Highland Volunteer Fire Department

08/20/2026

July 2026 — By the Numbers 🚒

July was another busy month for the Highland Volunteer Fire Department, and we’re proud to share what our members accomplished while serving our community!

🔥 93 calls for service
👨‍🚒 2.55 firefighters per call, on average

Our three most frequent call types were:
🚨 Commercial Fire Alarm: 18 calls
🚗 Crash – Unknown Injuries: 13 calls
🏠 Residential Fire Alarm: 12 calls

📍 82.79% of our calls occurred in the Town of McCandless, with the remaining 17.21% taking our members into neighboring townships and boroughs.

But serving our community goes beyond emergency calls.

🤝 124.5 hours were dedicated to community events by our firefighters and association members.

📚 Training & Education: 14 members completed 127 hours of training during July. This total includes our weekly Tuesday training nights as well as additional outside training and courses completed by our members. Continuing education and hands-on training help ensure our firefighters are prepared to respond safely and effectively when our community needs us.

🏠 9 members also provided 102.45 hours of station staffing, helping ensure our department was ready to respond when our community needed us.

🚒 We’re Looking for the Next Generation!

A volunteer fire department is only as strong as the people willing to step up and be part of it.

We’re always looking for the next generation of firefighters — and you don’t have to fight fires to make a difference!

Whether you’re interested in becoming a firefighter, helping with fundraising and community events, assisting around the station, or lending a hand with the many non-fire-related jobs that keep our department running, there’s a place for you at Highland Volunteer Fire Department.

You bring the willingness to help. We’ll help you learn the rest.

👉 Thinking about volunteering? Come be part of the team. Your community needs you, and your fire department is ready for you! 🚒❤️

Thank you to our members and their families for the time, dedication, and sacrifices they make every day. And thank you to our community for continuing to support the Highland Volunteer Fire Department!

08/05/2026

What a fantastic evening at National Night Out!

A sincere thank you to the Town of McCandless for hosting such a special evening at Town Hall. Events like these remind us that being part of this community is about so much more than responding to calls—it’s about building relationships, sharing conversations, and getting to know the neighbors we are honored to serve.

To everyone who stopped by our table to say hello, ask questions, or simply chat—thank you. Your support, kindness, and encouragement mean more to us than you know.

We’re also grateful for the opportunity to spend the evening alongside our fellow first responders. It was wonderful to come together in service and fellowship while celebrating the incredible community we all have the privilege of protecting.

Thank you to everyone who came out and made the evening so memorable. We can’t wait to see all of you again at Community Day in September!

Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company Station 187 Peebles District Volunteer Fire Company Town of McCandless Police Department McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority

07/22/2026

At tonight's monthly business meeting, Highland swore in 2 firefighters for membership and to begin their probationary training. Pictured left, Jason Singer joined Highland back in February as an associate member helping anywhere he could. Jason decided to switch over to the firefighting side and was swore in as a firefighter this evening.
Pictured right, Alex Wagner was swore in as a probationary firefighter this evening with the intent to follow his father Matt in his footsteps.
Want to give firefighting a try? Want to help out? Apply today to see what we can do for you, and what you can do for your township. Click the link in our bio!

07/22/2026

This past weekend, firefighter and past Lieutenant Riley Stack graduated Cincinnati's fire academy as a part of recruit class 124. Riley joins a handful of past and current firefighters at Highland VFD to make a career out of firefighting, including his father Dan Stack. Riley started his tour as a probationary firefighter this week.

Highland is very proud of Riley and his achievements with Cincinnati and with his time at Highland serving the town of McCandless and its' residents. Congratulations and good luck on your career with Cincinnati Fire Department, Riley!

07/15/2026

Early Morning Structure Fire Response

At approximately 4:30 a.m., we were dispatched to a reported residential structure fire in our district, after flames were reported in the attic of a single story home.

The residents had safely evacuated before crews arrived, and firefighters quickly brought the fire under control. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, while utility companies and the American Red Cross assisted the homeowners.

We would like to thank our Town of McCandless fire stations, Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company Station 187 and Peebles District Volunteer Fire Company, as well as our mutual aid partners from Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company, Perrysville Volunteer Fire Company, West View Volunteer Fire Department, Wexford Volunteer Fire Company, and for their assistance and teamwork. Incidents like these are a reminder that strong partnerships help keep our communities safe.

07/13/2026

This year, Highland VFD has joined the participating department program along with many others in Allegheny county and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This program runs through the state fire commissioner's office recognizing departments that hold their members to a professional standard of training, and certification.
What does this mean? Highland received the "Bronze" classification indicating that at least 50% of its membership holds the Firefighter 1 designation or higher to meet pro-board standards. 67% of Highland meets this standard to be exact.
Congratulations to all of Highland's members on this accomplishment and thank you to the PA state fire commissioner's office for the recognition.
Think you have what it takes? Or do you just wanna see what we're all about? Apply today!
Link in our bio!

07/06/2026

🚧 Road Closure Notice: Cumberland Road

Due to a large sinkhole in the road, Cumberland Road is closed at Babcock Blvd., in front of Passavant Hospital, until further notice while the area is assessed for safety. No injuries have been reported.

If you normally travel through this area, please plan for delays and follow the posted detour.

The hospital is still accessible from the Babcock Blvd. entrance and from the Peebles Road side of Cumberland Road.

Our Public Works team is coordinating with the appropriate professionals to evaluate the site. We will share updates as they become available.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

06/06/2026

With the rising temperatures this time of year, think of us while you're out shopping. Water donations are always appreciated!

05/13/2026

05/04/2026

🚒🔥 International Firefighters Day 🔥🚒

Today, we proudly recognize and thank firefighters everywhere for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication to keeping our communities safe.

For the past 99 years, we have been honored to serve the Town of McCandless alongside our brothers and sisters at Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company Station 187 and Peebles District Volunteer Fire Company. Together, we work every day to protect and support the place we all call home.

We also want to thank YOU—our incredible community. Your commitment to safety through maintaining smoke detectors, your support at events like Community Day and Toys for Tots, and your generosity throughout the year truly help make McCandless a safer place for everyone.

🚨 We Need You 🚨
We are a 100% volunteer organization, and we are always looking for dedicated individuals to join our team. Whether you’re interested in becoming an active firefighter or supporting our association in other ways, there’s a place for you here.

👉 Stop by the station to pick up an application
👉 Or come talk to us any Tuesday night starting at 6:30 PM

Step up. Get involved. Make a difference in your community.