For many, many years, the people of Montdale and Justus had to face fire and medical emergencies as best they could with he only help coming from their own families friends, and neighbors.  Frantic residents could only look on in horror whenever their homes, barns, or businesses burned.  As surrounding communities began to organize volunteer fire companies, the people of Montdale and Justus began to rely upon the skills of the neighboring fire companies, which were called out to Scott Township by the early Chapman Lake Telephone Company switchboard operators.

               The original 25 charter members included Fred W. Augustine, Wesley Ball, Walter Bliss, Albert Calvert, Rancy Ceccotti, Rober Crossman, George Fawcett, Lloyd Gardner, Thomas Harrison, Marshal Howells, Robert Hunter, William T. Jones, James McAndrew, Anthony Morosky, Neil Nafus, Edward Nicholson, Charles Ort, H.W. Persbacker, Myrl Reynolds, Anthony Schults, Joseph S. Stracham, Daniel Vandini, Carlyle Williams, Edward Yentcho, and Dave Fletcher- - - the last surviving charter member passed away at age 98 on January 22, 2000.

               The fire company members raised the $500 needed to purchase the 1920's American LaFrance Pumper, Scott Hose Company's first fire engine.

               Soon, many other people began to join the exciting new organization.  The wives and girlfriends of the men also banded together to form a powerful and supportive Ladies Auxiliary. 

                On the Montdale side of Scott Township, fundraisers were being held to upgrade and purchase new equipment and build a new fire station.  Card-parties, "donkey basketball", and a talent show in the Scott High School auditorium raised the funds to purchase a new 1949 Ford chassis, which has a firefighting body built onto it by John Yckowski of Justus.  A parcel of land was purchased on Route 438, the center of Scott Township, and the construction of the new fire hall was begun in September of 1950.

                It soon became apparent to Scott firefighters that a form of emergency medical service was also really needed in the township, so after conducting Red Cross-sponsored first-aid classes and a door to door envelope drive, they purchased a 1948 Ford/Siebert ambulance from Wolfington Body Company in August of 1953.  Scott Hose Company firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians have continued to provide excellent emergency medical service to area residents for more than fifty years.  The first chief ambulance officer was Ellsworth Page.  Ambulance Captains and their crew drove Cadillac ambulances after the original Ford was donated to the newly-formed Greenfield Fire Company in the mid-Sixties.  After utilizing pre-owned 1955, 1960, 1968, and 1973 Cadillac's, a brand-new 1980 Ford/Horton Type III modular ambulance was purchased, followed by a 1990 Ford/Ashley (AEV) type I modular, and the present 2001 Ford/Wheeled Coach type I, which responds to more than 200 calls for help every year.

             By the end of the 1950's Scott firefighters had added a 1956 Dodge Power wagon brush truck to the growing fleet of vehicles (the pumper and two ambulances).  They had already built the new firewall and provided fire protection to much of Scott Township and also Greenfield Township (until 1966).  What they had achieved in fifteen years was truly remarkable, and they established a standard of excellence that is still followed today.

             Over the years since 1945, many persons have served as President of Scott Hose Company, including: Fred Augustine, Clarence E. Lewis, H.W. Persbacker, Bert Bound, Robert Stead, Martin Cummings, Sr., Richard Burkhart, Sr., Glenn Kraft, Theodore Tellip, Sr., David A. Belcher, Thomas B. Resse, and presently Rick Aniska.

             On the fire ground, the company has been led since 1945 by Fire Chiefs, Fred Augustine, Phil McAndrew, George Fawcett, Jack Ball, Martin Cummings, Sr., Theodore Tellip Sr., Kenneth Davies, Martin Cummings, Jr,. James J. Hunt, Gary Ryman, Scott Doty, and currently , John Tratthen, Jr..

             Scott Township also has a Fire Police division with John Tratthen Sr., as Captain and Stephen Pritchyk as Lieutenant.

