The West Willow Fire Company, located in Pequea Township, Lancaster County, was organized in 1921by a group of community citizens that realized that the community needed a form of fire protection for it’s citizens.

Because of the price of apparatus at that time, the department banded with three other departments to make a bulk purchase of fire apparatus to help cut cost. This joining of four departments became known as “The Big Four”. The Big Four consisted of, New Danville Fire Company, Lampeter Fire Company, Refton Fire Company and West Willow Fire Company.

The first apparatus was a Model T Ford chemical pumper. It had a 35 gallon chemical tank, ladder and a belt. The pumper was housed in a concrete building on a tract of land that was donated by J.K. Mellinger.

The Big Four dissolved in 1924. In 1930, the chemical pumper was re-chassied onto a 1930 Chevrolet chassis. In 1941, the chemical pumper was replaced with a 1941 Chevrolet pumper with a 500 gpm pump and a 250 gallon booster tank. The pumper utilized a separate Ford V-8 engine to run the pump.

In 1953, the department had raised enough money to purchase the one-room Columbus Schoolhouse and 1 acre of land in which to build a new firehouse. The department still operates out of this building today with several modern renovations. The station now sits on 4 1/2 acres of land which is used for it’s annual fund raisers.

The department still utilized the 1941 pumper until the addition of a 1962 Chevrolet / Hahn pumper, which had a 750 gpm pump and a 750 gallon booster tank. In 1968, the 1941 pumper was replaced with a 1968 Ford Tanker. The tanker had a 2000 gallon tank and a 750 gpm pump.

In 1976, thew department added to its fleet a 1976 Dodge / Hamerely brush truck. With this addition, the department had to add a third engine bay onto the existing building. This was made possible with the purchase a small piece of land from a neighbor of the department.

The department continued running three pieces until the 1968 tanker was replaced by a1983 Mack MC tanker, with a 2500 gallon booster tank and a1000 gmp pump, which the department still runs today. In 1996, the department replaced the 1962 pumper with a 1996 Spartan / Darley pumper, with a 1000 gallon booster tank and a 1000gpm pump.

In the 79 year, the department has had a total of eight chiefs. Those being: Kenard M. Yeagley (1921-1932), Charles M. Yeagley (1932-1959), Lltd C. Kauffman (1959-1965), John B. Sweigart (1965-1973), Elvin T. Harnish (1973-1983), Gary Warfel (1983-1993), Herb Harnish (1993-2000) and Todd Topper (2000-Present).

The department currently protects approximately 2000 residents, this number continues to increase every year, with three pieces of apparatus and 30 active volunteers.