Sewickley native Shayne Quinn spends more time at the fire station than at his own house — and he’s just fine with that.
The Cochran Hose Company chief has filled the lead role for eight of his 21 years serving with Cochran.
“The best thing is the group of people I get to work with every day. We have 35 volunteers. It’s a brother and sisterhood for sure,” Quinn said.
Additionally, he works full-time — often logging back-to-back shifts — as a first responder for Columbia Gas.
Add to that a part-time firefighter gig for the Ambridge Fire Department.
Quinn’s volunteer firefighting career began as a junior firefighter at Aleppo Township Volunteer Fire Company because Cochran doesn’t offer a junior program.
He graduated from Quaker Valley High School in 2003 and expressed an interest in firefighting as a young teen.
“I was a junior fireman at Aleppo for four years and came here when I was 18,” Quinn said. “My uncle was a firefighter when I was growing up so I’m following in his footsteps and I looked up to him.”
His uncle, Mark Quinn, formally served as assistant chief at the now-closed Edgeworth Fire Department.
Both men serve together at Cochran.
Quinn, 39, said it can be challenging to make sure his company has everything they need to do their job on a day-to-day basis.
“Especially nowadays with all of the equipment and training,” he said.
Cochran serves about 6,800 residents in the Edgeworth, Sewickley, Osborne and Haysville areas just under three square miles.
Quinn helped to organize and implement a free smoke detector program last year.
He’s committed to making sure all residents have access to free fire detection devices and proper installation.
“Our worst nightmare is a home without smoke detectors,” Quinn said.
All residents in the Cochran service area are eligible to receive detectors and have them installed, and maintained for those who need assistance.
“I wouldn’t make them do something that I wouldn’t do. We have a lot of good days but it’s inevitable you’re gonna have that bad day,” Quinn said.
One such bad day was a house fire that resulted in the deaths of two Edgeworth Elementary School students who died less than two weeks before Christmas in 2022.
Siblings Wylde Lightner,6, and Lyric Keys,9, both died in the blaze.
“In 21 years, kids are the worst. Our town never had that and it’s something you never get over,” Quinn said.
Quinn made sure a crisis team of peer counselors were available to anyone in the department about a week after that fateful fatal fire.
“It’s incredible to have a leader that prioritizes firefighter well-being and addresses mental health,” said firefighter Sarah Dietz, 30. “There’s no stigma in Shayne’s firehouse, like how I hear it used to be in the old days.”
Cochran offers Quick Response Medical (QRS) services, fire prevention and education programs and is continuing a legacy of public services that began in 1876 when the company was organized by Captain George W. Cochran.
QRS is a volunteer service in which members of the Cochran department respond with the Valley Ambulance on medical calls.
“It should be clear to the public he’s extremely dedicated to his community. He’s pretty much been like a brother to me for most of my life,” Dietz said. “He is really interested in growth and training and continuing to become a progressive department. He’s always pushing everyone to be the best they can be.”
From its humble beginnings of a horse-drawn hose cart with 1,000 feet of hose, the current company fleet includes a new pumper and a new ladder truck will be delivered in two years.
Sewickley Borough pays for all of the fire company vehicles.
“We’re very fortunate for that and we have a very good working relationship with our borough. They support us very well,” Quinn said. “We’re very blessed to have what we have.”
Rescue calls have included getting cats out of trees, keys out of the sewer and bat calls from homeowners.
“You get those weird calls, but nothing too crazy,” Quinn said.
The kids usually ask questions revolving around fire safety.
“They’re usually worried about who will save their fish or their teddy bear,” he said.
More than 400 children visited Cochran to learn more about fire safety in October.
Dietz said the department is close-knit and Quinn prioritizes promoting a supportive volunteer work environment.
“We’re together during happy times and difficult situations and we have to lean on each other. We’ve all had to deal with rough calls,” Dietz said.
Fire drills and safety demonstrations are conducted at all schools in the Quaker Valley School District.
When he has spare time, Quinn enjoys golf and watching sports with friends.
“I’m just kind of a basic, boring kind of guy,” Quinn joked.