Our History 

Thank you to John S. Senft, retired Fire Chief of York City, for his dedication to preserving our history through his thoughtful documentation and narrative. The knowledge and experience of our retiress are invaluable, and their legacy will always remain an important part of our association.

The origins of the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association can be traced back to the fall of 1968, during a time of significant social unrest and evolving labor dynamics. York City Fire Chief Robert W. Little, Jr. extended an invitation to his counterparts in Harrisburg and Lancaster to meet and discuss shared challenges. These included operational safety during civil disturbances - an issue all three cities had faced that summer - and the looming implications of Pennsylvania Act 111, which addressed collective bargaining and binding arbitration for public safety employees.

This pivotal meeting took place at the Yorktowne Hotel in downtown York and laid the foundation for what would become    the Tri-City Fire Chiefs Association. The Chiefs agreed to continue meeting to exchange ideas and experiences, particularly on firefighter safety, labor negotiations, and departmental operations.

Throughout 1969, the Chiefs held quarterly meetings in York, Harrisburg, and Lancaster, continuing to confront civil unrest and navigating the realities of Act 111. Notably, the City of York and IAFF Local 627 reached the first firefighter contract in Pennsylvania to be settled through binding arbitration.

In the 1970s, the association expanded to include the cities of Reading and Lebanon, prompting a name change to the Third-Class Cities Fire Chiefs Association. While the group remained informal, it adopted agreed-upon guidelines - most notably that participation was limited to management-level personnel, excluding anyone within a collective bargaining unit. Membership typically included Chiefs-of-Department and their immediate deputies.

The benefits of collaboration quickly became evident, and the association's reach broadened. New members during this period included Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Williamsport, Hazleton, Chester, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton - the first city outside of the third-class designation to join. Altoona and Johnstown also became active participants, and eventually, Dunmore joined as the first borough represented in the organization.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the group solidified its tradition of quarterly meetings, which now spanned a full day and were hosted in rotation among the member cities. These gatherings, while still informal, became more structured in content. Chiefs provided updates on local issues including labor relations, apparatus acquisitions, major incidents, and departmental developments. Often, meetings included guided tours of local neighborhoods or facilities facing unique fire protection challenges.

In 2000, a significant milestone occurred when a meeting in York extended invitations statewide to departments with career firefighters and full-time fire chiefs. This ushered in a period of westward growth, with cities such as Erie, Oil City, Titusville, Bradford, Corry, Warren, Meadville, Butler, Franklin, Aliquippa, and Chambersburg joining the fold. Soon after, additional municipalities - including boroughs and townships - became involved, reflecting the association's growing influence across Pennsylvania.

As membership expanded geographically, so did the logistical approach to meetings. The formal rotation was discontinued in favor of a volunteer host system, and overnight stays became common. The evening prior to meetings typically featured a dinner, reinforcing the camaraderie among members.

In the mid-2000s, recognizing the dual roles many fire chiefs held, the Pennsylvania Association of Fire Code Officials (PAFCO) was established. Incorporated as a chapter of the International Code Council, PAFCO frequently held meetings at the same locations as the Chiefs Association, typically meeting the day prior. These sessions provided full-day training opportunities, enabling fire code officials to earn continuing education credits. Much of the early instruction was provided by nationally renowned fire service educator Dave Diamantes.

The Chiefs Association also began incorporating leadership and management-focused training into its schedule. This evolution led to a joint, three-day conference model: one full day for PAFCO training, a second for fire service leadership education, and the final morning reserved for the Chiefs’ business meeting.

Despite its growth, the association maintained its informal roots for many years. There were no formal officers, meeting agendas, or minutes. The host chief handled all coordination, and Scranton's Administrative Captain J.R. Davis maintained the membership roster. Meeting notices were sent out by the upcoming host city.

However, as the fire service landscape evolved, so too did the need for a unified, formal voice. The association began the process of formalization - developing bylaws, defining membership criteria, and completing the necessary steps to become a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation and an IRS-recognized charitable organization.

Today, the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association continues to serve as a vital network of career fire service leaders across the Commonwealth. The organization remains committed to collaboration, professional development, and advancing the standards of fire protection and emergency response in Pennsylvania.