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Department Officers Phil
Soper
Eric Soper
Richard Thornton
Rose Jackson
District
Officers
Fred Finley
April 1, 1943 - December 15, 1997 Click on the photo to see our tribute to Lennie. |
In 2006, the Edwards Fire Department
received a complete set of Jaws Of Life from the Rye Fire Department in Rye,
New York. they also received the following donations: a combi tool from
the Clay (NY) FD, 2 air packs from the Brier Hill FD, 2 Air Packs from the
Lisbon FD, a thermal imaging camera from surplus equipment compliments of the
US Navy and a FEMA grant of $180,000 for a new engine that was received in
August 2005.
In April 1925, the first fire department in the town and village of Edwards was established. The original fire department had a total of 30 members. The need for a fire department was brought about by a fire in the late 1800's that swept through the village and destroyed much of it. In the early days, due to lack of money and resources, the department was not very successful in their fire fighting efforts. One of the earliest pieces of equipment was a man power drawn hose reel which they hooked to nearby water hydrants or other sources. As time went by and money became available, more and more modern equipment was bought and the success rate improved. In the beginning of the fire district, the Village of Edwards voted to spend a total of $3000 for a water system. In today's department there are fifty active members, about twelve of which are also Rescue Squad/Emergency personnel who respond to calls of all kinds. The department is governed by a board of Fire Commissioners and the department funding is provided by the town budget. The department currently has one ambulance, one 4-wheel drive mini pumper for grass fires, 2 fire engine pumpers and 1 tank truck. In addition, the department owns a 1953 Dodge Pumper, not active for field service but maintained solely for parades. The volunteer fire department is very diversified in that it takes people from all walks of life. We have as our members, clergymen, engineers, miners, store owners, construction workers, doctors, retired people, nurses, mill workers and many others too numerous to mention. As you can see, it takes all kinds of people to make a volunteer fire department. For more information, contact Phil Soper, Chief, Edwards Volunteer Fire Department, 115 New Street, Edwards, New York 13635. Check out our listing at Firehouse Network. |
