MISSION STATEMENT

THE MISSION OF THE PERRY HI-WAY HOSE COMPANY IS TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN SUMMIT TOWNSHIP AND ERIE COUNTY FROM THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF FIRES, SUDDEN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES OR EXPOSURE TO DANGEROUS CONDITIONS CREATED BY MAN OR NATURE. THIS MISSION WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY DELIVERING PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE FIRE, RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN A HIGHLY COMPETENT AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER THAT PROVIDES THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF PROTECTION TO SUMMIT TOWNSHIP AND ERIE COUNTY WITH PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED & CERTIFIED PERSONNEL AND A PROPERLY EQUIPPED FIRE / RESCUE & EMS DEPARTMENT.

INTRODUCTION

PERRY HI-WAY HOSE COMPANY STARTED AN ALL VOLUNTEER FIRE, RESCUE AND EMS COMPANY STARTED BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS IN 1948.  WE SERVE ALL AREAS OF SUMMIT TOWNSHIP, ERIE COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA.  WE PROVIDE AUTOMATIC AID TO THE SURROUNDING TOWNSHIPS OF MILLCREEK, GREEN, WATERFORD, AND McKEAN.  WE ALSO PROVIDE MUTUAL AID TO ALL AREAS OF ERIE COUNTY INCLUDING THE CITY of ERIE. FROM OUR HUMBLE BEGINNING WITH A SINGLE HOME MADE FIRE TRUCK THAT WAS STORED AT KASTNER'S GAS STATION TO THE MODERN FLEET OF 11 PIECES OF APPARATUS HOUSED IN 2 STATIONS WE HAVE TODAY.THE HOSE COMPANY HAS MADE MANY IMPROVEMENTS TO KEEP UP WITH THE EVER GROWING TOWNSHIP.  ONE MAJOR CHANGE OCCURED IN 2016 TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASING CALL VOLUME, THE CHANGE TO A COMBINATION DEPARTMENT.  IN 2016 WE HIRED 9 FULL TIME STAFF, ENOUGH TO STAFF A 2 PERSON CREW IN STATION 24/7/365.  IT WAS JULY 12, 2016 THAT PERRY HIWAY UPGRADED FROM A BLS SERVICE TO AN ALS SERVICE WITH A PARAMEDIC ON DUTY 24/ 7/365.  WHAT WAS ONCE PRIMARILY ROLLING FARMLAND AND WIDELY SPACED RURAL HOMES HAS CHANGED INTO A RAPIDLY GROWING SUBURBAN AREA WITH SEVERAL COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, 10 GAS STATIONS, 19 HOTEL COMPLEXES, NUMEROUS EATING / DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS, A RACETRACK / CASINO COMPLEX, A LARGE INDOOR WATER PARK AND MANY HOUSING SUBDIVISIONS OF LIGHT WEIGHT CONSTRUCTED SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS, PATIO HOMES AND DUPLEX CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENTS. THE 2015 CENSUS ESTIMATE LIST OUR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTIAL POPULATION AT 6,873.  WE PROVIDE PROTECTION TO A TOTAL POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 25,000 WHEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VISITORS, SHOPPERS AND GUESTS AT OUR NUMEROUS BUSINESSES. THE VALUE OF PROPERTIES IN THE TOWNSHIP IS APPROX $1,100,000,000.  PERRY HI-WAY HOSE COMPANY'S CURRENT 13 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS, 12 PAID STAFF FIRE MEMBERS AND 9 BUSINESS BOARD MEMBERS KEEP THIS ORGANIZATION RUNNING. MONEY FOR THE PAID STAFF COME FROM THE YEARLY LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICE TAX OF $47.00 PER WORKER IN THE TOWNSHIP (The other $10 goes to the school district).  THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND APPARATUS PURCHASES ARE NOT TAX BASED AND RELY ON THE ANNUAL FUND DRIVE AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS FEE FOR SERVICE BILLING.