Alpha Fire Company’s First All-Woman Attack Crew Battled College Township Blaze

Alpha Fire Company experienced a historic first when it responded to a house fire on Sept. 21 in College Township.

For the first time in the company’s 124-year history, an all-woman crew led the attack line.

Lt. Claudia Rudisill and firefighters Talia Cholach and Kara Stover took the initial attack line into the third-alarm blaze on the 900 block of Oak Ridge Avenue in the Centre Hills Village neighborhood. Cholach and Stover are both Penn State students and Rudisill is a recent graduate who works at the university.

“They made a difference — and not because of the first for us,” Alpha Fire Company wrote in a Facebook post. “They made a difference because they were willing to put in the time and effort to train so that when the call for help came they were able to respond and perform professionally as the initial fire attack in what was a significant operation with multiple companies operating on scene.”

Alpha responded at about 6 p.m. to the single-story home, where multiple calls reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the house.

The fire appeared to have started around an outdoor grill, Chief Jason Troup said last week. It went into the eaves of the house and spread into the attic, which was mostly destroyed. The kitchen ceiling also collapsed and most of the roof was gone.

Boalsburg and Undine fire companies were also dispatched to the scene, and the fire was put out just before 7 p.m., though crews continued to deal with hotspots for more than an hour later. Centre LifeLink EMS, State College police and the Centre Region fire marshal also responded.

The couple who own the house, the resident of an attached apartment and a guest were home at the time but got out safely. 

While the home was badly damaged, firefighters managed to save a number of valuables and other items.

Rudisill, Cholach and Stover represent the diverse and committed team of Alpha volunteers that serve the community, according to the company.

“We serve a diverse community and our company reflects that diversity,” Alpha wrote in the post. “We seek out volunteers who are willing to put in the time and effort to train, staff and respond to our neighbors’ calls for help. If you’re interested in serving your community with an organization that will welcome and work alongside you then you should consider volunteering with us.”