O'Hara resident settles into leadership at Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services

A third-generation volunteer firefighter is continuing a family legacy of public service in Sharpsburg and Aspinwall.

Shaler native Mike Daniher is the inaugural chief of Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services, or SAVES.

The communities of Sharpsburg and Aspinwall merged their fire departments into a new company in 2023 in an effort to maximize resources and manpower.

Daniher celebrated one year as chief on Jan. 9.

“I enjoy being chief. My goal is to help cultivate the other members so they can be ready to step into leadership roles in the future,” Daniher said.

Last year, SAVES responded to 656 runs.

Daniher, of O’Hara, became a junior firefighter at age 16 with the Cherry City VFD in Shaler.

“It’s a family tradition and I’m most proud now that my daughter is a volunteer firefighter,” he said.

Jean Daniher, 21, joined the former Sharpsburg VFD when she was 14.

“Firefighting was always kind of an interest and my dad brings a lot of leadership to the department. Merging required a lot of organizing and now we as a department strive on teamwork and helping the community,” Jean Daniher said.

Jean Daniher is one of four active female volunteer firefighters.

“My dad is a people person and willing to go the extra mile with everyone. I respond to a deputy chief because I don’t have any favoritism and he definitely does not.”

Jean recalled her first-ever time on the nozzle and fire call.

“It was in Fox Chapel and it was me, my dad and one other volunteer. It was great to see him encourage me and he’s always found a way to help me learn and gain experiences,” Jean Daniher said.

Daniher’s late grandfather Michael Foley was a battalion chief in Pittsburgh’s fire department and his father was a member of the Cherry City department.

Daniher graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1995.

Both fire departments operated for more than 50 years before the merger and for Daniher, boosting membership remains a priority.

“We need to attract kids at a younger age and our goal is to recruit more members,” said Daniher. “Our department has been lucky and we’re trying innovative ways in recruitment.”

The department hosted a new recruitment event this year, implementing a two-day youth fire camp event hosted by SAVES for boys and girls aged 12-14 and held at Camp Guyusuta and in Aspinwall.

In its first year, five new volunteer firefighters have joined SAVES, an increase that Daniher noted is welcome given a nationwide decline in membership among volunteer fire departments.

“It’s wonderful and we’re so glad to have fresh bodies join the department,” Daniher said. “The merger is going very well and both departments merged at their own will.”

The department plans to host the youth fire camp again this summer.

Daniher, 49, previously served as assistant chief for five years with the former Sharpsburg VFD.

As chief, he divides his time between two communities and fire stations.

“The most challenging thing is to equally spread my time and attention between both stations and communities. I want all members and citizens to feel that they’re important and that I care equally for each community our department serves,” Daniher said.

Assistant fire chief Louis Costanzo has been a firefighter for 49 years. Costanzo is a Sharpsburg native and served as chief for the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department for 24 years.

“He’s just a good leader and takes the initiative. That’s what you have to do as chief,” Costanzo said. “He’s just a personable guy that you can work with.”

Deputy Chief J.C. Teyssier of Aspinwall met Daniher about 15 years ago and described Daniher’s leadership style as unifying.

“He’s on top of everything and was the best choice I think. He is always making sure everyone is getting along and that it’s run smoothly. His strong suits are he leads from the front,” Teyssier said. “He’s always pushing the members to be the best that we can be.

Daniher also works full-time serving as the Ranger at Boy Scouts of America Guysuta Park in O’Hara.

He lives on property at Guyasuta with his wife Kim Daniher, and business member at SAVES.

“I met my wife when I was 13 and working my summer job at Camp Guyasuta,” Daniher said. “Living on the property is fun. It’s like working every day and having 68,000 of your friends come through.”

Daniher’s firefighting duties and job command the majority of his time and he’s just fine with that.

“I just go, go, go all the time. That’s my choosing,” he said.