The Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company (PHVFC) was founded in 1937. At that time, a proposal was made to install five fire hydrants along Old Clairton Road. In 1938, the Fire Company purchased 500 feet of fire hose and the manufacturer gave the PHVFC a crude, hard-tired International fire truck! It was housed in an old wooden structure on the old Pleasant Hills Farm and then moved to a garage under the old Pleasant Hills Barber Shop where Crown Buick is located today. Also in 1938, the Jefferson Township School Board loaned the old Torrence School to the PHVFC to use as a meeting hall. The school, which wasn’t being used anymore, had a potbellied stove in the center of the room. It was in this room that many of the early plans for the PHVFC were made. The Torrence School was located at the corner of East Bruceton and Old Clairton Roads where Grace Baptist Church is located today.

From humble beginnings, our Fire Company has evolved into one of the premier emergency service organizations in western Pennsylvania. Local firefighters are dedicated, highly motivated volunteers. A great deal of time and training is required to be a professional volunteer firefighter; and Pleasant Hills has some of the best. The PHVFC fire trucks are purchased with a .268 mill real estate fire tax on all Pleasant Hills property. In addition, the Borough supports the Fire Company operating budget with approximately $50,000 per year. The State of Pennsylvania sends approximately $40,000 per year. That money can only be used to purchase equipment having to do with firefighter safety. That leaves a deficit of approximately $60,000 that the PHVFC must raise via a direct mail donation campaign and through other types of fundraising (carnival, raffle tickets, etc.). The PHVFC does not solicit for donations over the telephone.