Ephrata Pioneer Fire Company

06/13/2026

Pioneers had a steady day today helping out our brothers and sisters throughout Lancaster County and the communities they serve.

This morning, a crew from Tower 15 assisted the members of the Denver Fire Company by setting up a flag arch to honor the life and service of Life Member Dallas Lucas as family and friends gathered for his funeral.

At the same time, a UTV-15 crew provided mutual aid support at the Relay For Life event held at Conestoga Valley High School. Despite both assignments, ample staffing remained in town to respond with the engine if needed.

This afternoon, crews were dispatched to the zero-hundred block of W. Mohler Church Road for a reported brush fire, which was ultimately determined to be a controlled burn. Shortly thereafter, Tower 15 was dispatched by Lancaster County-Wide Communications to Columbia Borough for a standby transfer assignment while local crews operated at a 3rd alarm structure fire. As of this posting, Tower 15 remains in Columbia providing coverage. Should an incident occur in the Ephrata area, mutual aid companies will respond to ensure our community remains protected.

While only one of today's responses occurred within our local district, the day's events are a perfect example of the brotherhood and commitment that exists within the fire service. Whether it's honoring a fallen member, supporting a community event, or covering for neighboring departments during major incidents, we are always there for one another when called upon.



Ephrata Borough, PA Government

06/07/2026

📣📣 THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! 📣📣

To everyone who came out today for our Annual Open House... thank you! We had an absolute blast and loved seeing the smiles, laughter, and excitement on the faces of so many children and families. We truly are blessed with an amazing community.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the residents and businesses of the Ephrata area. Throughout the day we heard countless stories, shared memories, and felt the incredible enthusiasm that makes this community so special. This is an event our members cherish each year, and we look forward to it just as much as you do.
We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Events like this would not be possible without the support of our local business partners. We extend our sincere gratitude to Restoration Relief, Martin's Famous Potato Rolls and Bread, Berks Foods, The Udder Choice & Good's Potato Chips for their generous donations and continued support of our company and community.

From all of us at Ephrata Pioneer Fire Company, thank you for spending part of your Saturday with us. We are proud to serve you and look forward to seeing everyone again next year for Open House 2027!



Ephrata Borough, PA Government

06/06/2026

Tonight at 6:11 PM, Pioneers, along with Lincoln Fire Company, Ephrata Police Department, Ephrata Community Ambulance, WellSpan Advanced Life Support, Cocalico Area EMS as well as New Holland EMS were dispatched to the diverging diamond interchange at Routes 322 and 222 for a motor vehicle accident with entrapment.

Duty Officer 15 arrived to find three vehicles involved, completely blocking the intersection, with one occupant significantly confined inside their vehicle. Lincoln Rescue personnel immediately went to work removing the roof to safely extricate the patient.

At the same time, Fire Police from Pioneer, Lincoln, West Earl, and Martindale worked together to completely clear and shut down the diverging diamond, allowing emergency personnel to operate safely in a very challenging environment.

In total, four ambulances and two medic units transported all occupants involved to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment.

After extensive patient care, vehicle removal, cleanup, and roadway overhaul, the intersection was reopened approximately 1½ hours later.

We would like to thank all of our mutual aid partners for their assistance at the scene, as well as the mutual aid Fire Police units who helped maintain a safe work zone during this incident.

We understand the inconvenience and delays caused by closing the diverging diamond during a busy Friday evening rush hour. However, the closure was necessary to ensure the safety of the patients, first responders, and the motoring public while emergency operations were underway.



Ephrata Police Department
Ephrata Community Ambulance Association
WellSpan Health ALS
Lincoln Fire Company Station 16
Martindale Volunteer Fire Department Station 3
West Earl Fire Station 29
Cocalico Area Fire Department
New Holland Ambulance

Ephrata Borough, PA Government

06/04/2026

A few months ago, our Recruitment Committee enlisted the help of the Graphic Arts Department at Ephrata Area High School to develop a recruitment brochure for our organization. Mr. Campbell's class embraced the project with enthusiasm and creativity, providing us with several outstanding submissions.

A few weeks ago, we received the finished designs, and choosing just one was no easy task. Each submission showcased tremendous talent and effort. In the end, we selected Cole's design, and we couldn't
be happier with the final product.

Working with local students on this project was incredibly rewarding, and seeing their creativity brought to life has made the finished brochure even more meaningful. The brochures have now been completed by the printer and will be available to the public during our Open House this Saturday.

This evening, our 2nd Vice President and Recruitment Committee Chairman, Brent Riehl, had the privilege of meeting Cole in person to personally thank him for his hard work and to receive a formal copy of the brochure.

