Our History

A Brief History of Swarthmore’s Fire and Protective Association

The Swarthmore Fire and Protective Association (SF&PA) was organized in 1893 and incorporated in 1908 to fight fires and protect property in the Borough of Swarthmore. The Association’s first apparatus were a horse-drawn pumper and a horse-drawn ladder. It bought its first motorized vehicle, an American LaFrance pumper, in 1914, followed by a motorized aerial ladder truck in 1917.

In April 1999, the Association began providing Basic Life Support (BLS) emergency medical service. In August 2025, it expanded that service to Advanced Life Support (ALS). Both steps continued the Association’s mission of rapid, effective response to the fire and medical emergencies of the community.

For a history of our membership back to 1908, see our membership history (PDF).

From Our Archives

These photographs come from the Association’s collection. We’re still identifying many of them. If you recognize a person, an apparatus, or a year, please email fire@swarthmorefd.org so we can add it.

Members with a horse-drawn hose wagon and hose reel.
Young men with horses outside a wooden barn, from the horse-drawn era.
A postcard of the Swarthmore firehouse, bay doors open.
Members in SF&PA parade uniform in front of the firehouse.
The American LaFrance pumper at a hydrant, 1943.
The Association’s 1938 Pirsch aerial ladder truck.
The Pirsch aerial in front of the Swarthmore Cooperative, 1944.
The Pirsch booster in front of Ajax Cleaners, 1944.
Apparatus lined up outside the Swarthmore Fire Association.
Members work a hose line at a night fire.
The 1949 Pirsch pumper in a parade.
The 1960 Pirsch aerial with its crew.
A girl in an honorary chief’s helmet holds a Dalmatian puppy with two members.
Joe Delozier in uniform.
A member at work at the firehouse.
Two members at the firehouse.