During the August 1st, 1943 meeting of a community group, originally organized to erect a plaque honoring local residents serving in the armed forces, it was suggested that a committee be appointed to canvass the area for interest in forming a fire company. At the August 12th meeting of the same group, positive results of the survey were reported, and the Lafayette Fire Company was formed. The name Lafayette was selected in honor of General Lafayette, who assembled his troops at a site along the current Old Philadelphia Pike, in 1825, just prior to marching into Lancaster. The Fire Co. was officially chartered on Oct. 1st, 1943, and held its first official meeting on Oct. 7th of the same year. Here it was announced that a 1937 Chevrolet pumper had been purchased. The ’37 Chevy was unique to its era, because it carried a 600 gallon water tank (large for it’s time). It was housed in a garage owned by James Keemer, who donated the use of the building as our first fire station. In 1944 a second pumper was purchased. This unit was also based on a 1937 Chevrolet chassis, but carried no on board water, and was basically used as a hose wagon. In August of 1945, the fire company purchased our current property, and in 1947, a newly constructed 3 bay fire station was completed. In 1949, the fire company purchased its first new pumper. A 500 GPM Chevrolet chassis was ordered, with the intention of having the body build locally. When the chassis was ordered, no color was specified, and the truck was delivered painted Omaha Orange. The members however, liked the unique color, and felt that it would distinguish Lafayette’s units from the others. They decided to keep the unit orange. Omaha orange continues to be the apparatus color today! In 1951, another pumper was to be purchased. This unit, like the ’49 Chevy, had its body constructed by High Welding of Lancaster, but was based on a Reo chassis. The Reo sported a 500 GPM front mounted pump, and a 1200 gallon water tank. This unit served Lafayette until 1986. In 1955, a large social hall was constructed adjacent to the existing 3 bay station. This social hall continues to stand today. Lafayette’s first commercially built pumper was purchased in 1965. The engine was built by Hahn motors of Hamburg PA on a C model Ford chassis. It was equipped with a 1000 GPM pump, and carried 1200 gallons of water. The ’65 Ford served us until 2002. A similar unit to the ’65 was purchased in 1969. Also built by Hahn motors, on a C model Ford chassis, the ’69 pumper had a 1000 GPM pump, and a 1000 gallon water tank. By 1974, the fire company had outgrown its small original 3 bay engine room, and plans were drawn up to construct a new engine room, in place of the current one. The current engine room was dedicated in 1975. Although only being a 2 door station, the new bay is 100’ deep, allowing “stacking” of the apparatus, a practice which is still required today. In 1978, our current Engine 2 was delivered. Built my Mack Trucks of Allentown PA, this unit was the first to incorporate “jump seats”, which are the seats facing backward, behind the driver/officer area. With the delivery of the Mack, it was realized that Lafayette did not need to operate 4 pumpers, and in 1979, the Reo was modified to become the fire companies’ first dedicated foam unit. 5” Supply hose was purchased in 1981, making Lafayette one of the first fire companies in the area to have this large of a supply line. In 1984, the officers of the fire company began to discuss the need for an aerial unit on the east side of Lancaster. Ladder Towers of Ephrata PA was chosen to construct the 75’ aerial unit on a CF model Mack chassis. The Truck was delivered in 1986. At this time, the 1951 Reo pumper was sold, and the 1965 Ford pumper was modified to become the next foam unit. The modifications included the addition of crosslays, and reducing the water tank to 600 gallons, allowing room to carry the foam supply. Unlike its predecessor, the “new” foam unit was also able to function as an engine company as well. In 1988 the station was renovated. The social hall was reduced in size, and offices and a turn-out gear room were constructed. In 1990, the fire company purchased a four door pick-up truck, and constructed compartments on the bed. This unit, known as the Squad, gave us the ability to transport additional personnel to fire scenes, as the fire company decided to no longer ride the tailboards of our apparatus. Placed in service in 1991, the squad continues to serve today. 1991 was also the year Lafayette placed in service the current Rescue/Engine. Engine 631, constructed by Salusbury is the first unit to be delivered with a totally enclosed crew area. This unit was specifically designed to hold the vast array of rescue equipment currently carried, as well as be a fully functional engine company. When this unit was placed in service, the 78 Mack left us for a year to be totally reconstructed. Pennsylvania Fire Apparatus of Gettysburg fabricated a new body to be placed on the existing Mack chassis. The crew area of the cab was also enclosed, and the pump re-certified. With knowledge that the Mack would become the next foam unit, it was constructed with a larger than average hosebed area. Late 1992 our Mack returned home, and the 1969 Ford was sold. In 1993, Lafayette marked our 50th anniversary. By 1997, the membership realized that the majority of the calls were being handled with the Spartan/Saulsbury pumper, which was already beginning to show signs of wear & tear, and the 78 Mack, which was practically new, was not seeing much action at all. To even out the workload, the officers decided to change the response orders. Engine 1 would handle all rescue related calls, and Engine 2 would handle all fire related calls. We felt that this would even out the responses between the 2 units. To our surprise, the first year of utilizing this response procedure produced 206 runs for Engine 2, and 205 runs for Engine 1. This continues to be our procedure today. By 2001, the 78 Mack was one of the oldest first line engines in the county, and the 65 Ford, was beginning to show its age. It was decided to replace the Mack, which would become the next foam unit, and the 65 Ford was donated to a fire department in rural Mississippi. Since our new engine was not yet delivered, and the 65 Ford was gone, the Witmer Fire Co. allowed Lafayette to use their 67 Mack as our foam unit until the new engine was delivered. March 2003 marked the long awaited delivery of our Pierce Quantum pumper. The new engine is like nothing Lafayette has owned before. The engine is equipped with a 2250 GPM pump, one of only 2 in Lancaster County of this capacity, both of which are located in our township! It has 11 pre connected handlines, a 2000 GPM deluge gun, and numerous other features designed to suit our growing community.