Thank you, Cole, Mr. Campbell, and the entire Graphic Arts Department for your support of Ephrata Pioneer Fire Company. We are proud to showcase the talents of our local students while working together to strengthen our volunteer fire service for the future.



Ephrata Area SD

Ephrata Borough, PA Government

06/01/2026

This Saturday is our Annual Community Open House and we CANNOT WAIT!

This is one of our favorite events of the year...a chance to open our doors, spend time with our community, and say thank you for the incredible support you give us throughout the year.

School is almost out, summer is right around the corner, and what better way to kick it off than with an afternoon of fun, food, activities, and fellowship? Bring the kids, bring your friends, and come spend your first Saturday of summer break with us.

Join us Saturday, June 6, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 135 S. State Street in Ephrata. State Street will be closed between Franklin and Fulton Streets for the event.

We can't wait to see everyone, share some laughs, make some memories, and celebrate the community we are so proud to serve. See you Saturday!

05/30/2026

🎉Come out and shop dozens of vendors offering handmade goods, baked treats, home décor, jewelry, crafts, vintage finds, collectibles, toys, books, clothing, and so much more!🎉

Come hungry! We’ll have breakfast, lunch, drinks, and delicious donuts from Wandering Donuts available for purchase.

Bring your family, bring your friends, and spend the morning supporting local small businesses and finding some amazing treasures!

Don’t forget to share this post and help spread the word. We look forward to seeing you soon!

05/28/2026

❕🎉 THIS SATURDAY!🎉❕
Our Makers Market & Yard Sale is almost here, and we are so excited to welcome everyone for a fun day of shopping, food, and supporting local small businesses!

This Saturday, May 30th from 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Ephrata Pioneer Fire Company, 135 S. State Street, Ephrata.

Come hungry! We’ll have breakfast, lunch, delicious donuts from Wandering Donuts, and drinks available for purchase!

Shop a huge variety of handmade, vintage, and unique items including: Homemade baked goods, freeze-dried candy, chocolates, crochet blankets, baby items, seasonal & patriotic decor, wreaths, fairy houses, acrylic paintings, resin crafts, handmade jewelry, candles, wax melts, home fragrance, bath & body products, clothing, maternity & children’s items, vintage décor, custom bags, journals, keychains, bookmarks, wooden crafts, floral arrangements, gift baskets, collectibles, Pokémon & TCG items, books, toys, tools, tech, and so much more!

Bring your family and friends and spend the morning with us. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

Help us spread the word by sharing this post with your friends & family!

05/27/2026

Last evening, our weekly training involved numerous entities working together to strengthen our resolve in protecting and serving the residents and businesses of the Ephrata area and beyond.

Training was held at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital for their annual decontamination drill. The process involved donning and doffing protective clothing, proper decontamination procedures, and reviewing the triage tagging system.

We are proud to work alongside Lincoln Fire Company and the hospital staff to help make this training as seamless and realistic as possible should a true emergency ever occur.



Ephrata Borough, PA Government
Lincoln Fire Company Station 16
WellSpan Health

05/24/2026

This evening, a crew adorned our bay doors with black bunting in honor of Life Member William Peters, who passed away this week.

William faithfully served in our Fire Police Division for more than 35 years, dedicating countless hours to protecting our community and supporting this company. His commitment, loyalty, and years of service will not be forgotten.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Peters family during this difficult time.

05/20/2026

Our deepest condolences to the members of Ephrata Community Ambulance on the passing of a prominent figure at the association. Please keep the family of Les in your thoughts and prayers. Today a Tower 15 crew had the honor of hanging black bunting on the front of the association, paying respect to Les Martzall.

The Ephrata Community Ambulance Association announces, with deep sadness, the passing of life member and Emergency Medical Technician, Leslie “Les” Martzall.

Les began his service with Ephrata Ambulance in January 1978 and dedicated decades of his life to the organization and the community. He served as President from 1981 to 1997, again from 2004 to 2012, and most recently from 2018 to 2025. In addition, he held the role of Treasurer from 2002 to 2003 and from 2014 to 2017. At the time of his passing, he continued to serve in the role of President Emeritus. In addition to his service with Ephrata Ambulance, Les also volunteered his time with multiple other fire and EMS agencies throughout the county.

Throughout his years of service, Les made lasting contributions to EMS in Ephrata. He was a certified First Aid and CPR instructor, served on numerous ambulance committees, and played a key role in the purchase and renovation of the former gas station that now serves as the current Ephrata Ambulance station. He was also instrumental in the development and launch of the Ephrata Ambulance paratransit service in 1997.

Les’s leadership, dedication, and commitment to helping others have left an enduring impact on the organization and the community he served so faithfully. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of working with him.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.