Western Pa. Firemen's convention kicks off in New Kensington with parade, car cruise

Dozens of fire trucks from throughout the state made their way through New Kensington streets Saturday afternoon.

It wasn’t for an emergency.

Instead, it was to celebrate the start of the 128th annual Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association’s convention.

Festivities kicked off with a car cruise and a parade. The convention continues through Tuesday.

At least 400 fire departments are a part of the association. More than 100 firefighters are expected to make the trek to New Kensington throughout the convention.

“Everybody comes together and gets to see and talk with one another, discuss things,” said Ed Saliba Jr., New Kensington fire chief and one of the convention organizers. “It’s a good day to get a bunch of firefighters together.”

Multiple fire departments and community organizations from throughout the region participated in the parade.

New Kensington residents Brian Beal and Gina Demme were among the hundreds of parade onlookers.

“It’s pretty rare, but it’s very cool,” Beal said. “We actually had no idea this was going on until we got back from house sitting and we saw the horses. We saw the firetrucks, and it’s a very cool thing for New Kensington. … I grew up having Hot Wheels cars, and a lot of them were firetrucks.”

Demme and Beal were along Fourth Street, not very far from the main stage.

“I think it’s really great for the community,” Demme said. “I think it brings the community together. I think it can bring a lot of positivity to New Kensington. We can use some positivity here. I have a lot of respect for them doing what they do. I wouldn’t be able to climb in a burning down building to rescue people. I just think it’s really awesome and heartwarming that they have the hearts to do that.”

The convention may prove to be a boost for local businesses as well.

Ashley’s Kitchen along Ninth Street opened in April. It features stuffed breads and other baked goods among other foods. It had a tent set up along the parade route.

Co-owners Ashley and Joe Bodycombe said firefighters have stopped in.

“Everybody’s happy and having a great time supporting local businesses,” Ashley Bodycombe said. “We need it as much as everybody else, so it’s good. We’re a brand-new small business opening during covid. We live here. Our kids go to school here. This is our town. (Firefighters) come all the time and support us, so we like to support them back.”

Oakmont Assistant Fire Chief Joe Flanick said conventions are great for reaching out to other departments and communicating without having to deal with an emergency.

His department showcased a ladder truck and a handful of volunteers in white shirts and black ties, a little more comfortable than their usual 60-plus pounds of gear.

“It’s a great opportunity for guys to get together and become more familiar with each other,” Flanick said. “The camaraderie is the biggest part. Guys can work together. They can meet and talk on a different level than at a fire because at a fire everything changes.”

Saliba said this is the seventh time the city hosted the convention, the most in association history.

It was first in New Kensington in 1912.

“The last time that we held it (in 2011), one of our members (Tim Gorencic) was the president,” Saliba said. “We felt it was only fitting to hold the convention in his honor as he was leaving office.”

This year, it is being held in honor of Bruce Davis, assistant chief at New Kensington No. 2, who is ending his term as president of the association.

The association helps promote the fire service and advocates for it. That includes the recruitment and retention of volunteers, fundraising and, through its legislative committee, the introduction and passage of helpful state laws.

The convention was cut down to just a business meeting last year because of the pandemic.

“Tent City,” an area where departments would bring trailers and tents to set up camp for the convention instead of staying in hotels, ceased a couple years ago.

Saliba said convention planning only started in April because of the ever-changing covid safety protocol. Planning usually starts about a year in advance.

“We had a very hardworking committee to put this together, and I think they did a hell of a good job considering they had two and a half months to throw everything together,” Saliba said.

The convention also is dedicated to the memory of Eric Mangieri, who died while fighting a house fire at 253 Freeport Road on Aug. 7, 1995.

Mangieri, 25, served out of New Kensington No. 4.

“I think about him every day,” Saliba said. “We were preforming a search. Searching for possibly trapped victims and conditions in the fire deteriorated rapidly that morning. Eric was trapped and killed. He was the first line of duty death in the history of our fire department, and it was 26 years ago this morning. We felt it was fitting to dedicate this convention in his memory.”

The convention continues with a Battle of the Barrel contest Sunday followed by a golf outing Monday and a business meeting Tuesday to decide the new association officers.