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Now in service is a brand new dry hydrant located near the new Danville-Riverside river bridge.  A dry hydrant is a fire hydrant that is not hooked up to a water line, rather there is a large pipe underground with the end going into a water source.  In this case it is the North Branch of the Susquehanna River and works like this:  A fire engine pulls up to the dry hydrant and attaches a suction hose.  The fire engine's pump then literally siphons water from the river through its pump and is pumped wherever it needs to go, either into a tanker truck, pumped through a fire hose to a fire scene or whatever the case. This will supply the Southside Fire Company an endless supply of water at any time of the year for the fire fighting protection of our Borough and surrounding communities.

     Fire Company Officers 

                                                             President:  Nick Fowler
                                                             Vice President:  Clifford Kriner
                                                             Treasurer:  Brian Barnes
                                                             Financial Secretary:  B. Siebert
                                                             Recording Secretary:  C. Barnes
                                                             Trustees:     Bill Mahaffey
                                                                                  Jamie Millard and
                                                                                  Andrew Georges

                                                             Fire Chief 771: Nick Fowler
                                                             Deputy Fire Chief 772:  Clifford Kriner
                                                             Captain 773: Brian Barnes
                                                             Lieutenant LT775: Bill Mahaffey
                                                             Safety Officer 776: Gary Boyer
                                                             Safety Officer 777: Alan Kramer
                                                             Public Relations Officer: Dean McCahan
 
 

   From humble and very difficult beginnings, the Company has emerged as a strong, well equipped and well trained fire unit that has served the public with pride and dignity under the banner of saving lives and protecting property.  The Southside Chemical Company #1 (the original name of the Company) was formed in July of 1914 with plans to purchase a “Champion Chemical Engine #11 (a hand-drawn cart with chemical tanks mounted on it) from the American LaFrance Company, Elmira, New York.  However, shortly thereafter, the Company came under difficult times and records are vague as to when the apparatus was delivered.

     In May of 1923, the Company was re-organized and in July, construction on a new two-story 18’ X 28’ wood building was begun to serve as a fire station.  This building was located at the corner of Line and Fifth Streets in Riverside.  This building served as the fire station until 1948 when the building was moved to Avenue F and Third Streets and converted into a private home.

     The Company members voted to erect a new 40’X80’ steel Quonset hut-type building at the same location.  This two bay  rounded-type structure served the needs of the Company and Community for many years.  However, by 1970, the Company, which changed its name to the Southside Fire Company #1 in 1950, realized that larger quarters were needed to house fire equipment, which now consisted of an engine, a tanker truck and a rescue truck.

    In August of 1971, the Company purchased the Bridy property, consisting of approximately seven acres of land at the corner of Avenue D and Third Street.  Immediately thereafter, construction on a modern 5 bay truck room, social club and meeting room was begun. Work was slowed somewhat in June 1972 due to the Hurricane Agnes Flood.  However, by mid July, the station was the new home of The Southside Fire Company #1.

Because of the forsight of Company leaders in the land purchase, the Company not only had space for it's fire department operation, but it also had adequate room to develop a play area for children and a large picnic area with a pavilion.  Furthermore, it has cooking facilities for carnivals, festivals, clambakes, as well as an area for get togethers, parties andfamily reunions.  It also serves an ideal place to hold the Company’s annual Community Easter Egg Hunt as well as the annual Firemen’s Competition.

    Today, the Southside Fire Company #1 continues to serve the residents of Riverside and the surrounding Townships in the highest traditions of the Volunteer Fire Service.  It also serves as a Mutual Aid fire station to the Danville and Mahoning Township Fire Departments in neighboring Montour County located just across the Susquehanna River from Riverside.   In addition to a large membership, the Company has five pieces of fire apparatus. In addition to its 1941 pumper, which has been  restored, there are also two pumpers, one being a newly purchased 1999 American LaFrance 1,500 GPM (gallons per minute) pumper, a 1996 1,800 gallon tanker truck and a Brush Truck.