Youngstown Whitney Volunteer Fire Department ready to celebrate 100 years

An area fire department is celebrating a milestone this weekend with a festival and a few tried-and-true traditions.

Youngstown Whitney Volunteer Fire Department, 229 Main St., will mark its 100th anniversary on Friday and Saturday.

The department, formed from the merger of Youngstown Volunteer Fire Department, Baggaley Volunteer Fire Department and Whitney-Hostetter Volunteer Fire Department, has about 30 active firefighters who respond to calls. The Youngstown portion was founded in 1923.

“It’s just our little way of doing something to celebrate our 100 years as an organization,” said Ashley Smith, firefighter and department trustee who is organizing the event. “It’s a huge milestone.”

Friday will see Youngstown Whitney firefighters and members of other local departments competing in teams in a ‘Battle of the Barrel’ competition, while on Saturday, starting at noon, the station will hold a parade and festival.

The Battle of the Barrel competition, in which teams of firefighters try to push a barrel suspended on cables with fire hoses, will start at 6 p.m.

Smith said she is grateful and excited for other departments to come and compete on Friday and visit the station.

“It’s nice to have other companies that want to volunteer, and take their time to drive down and support us,” she said. “It’s an old-school firemen’s contest.”

Saturday’s “100 Years Parade” starts at noon down Main Street in Youngstown and moves from Kingston Street to Church Street. Parking will be available at nearby Baggaley Elementary School with a shuttle from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festival Saturday will feature musical performances from Joe Porembka Tribute Band, ConTagious and Last Resort Band, along with food vendors, face painting, basket raffles and more.

Fire chief Barry Banker said he’s looking forward to the camaraderie the event will provide, especially for an anniversary as significant as a century.

“It is an earmark to reach that age, [especially] when many other departments have been unsuccessful in doing that for various reasons,” Banker said.

He praised the department for being “determined and dedicated people.”

“We’re constantly recruiting,” he said. “While we have been lucky by being able to keep up with apparatus, that is not easy, and you’re constantly fundraising and asking people for money.”

The event will conclude with a fireworks show.