A preliminary meeting was called by S. W. Hamilton, in the fall of 1897, in the store room of S. W. Hamilton on Grant Ave. to form a fire department for the town of Vandergrift with 5 men present.  The first regular meeting was held on November 29, 1897 at 109 Sherman Ave., known as "The Inn," now Kochka's lot, with 45 men present.  At this meeting an election of officers resulted:  S. W. Hamilton, President; U. S. Beck, Vice President; W. G. Young, Recording Secretary; William Watson, Treasurer; J. J. Davis, Corresponding Secretary; Frank Beal, A. T. Ambrose and Alex Hunter, Trustees; J.T. Daugherty, U.S. Beck, William Watson, H. W. Sutton and H. J. Stoneberg Directors.  Mr. George G. McMurtry, founder of the town and President of the Vandergrift Land and Improvement Co., offered two hose carts complete with hose.  The offer was accepted, and in honor of Mr. McMurtry, the newly organized company was called, The George G. McMurtry Fire Department.

    The department's first chief, George Breig, and assistant chief, William Watson, were elected on August 22, 1899.  Prior to that time, the department did not have a chief or assistant.

    The first hose house was erected at a point near the present site of the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Office Building, which was later moved to the property of George A. Hunger in the rear of what later became Brock Motors.  The second hose house was erected on the property of William Watson at 155 Grant Ave.  When the Casino Building was completed in June of 1900, a suitable room was provided on the first floor of the right wing, and was jointly occupied by the fire department and jail.  This room remained the home of the company until the winter of 1902.  At that time Mr. George F. Breig and Mr. George A. Hunger started a movement for a permanent home for the company.  Mr. Hunger made a trip to New York, and at an interview with Mr. McMurtry, secured the promise of a lot for this purpose.  After several conferences with Mr. J. F. Horn, agent for the Vandergrift Loan and Improvement Co., a deed was secured for the lot at 278 Franklin Ave. in the fall of 1903.  This location was selected as all the streets from the hose house were downgrade, making it easier to respond with the hand-drawn hose carts. 

    Application for a charter was made in the summer of 1902.  A charter was granted by the Courts of Westmoreland County on November 21, 1902, to the following committee; John Geary, Charles Ross, Francis Stacer, George Breig and others.

    The original equipment consisted of one hose reel and about 300 feet of hose, to which was added a second hose reel and additional hose early in 1898.  A hook and ladder wagon was purchased by the company in 1902.  A combination hose and chemical wagon was purchased in 1906 by the borough council and paid for from funds received from the Foreign Fire Insurance Commissions. 

    The company joined the Western Pennsylvania Firemen's Association on August 7, 1907.  The George G. McMurtry Fire Department and Vandergrift Fire Company #2, have been host to the Western Pennsylvania Firemen's Association Conventions in 1923, 1935, 1946 and the last one being in 1965.  This department is also a member of the Firemen's Association of the State of Pennsylvania, the Westmoreland County Firemen's Association and the Armstrong County Firemen's Association.

    In February of 1914, Vandergrift Council purchased a Lange truck chassis, which was delivered on April 21, 1914.  The equipment of the hand-drawn chemical wagon was installed on it.  This was the first motor equipment.  Hand power was used from 1898 to 1910 and horses were used till 1912. 

    Due to the fact that if injured, the members were not covered by insurance, in 1922, the officers of both companies felt the need of an organization for the protection of the members.  Steps were taken to form a relief organization, to comprise of the active members of both companies.  On April 5, 1923, a charter was issued to the Vandergrift Volunteer Firemen's Relief Association.  Wallace W. Shoop had the honor of being the first president.

    In the latter part of 1924, a committee was appointed by the Borough Council President to act with a committee from the fire company, with instructions to secure data and arrange for demonstrations of first class fire apparatus and report to the council.  This committee reported in January of 1925 with a recommendation that a 1,000 gpm Ahrens Fox Positive Displacement Pumper be purchased at a cost of $13,500.  Council immediately entered into a contract and the truck was delivered April 8, 1925 via Big 4 RailRoad.  At the annual banquet of the George G. McMurtry Fire Department in February 1925, a movement started for the purchase of a ladder truck.  At the following meeting a committee was appointed to select and purchase the same.  After a thorough investigation, and after seeing a number of trucks demonstrated, this committee recommended a Seagrave 130 hp double bank ladder truck, equipped with 377 feet of ladders and other equipment at a cost of $9,500.  This truck was delivered in June 1925.

    In 1958, a major renovation was completed on the fire hall building.  The five truck bays and the radio room were added on to the front of the original building.  In addition, the outside walls and roof of the original building were replaced and the original truck room became our present meeting room, office and storage areas, and back hallways.

    In the spring of 1961, Councilman Dr. Joseph O'Brien approached the department at a regular meeting for approval to use a room in the basement of the hall for a new alarm system.  He explained that in this new system, fire departments in the area would be designated by color codes.  Our color was to be brown due to the fact that our uniforms and apparatus at the time were brown.  This new system began operating on January 7, 1962 and became known as Rainbow Control.  This system dispatched fire, police and ambulance, and also was used as a model for the 911 system throughout the country.  Rainbow Control was in existence until December 1989, at which time Westmoreland and Armstrong Counties took over the dispatching duties for our area.

    The Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1946.  Prior to that time, the George G. McMurtry VFD responded to calls in the township.  Even after the Parks Township department formed, our department continued to cover North Vandergrift until October 1, 1963, when the territory was turned over to the Parks Township department.

       With the purchase of a 1968 Ford pumper came the department's first S.C.B.A. units.  The truck came with two units as part of the equipment.  After using them and seeing how well they enhanced firefighting and protected our personnel, three more units were purchased in 1969 and place on the engine. 

    Two tragic accidents in the early 1980's left their marks on the department.  In April of 1981, Sam Mangus was struck with 25,000 volts of electricity when the ladder on the 1952 Seagrave ladder truck came in contact with high-tension wires on Lincoln Avenue in North Vandergrift while fighting a house fire there.  Sam was knocked free of the truck by Bill Goldstrom and was revived through CPR by several members of the department.  He required hospitalization for burns and shock to his body; however, he did make a complete recovery.  In August of 1983, another accident took the life of Eric Fitzgerald en route to the Western Association Convention parade in Barnesboro, PA.  Eric was only 18 years old at the time of his death.  He had dreamed of being a fireman throughout his childhood years.  He is sadly missed to this day.

    For 18 months in the mid 1980's, officers of our department and the East Vandergrift Vol. Fire Co. met to discuss and plan for the merger of our two organizations.  After much discussion, paper work, and legal agreements, the merger became a reality on July 1, 1987.  The merger of these two fine organizations created a stronger department which would be better prepared to serve our two communities for many years to come. 

    In early 2003, members of the George G. McMurtry approached the members of the local Rescue and Air Support unit, Kiski Valley Special Services, with the idea of a merger between the two departments.  After discussions between the two departments it was agreed that this would be in the best interest of both departments.  With the decline of membership of both departments, this would allow a stronger and more viable organization with the merger of these two organizations.  From July 2003 until the end of the year, both departments ran on each others calls to start the process of the merger.  After the signing of the legal documents, on January 1st, 2004 the George G. McMurtry VFD and Kiski Valley Special Services officially merged to become the George G. McMurtry Vandergrift VFD #1 Fire and Rescue.  Members of both departments began to cross train learning each departments specialties and now have become a very strong and specialized company.