Dave Taggart

SLIPPERY ROCK — A familiar face no longer will be the chief of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company.

Dave Taggart, 65, of Slippery Rock will be stepping down at the end of the month. He has been chief since 1998, and said he was feeling tired and like it was time to step down.

“I’m not as good at it as I used to be,” Taggart said.

He has been involved with the company since 1974. Despite stepping down, he said he still will be active with the company.

“I’ll fight fire whenever I can,” Taggart said.

Since becoming chief, he has seen more Slippery Rock University students become volunteer firefighters. The company has 10 firefighters from SRU right now.

“They’re great help. They’ve supported what we have,” Taggart said.

He said safety of his firefighters was a big priority of his time as chief. If he felt a fire was too dangerous or unstable, firefighters would not be allowed to enter the structure.

“I never had anyone seriously hurt in any of my incidents,” Taggart said.

The company voted this month to elect his son, current Assistant Chief Ken Taggart, to be the new chief. He has been involved with the company for about 10 years. Dave Taggart said he thinks his son will be up to the challenge.

The company has 15 to 20 active members.

The company, founded in 1907, covers Brady, Cherry, Slippery Rock and Worth townships and the boroughs of Slippery Rock and West Liberty in Butler County, as well as Liberty Township in Mercer County, Plain Grove Township in Lawrence County and a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 79.