unionville Volunteer Fire Company, Butler Township Volunteer Fire District Station 3, and East Butler Station 9 & 44 came together for an important Tuesday night training focused on tree stand rescue.

With hunting season just around the corner, this training provided our members with hands on experience in safely rescuing hunters who may become injured, experience a medical emergency, or become stranded while in a tree stand.
Members trained on several rescue techniques, including:

🔹 Safely lowering a patient from an elevated tree stand
🔹 Building and utilizing an A-frame ladder system
🔹 Rope and lowering systems
🔹 Patient packaging and lowering techniques
🔹 Medical considerations and patient care during a tree stand rescue
🔹 Safe rescue operations in difficult and elevated environments

Tree stand emergencies can present unique challenges for both the patient and rescuers. Having the proper training, equipment, and experience is critical to ensuring these incidents are handled as safely and efficiently as possible.

A special thank you to Instructor Jason Butterfield for sharing his knowledge and providing an excellent hands on training session.

We would also like to thank our neighbor, Pam Tuck, for allowing us to use her yard and trees to make this valuable training possible. Your support of our departments and our commitment to keeping our members prepared is greatly appreciated!
Additionally, members were able to receive EMS continuing education hours for participating in the training.

Stay safe this hunting season, wear your safety harness, and always let someone know where you are hunting!

09/20/2026

The Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company is hosting a 16-hour Acquired Structure Burn Class on Tuesday, September 22; Thursday, September 24; and Sunday, September 27.

Tuesday, September 22: 6:00 PM
Thursday, September 24: 6:00 PM
Sunday, September 27: 8:00 AM

If you are interested in attending, please use the registration link below to sign up.
Requirements:

Must be 18 years of age or older
Must have completed ELIF or EBM
Proof of certification is required to participate

We encourage anyone interested in participating to register as soon as possible.

Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company is hosting a 16-hour acquire structural burn session. The course will provide a review and application of safe firefighting practices while being supervised during practical application and live-fire training for exterior and interior firefighting operations. E...

08/28/2026

We always say we’re a martial arts family…and we mean it!

When our building filled with smoke from a bad AC unit, we got a quick response from two fire departments. The first two firefighters off the trucks were former black belt student Mike Pflugh and current 3rd degree black belt student and instructor Andrew Dodgson (pictured).

Thank you to the Unionville and Butler Township fire departments for their quick response and thorough check of our building to make sure everything will be safe moving forward!

07/29/2026

CENTER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS: MEETING TONIGHT

The Center Township Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting tonight to discuss a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic position, weekday emergency-response staffing, and the 0.5-mill EMS tax.

The Board may take action at this meeting.

Tonight—Wednesday, July 29
7:00 PM
Unionville Volunteer Fire Company
102 Mahood Road, Butler, PA 16001

Center Township residents are encouraged to attend, hear the information, ask questions, and participate in this important community discussion.

07/28/2026

CENTER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS: SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY

This is a reminder that the Center Township Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening to discuss a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic position that would provide weekday staffing from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The meeting will also include discussion of the 0.5-mill EMS tax and emergency-service funding. The Board may take action at this meeting.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026
7:00 PM
Unionville Volunteer Fire Company
102 Mahood Road, Butler, PA 16001

Unionville Volunteer Fire Company encourages Center Township residents to attend, hear the information being presented, ask questions, and participate in the discussion about the future of emergency services in our community.

Your attendance matters. Please share this reminder with other Center Township residents.

07/24/2026

CENTER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS: YOUR VOICE MATTERS

SPECIAL MEETING
Center Township Board of Supervisors

Wednesday, July 29, 2026
7:00 PM
Unionville Volunteer Fire Company
102 Mahood Road, Butler, PA 16001

The Center Township Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting to discuss creating a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic position that would provide weekday daylight staffing and to discuss how an EMS tax would support this. The Board may take action at this meeting.

Unionville Volunteer Fire Company is asking Center Township residents to attend and support the creation of a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic position.

Our community continues to rely on dedicated volunteers, but weekday availability has become increasingly limited. At the same time, emergency calls continue to increase.

Across the three-year data period, UVFC’s annual call volume increased from 598 incidents in 2023 to 685 incidents in 2025—an increase of 14.5%.

In 2025:

• 400 incidents involved rescue or emergency medical services
• 207 incidents occurred during weekday business hours
• Average weekday staffing was approximately 19% lower than during other periods

A full-time Firefighter/Paramedic would provide dependable daytime response capacity, earlier paramedic-level assessment and care, and daily operational support for the volunteers who continue to serve our community.

This position would strengthen—not replace—Center Township’s volunteer emergency-service system.

The meeting will also include discussion of how an EMS tax will help support the position and other emergency-service needs. Residents deserve the opportunity to hear the facts, ask questions, and participate in this important community decision.

Please attend and show the Board of Supervisors that dependable emergency services are a priority for Center Township.

Emergencies do not wait until volunteers are available. We must plan today for the emergency services our community will need tomorrow.

Please share this post with other Center Township residents.

07/01/2026

Tuesday Drill Recap

Yesterday evening, Unionville firefighters took advantage of the weather for dive team training. Members of our Dive Team launched our boat along with the Water Rescue Team 300 boat at Moraine State Park to begin a three-week training series.

Over the next three weeks, you may see Unionville divers and support personnel training at Moraine. These training sessions will focus on boat operations, underwater navigation, recovery and salvage operations, and training our new boat operators on the onboard sonar system.

This training is essential for our Dive Team, as it keeps our divers acclimated to the underwater environment and ensures they remain proficient with the equipment they use. So, if you're out on the lake over the next few weeks and see our boat, don't be alarmed, it's just training.

06/30/2026

Delayed post!
Last Tuesday evening, members of Unionville and Connoquenessing Fire Companies got together for a fun game of softball at the Center Township ball fields!
After a busy spring training season, the officers decided it was time to bring our members and their families together for an evening of fun. Without the support of our families, our volunteers wouldn't be able to dedicate the time and commitment they do to protecting the communities they serve.
We took the evening to relax, enjoy great food, share camaraderie, and add a little friendly competition to the mix. We even had some of our future firefighters in attendance!
Once again, we'd like to thank all of our volunteers for everything they do, as well as Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company Company for joining us. We appreciate everyone who came out and helped make it a great evening!

06/19/2026

The Unionville Volunteer Fire Company would like to congratulate Junior Firefighter Aiden Hoehn on successfully completing the Junior Firefighter Academy held in Chicora over the past two weeks.

This intensive 80 hour training provided Aiden with valuable hands-on experience and education in the fire service. During the academy, he earned his Traffic Incident Management Systems (TIMS), Hazardous Materials Awareness ProBoard, and today tested for his Fireground Support ProBoard.

Since joining Unionville VFC in June 2025, Aiden has consistently demonstrated dedication, motivation, and a strong desire to learn. Whether attending training, responding to calls, helping around the station, or serving the community alongside fellow members, he has continually shown what it means to be committed to the fire service.

At just 15 years old, Aiden's accomplishments are impressive and reflect the hard work and determination he brings to everything he does. Please join us in congratulating him on this outstanding achievement and wishing him continued success as he pursues a future in emergency services.