Kuhl Hose Company

The Kuhl Hose Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1948.

For more than 75 years, generations of volunteers have sustained the department through rigorous training, personal sacrifice, and community fundraising.  The department represents a longstanding covenant between the community and its volunteers — neighbors protecting neighbors when seconds matter most.

Demand for emergency services has grown significantly as Greene Township and the Erie County region have evolved. Kuhl Hose now responds to hundreds of emergencies each year, including 2,831 responses over the last 3 years. These incidents required between 2,254 and 2,880 volunteer man-hours annually on emergency scenes alone, not including the countless hours dedicated to training, maintenance, fundraising, and administrative responsibilities necessary to sustain operations.

While protecting Greene Township remains the core mission — accounting for approximately 349 to 376 calls annually — the department also serves as a critical regional resource. Between 59% and 64% of responses each year are mutual-aid calls in Waterford, North East, Wattsburg, Summit, Harborcreek and the city of Erie -  demonstrating that other municipalities rely heavily on Kuhl Hose’s personnel, apparatus, water supply capabilities, and advanced emergency medical services. Despite rising call volumes and nationwide volunteer shortages, Kuhl Hose maintains an exceptional 94%–96% response rate ensuring emergencies are answered quickly and reliably even during simultaneous incidents.

To meet these responsibilities, the department operates a specialized fleet designed for rural response, including fire engines, large-capacity water tenders (essential in areas without hydrants), ambulances providing Advanced EMT and EMT-level care, a wildland brush truck and support units for extended incidents. These resources allow volunteers to stabilize critically ill patients, control structure and wildland fires, manage hazardous situations, and support large-scale emergencies across the region. Without Kuhl Hose, Greene Township and other Erie County communities could face significantly longer response times, reduced life-saving capabilities, and increased loss of property and life.

For more than 75 years, Kuhl Hose volunteers have answered the call whenever Erie County communities needed help. Today, Kuhl Hose seeks the community’s support to ensure that lives and property can continue to be protected.