Witmer Fire Protective Association

10/15/2026

🔥 A LITTLE BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE INFAMOUS WITMER OX ROAST! 🔥

Ever wonder what goes into those delicious takeout dinners you bring home to enjoy with your family? Here’s a look at the numbers!

3,000 lbs. of beef carefully cooked, and seasoned for 19 hours in our custom-built cookers!

▪️1,520 lbs. of potatoes
▪️740 lbs. of peaches
▪️660 lbs. of coleslaw
▪️ 1,100 lbs of corn
▪️3,000 dinner rolls
▪️ 3,000 whoopie pies
▪️360 lbs. of bread cubes for stuffing

Our dinner rolls and whoopie pies are freshly baked by local bakeries, and it all comes together in that takeout box you enjoy at home with your family!

A HUGE shoutout to our amazing community members who show up year after year to volunteer and support Witmer Fire! 🚒 And to those who arrive early, wait in those long lines, and purchase takeouts — THANK YOU!

We may not see your faces on our page, but our volunteers see you, recognize you, and truly appreciate your unwavering support.

We are blessed to live in such a wonderful community. Thank you for making the Witmer Ox Roast a tradition we can all be proud of!

10/13/2026

📢WITMER OX ROAST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!📢

It’s ox roast weekend, and we could use some extra hands! Whether you can help for an hour or a few, every bit of help makes a difference. We appreciate our community and all the volunteers who help make these events possible!

Friday – Ox Roast Prep | 5:00 PM
Bagging rolls, cupping peaches and coleslaw

Saturday – All-Day Help Needed
Meat cutters are needed at 7:30 AM
Clean-up crew needed by 1:30pm
🙌 Extra hands are always welcome throughout the day!

You do NOT need to be there all day! Any amount of time you can give is appreciated and helps keep things running.

Come out, lend a hand, and be part of what makes Witmer special. We couldn’t do it without our amazing volunteers! 🐂

08/11/2026

A huge thank you to our Community Representative, Chad Englerth, and his family for treating our members to ice cream sundaes after tonight’s company meeting!

It was a thoughtful gesture and a perfect way to end our evening 🍨

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

This afternoon at approximately 2:30 PM, Stations 62 (Witmer) and 63 (Lafayette Fire Company) were dispatched for a tractor-trailer fire at the intersection of Strasburg Pike and Millport Road.

Assistant 62 arrived first on scene and reported a well-involved tractor. Engine 63 arrived shortly thereafter and initiated an aggressive fire attack. Pumper Tanker 62 then arrived and deployed a second handline, assisting Engine 63 crews with bringing the fire under control and completing extinguishment.

Thank you to all responding personnel for their quick response and teamwork in safely mitigating the incident.

08/01/2026

Flashback Friday

Today we’re looking back at the housing ceremony for Tanker 4-10-2—the first pumper tanker to serve for Witmer Fire Protective Association. Other rigs are also displayed in this video.

This apparatus marked a significant milestone in the department’s history, strengthening our firefighting capabilities and laying the foundation for the fleet that serves our community and surrounding communities today.

We honor the members whose dedication and vision made this possible and remain proud of the legacy they built.

Proud of our past. Committed to our future.

07/29/2026

BEWARE: Theft from Vehicles
The East Lampeter Township Police Department would like to remind residents and visitors to help protect their vehicles and valuables by locking their car doors whenever they are unattended.

Over the past several weeks, we have seen an increase in thefts from unlocked vehicles, as well as cars being stolen because they were left unlocked with the keys inside.

Taking a few extra seconds to lock your doors and remove your valuables and keys can go a long way in preventing these crimes. If you notice any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, please report it to the police.

Together, we can help keep our community safe.

07/15/2026

Congratulations to Firefighter Andrew Mohler and Firefighter Connor Halton on earning their Engine Company Shields!

Achieving the status of an Engine Company Rider requires dedication, commitment, and the successful demonstration of knowledge and hands-on proficiency in a wide range of firefighting skills. Once a member becomes an Engine Rider, they have the option to challenge their Squad Rider qualification after 6 months.

Throughout the Engine Rider qualification process, members must demonstrate competency and knowledge in:

-Brief history of WFPA
-First-due response area familiarity
-Department rank structure
-Department SOGs, By-Laws, and training requirements
-Turnout gear inspection and use
-Fire hydrant operations
-MSA G1 SCBA operations, including Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) procedures
-Apparatus inventory and equipment locations for Utility 62, Tanker 62, Traffic 62, and Pumper Tanker 62
-Hooks and hand tools
-Portable fire extinguishers
-Radio communications and operating procedures
-Ground ladders, including parts, types, carries, raises, and practical applications
-MSA Altair X5 gas monitor
-Front-right seat responsibilities as an Engine Company Rider
-Live fire training

Please join us in congratulating Firefighter Mohler and Firefighter Halton on this accomplishment. We appreciate the hard work they have put into their training and look forward to watching them continue to grow within our association and uphold high standards.

07/14/2026

🔥 MEMBER OF THE WEEK – Ethan Wickenheiser 🔥

Each week, from now until the end of the year, we will strive to recognize one of our members for their contributions to Witmer Fire. Our members are what make this association so great, and we are proud to highlight the people who help make it all happen in view and behind the scenes. We have been steady with calls/trainings/meetings/ect so we’re now bringing our member spotlight back! Our fourteenth recognition goes to Ethan.

Ethan Wickenheiser began his firefighting experience with Lafayette Fire Company, where he quickly became an active and dedicated member of the organization. Throughout his time there, Ethan held numerous positions and took on various responsibilities. After a few years Ethan moved out of the area.

When Ethan returned to the area, he brought with him that same dedication and commitment to serving others.

Ethan currently serves as one of three Trustees, where he helps oversee and maintain the operational needs of the organization, including ensuring our facilities remain in proper working order and supporting the continued improvement of our station. In addition, Ethan serves as one of three Sergeants, providing leadership, guidance, and support to our members during training, emergency responses, and operations when he is able to.

07/08/2026

Happy 7/8 Day!

Today, we recognize the 7/8-inch smooth bore tip, a size that has long been associated with the fire service and the traditions that continue to shape it. Both are carried on Squad 62 and Pumper Tanker 62.

While our equipment continues to evolve, the pride, tradition, and dedication behind the nozzle remain the same.