             In the 1960s, Scott firefighters wore long black naugatherm coats, long rubber boots, and black or white Gentex helmets with "Scottie Dog" insignia.  They found themselves combating treacherous building fires and huge grass fires.  On April 14 1962, tragedy struck the company.  While responding to a house fire in Montdale, firefighter John Murawski fell under the moving wheels of the Ford pumper and died.  Everyone in the fire company was devastated by this loss.

              Whenever the siren in Montdale wailed, all classes in the Scott School stopped and everyone knew that the volunteers were risking their lives again to save someone else's like and property, and that these ventures were costly.  In 1967, the company purchased their first new fire pumper, a Ford-chassised Ward laFrance.  Firemen's carnivals and other fundraisers were held to pay for it.

               In the 1970's major improvements were made to the company's firefighting capabilities.  A new 1974 Dodge/Howe brush truck was added to the fleet, and later a 1962 military surplus 4x4 pickup truck.  A new Mack/Saulsbury tanker truck, capable of carrying 3,450 gallons of water to fire scenes was another big help  to the community.  Big fires were fought including the loss of the historic and unique Greenfield School in 1977.

               At the dawn of the 1980's the Scott Township Supervisors and the Scott Township Lion's Club teamed up to purchase a Hurst "Jaws of Life" rescue tool system, which Justus used for six months, and Scott carried for six months-- on the Brush Truck at first, and then on a newly purchased 1967 International/ Ward La France, set up to carry air-lifting-bags, generator, the hydraulic tools, and water and hoses.

              In 1983, after several tragic local drowning incidents, the Dive-Rescue Specialists branch of Scott Hose Company was est.. They eventually  purchased a large blue 1985 GMC can equipment truck, and were immediately put to use at many water emergencies throughout Lackawanna County at Aylesworth Park, the Nay Aug Gorge, and several other areas.  The original "Blue Goose" dive truck has been replaced by a silver and blue 1989 GMC with a matching trailer for carrying boats and ice-rescue equipment.  This vehicle also carries the company's cascade system to structure fires and water emergencies.

              In the Spring of 1985, the company purchased it's first custom pumper, built by the Peter Pirsch company.  The International/ Ward laFrance was sold to Jessup Hose Company #2, and the 1967 Ford/Ward LaFrance was refurbished into a rescue-pumper.  Many big fires were fought in the 1980s, including the Mountain View Restaurant fire in Clifford, and many others.

              The 1990's began with another rash of huge fires, Scott, Justus, Greenfield, Clifford, Fleetville and Dalton, and others worked together as a team to save lives and property, and this team still enjoys a great working relationship to this day.

              In the summer of 1995, the fire company celebrated its fifty-year anniversary with a carnival for township residents and a huge parade.  Dave Fletcher, the Charter Member, led the parade with tremendous pride.

              On January 19, 1996, the Flood of 1996 struck Lackawanna County, Scott and all other area firefighters spent the entire pumping out cellars and making treacherous rescues in fast-moving water.  That evening, the Scott Dive-Rescue team was called to assist the City of Scranton with rising flood waters in the Weston Field area.  Scott personnel rescued more than 45 people imperiled by high raging water- - - and several from vehicles about to be submerged.  And on the following day, the Scott dive team found itself presented to the entire nation on the national TV new programs.

              In the spring of 1996, a new Spartan/Central States custom rescue pumper replaced the aging 1967 Ford/Ward LaFrance.  Hundreds of lives have been saved by Scott Firefighters wielding the "Jaws of Life" and other tools and rescue techniques

              In march of 2000, the Lackawanna County Department of Emergency Services assigned the designation "Station 36" to Scott Hose Company - - - the last fire company in the county to receive a station number.

               Of course, the cost of maintaining and then replacing again equipment is constantly escalating.  A 2-mil tax for fire protection was approved by Scott Township voters in a referendum and it is a tremendous help in defraying some of the monetary costs of saving lives and property.  In addition to this, Scott firefighters work hard to raise funds with a summer and a winter chicken barbeque, a gun raffle, and other events that are well supported by the public.  The medical care that the Scott Hose Company ambulance crews provide on an almost daily basis to people facing serious medical crisis's. The member of Scott Hose Company profoundly appreciate all of the moral and monetary support they receive from the people they have faithfully served since the year 1945.