Bradford Era – by Fran De Lancey

Bradford Township Fire Chief Dan Burkhouse highlighted historical events at the Tri-County Fire School Saturday when he was the guest speaker at the Smethport Fire Department’s 137th annual Appreciation Dinner.

Soon to begin its 55th year as a training center for volunteer fire departments and industrial brigades, the Tri-County Fire School in Smethport traces its origins back decades to a major fire in Shinglehouse when valuable time was lost since the responding companies worked independently because not all them had the same diameter hoses for connections, according to Burkhouse, a veteran of 45 years in the fire service and currently the fire school’s chief director.

“The need for standardized equipment, especially in mutual aid calls, was apparent,” Burkhouse said. Read More