The Southwest Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department was organized by the borough citizens on June 27,1905 . A former voting house on the corners of Alexander and Oakland Avenues was used for the early meetings. In 1908 the new municipal building at the corner of Alexander and Brandon streets became the home for the fire department. 

The first fire equipment, a hand drawn cart, donated by the Honorable George f. Huff was housed in a stable located at the rear of the Salem Lutheran Church. In March of 1906 the fire company purchased a second hose cart for $180.00 . Also in April of that same year the men received their first fire department uniforms. The cost of each uniform was $15.95 .Upon alarm a dinner bell mounted atop a pole would summon a dozen husky volunteers who pulled the cart to the scene of the fire. The first fire fought by the Southwest Greensburg Firemen was at the Reed Lumber Company.

By 1912 progress was apparent with installation of alarm boxes and lines. These went into service in April. At the December 1914 meeting, the name of the fire company was changed from Southwest Greensburg Hose Company No 1 to the Southwest Greensburg Fire Department. In 1965 the 1,100-pound bell, which had been purchased in 1917 for $152.00, was removed from the bell tower of the municipal building and a new fire siren was installed.

In 1918 a proud fire department acquired it's first motorized piece of equipment in the form of a six cylinder Studebaker at a cost of $1,500 . A 500gpm. MACK pumper replaced this rig June 5, 1931 . In turn, a Plymouth salvage truck in 1940, a 750gpm. MACK B model pumper in 1954, and 1000gpm MACK C95 pumper in 1967 were placed into service. In 1972 an International box truck was converted into a utility truck containing an electric generator and modern fire fighting equipment. In 1981 the department purchased MACK MC 1,000gpm. pumper and a 1974 GMC Light and Salvage Truck. By the summer of 1989, it was decided that the older 1967 MACK fire engine was in need for repair. It was driven to Colorado and was refurbished by Super Vacuum Company. Also that year the current Super-Vac Light and Salvage Truck was acquired.

The 20th Annual Convention of the Westmoreland County Fireman's Association was hosted by the Southwest Greensburg Firemen in June 1955 . In both the years 1957 and 1968, they hosted the annual convention of The Keystone State Fire Chiefs Association.

On June 28, 1974 the new, and present day, fire station was dedicated. The new building can hold four pieces of apparatus and has a social hall that can seat 250 people.

December 22,1999 marked another day in the history of the Southwest Greensburg Fire Department when the most modern piece of fire fighting equipment ever to be used in the borough was delivered. That night the members saw hard work pay off when the took delivery of the Pierce, Dash 2000 fire engine. The members of the fire department, borough council, and  residents of Southwest Greensburg hope this truck will provide as many years of protection against fire as the trucks that preceded it.