SLIPPERY ROCK — Ron Steele has spent much of his time over the past 53 years fighting fires.

Along with being president of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company, the 70-year-old borough man still is an active firefighter.

Steele and the other firefighters in his age group hold down the fort when the younger members are at work.

"We're doing most of the calls during the day," he said.

When Steele joined the department in the 1950s, it was common for teenagers to volunteer as firefighters.

"My dad and uncle both belonged here," he said. "In 1957, there was not much to do. Six of us the same age joined. It's something we wanted to do."

But for Steele, performing that community service came at a price over the years.

"I couldn't even tell you how many meals I missed, clothes I ruined and sleepless nights (I had)," he said.

The most memorable fire for Steele was when the Roxy Theatre burned down in 1978.

That night, Steele and a fellow volunteer were leaving the fire hall when they smelled the fumes coming out of the building across the street.

"Smoke was pouring out of it," he said.

Belonging to the department has benefitted Steele more than other members. He met his wife, Grace, when she became an EMT for the company's ambulance service.

Steele's son, Jeffrey, still lives in Slippery Rock, while the rest of his children are scattered.

One daughter, Heidi Jo, lives in Gibsonia, with the other, Tracey, in North Carolina. Steele also has four stepchildren: Kelly, Christine, Mark and Matthew.

A 1957 graduate of Slippery Rock High School, Steele spent four years in the U.S. Navy.

"That educates you," he said of the military service.

Before retiring in 2002, Steele was the Slippery Rock University safety officer for 30 years.

The fire company protects eight municipalities in three counties.

Along with Slippery Rock and West Liberty boroughs, it safeguards Slippery Rock, Brady, Cherry and Worth townships in Butler County; Liberty Township in Mercer County; and Plain Grove Township in Lawrence County.

That coverage area includes accidents along a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 79.

The department dates back more than 100 years. After forming in 1907, the fire company settled in 1939 at its third and current Elm Street location.

Steele has seen the department grow to the size it is now with five fire trucks, three ambulances and 25 active emergency responders. Another 15 people are members.

While one firefighter suffered permanent injuries when a truck rolled onto him, no firefighters have died while on duty in the department.

"We never lost a firefighter in a fire," he said.

Frank Matis, director of county emergency services, commended the department for that statistic.

"Slippery Rock has an excellent safety record," he said.

The department has become a training ground for professional firefighters. Former volunteer Mike Grinder is the latest. He is now a firefighter with Montgomery County in Maryland.

As with other volunteer departments, Slippery Rock faces the dual challenges of finding funding and new members.

Unlike Steele's days as a teen, it's harder now to attract and retain young firefighters.

With state regulations and insurance policies restricting the actual firefighting to adults, younger teens often drift away before they reach the appropriate age.

"By 17, 18, they kind of lost interest," Steele said. "They had other interests: girls."

He said the department needs new members.

"We're still continuing on, but we need new volunteers," Steele said.

The other issue, keeping the department afloat financially, isn't getting easier, either.

"We spend more time fundraising than actual training," Steele said.

The department stopped holding bingos, a source of revenue, because of a shortage of workers.

"We lost quite a bit of money," Steele said.

What hasn't changed is the fire company's role protecting the community.

"They know we're going to be here," Steele said.