History -
On March 8th, 1764, 26 men being
among the chief owners of property and heads of families in
the village, met in the Friends Meeting House, which at the
time was located on the Ferry Road (now Haddon Avenue), and
formed the Friendship Fire Company of Haddonfield. Each Member
was required to furnish two leathern fire buckets and the Company
supplied six ladders and fire hooks. Various fines for not keeping
the equipment in proper shape or not attending meetings were
instituted.
In 1811 there was a reorganization, and the
name changed to the "Fire Company of Haddonfield".
Additional members joined and subscriptions were secured in
order to obtain necessary equipment. On March 5, 1818, a hand
pump engine was purchased from Perkins and Jones of Philadelphia
at a cost of $300.00. On March 1, 1873, a suction pump was purchased
from Harlan and Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Delaware for $169.72.
Cisterns were dug in strategic locations for water supply.
Meanwhile, a reorganization was necessary
and on February 21, 1857, there came into being The Haddonfield
Fire Department. This organization continued until January 13,
1887, when Haddon Fire Company No.1 was organized.
The first apparatus was hand drawn, then came
the horse drawn vehicle, and finally the motor vehicle. All
fire fighting equipment has come a long way since the original
organization of the Haddon Fire Company No.1. The apparatus
is housed, and the company holds its meetings on the original
site of the organization of the company. Haddon Fire Co. No.1
remains to be the second oldest volunteer fire company in continuous
services in the United States.
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Who
Are We?
Our membership consists volunteer men and
women from virtually all professions, eg. Accountant,Real Estate, Painter,
Banker, EMT,Police Officers, Paramedic, Salesman, Electrician, Investment Analyst,
State and Federal Agents, Teacher, Mechanic, Borough
Employee and Landscaper who serve and protect Haddonfield from
the ravages of fire and other emergencies on a strictly volunteer
basis. New members attend basic firefighter training at the
Camden County Fire Academy, while all members receive regular
continuing education through training exercises and drills that
are conducted by company officers.
Pictures
and names of our volunteer fire fighters.
How Busy Are We?
Each year Haddonfield firefighters answer approximately 500-600 fire
alarms, which range from dwelling, vehicle, and brush
fires to malfunctioning alarm system activations. Regardless
of the type of problem reported, every alarm must be answered
in the same expedient manner.
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What Equipment Do We
Have?
Haddon Fire Co. No.1 operates one completely equipped
Rescue/Pumper, 2 Fire Pumpers, and one 100-foot aerial ladder
truck. In addition, Haddon Fire Co. No1 has an incident command
vehicle, and a utility vehicle.
How Can I Volunteer?
Volunteer applications are being accepted. Please feel free to
contact Joe Walls at (856) 429-4308 or stop by the firehouse
at 15 Haddon Avenue Haddonfield,NJ for details.
How Are We Supported?
Each spring, our members conduct a door-to-door
fund drive of the entire borough. Proceeds from this drive are
used to purchase equipment such as mobile radios, pagers, company
vehicles, and other emergency equipment. In addition, the drive
allows funding for fire prevention activities and training for
our firefighters. We have been fortunate that nearly all residents
enthusiastically support our fund drive.
How Can I Learn More?
Simply by asking. Our members would be pleased
to answer any questions with regard to our operations, general
fire safety, becoming a volunteer, or the history of Haddon
Fire Co. No.1.
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