Welcome to Lavallette Fire Department

History of the Lavallette Volunteer Fire Company

In the early days of Lavallette, fire protection consist­ed of a hand-powered chemical wagon. It was housed in a building situated on a lot located at Reese and Grand Central Avenues owned by Mr. Charles Garibaldi. The rim of a huge locomotive wheel hung suspended from railroad ties near this building, and, in case of fire, an alarm was given by striking this rim with a sledge hammer which hung nearby. Every able bodied male resident of Lavallette within hearing distance would respond. The old locomotive rim was moved in 1959 from the drive­way property of Charles Garibaldi, Jr., where it had been buried for many years, to its present location in front of the firehouse.

On February 10, 1923 , a group of twenty-five men met in the Lavallette Borough Council chambers for the purpose of organizing a volunteer fire company. The Council chambers were located in Applegate's Hotel on the site of the present Crab's Claw Inn. At this meeting the Lavallette Volunteer Fire Company NO.1 was formed.

Meeting Minutes and Roster from first meeting

Much was accomplished during the months following the first organizational meeting. In March the first by­laws of the company were approved and the first slate of officers was elected. A lot upon which to build a fire­house was purchased for $465.00. The location of this lot is known now as 105 Reese Avenue . In October 1923, the Borough's first truck, a Reo, was delivered. It cost $4,500.00. On January 19, 1924 , the Fire Company held its first Oyster Supper, founded by William Nugent, and realized a profit of $450.00.

1935 Ford and 1949 Mack pumpers in front of firehouse, now Borough offices, 1955

In its formative years, the Company was assisted by a ladies' auxiliary. The ladies were a great help in the early development of the Company.

When the present Borough Hall was erected in 1928, the Fire Company was allotted space in the new building for a meeting room and engine room. The Company sold its lot on Reese Avenue for $1,000.00. This money was turned over to the Borough in return for the company's new quarters.

Also in 1928, steps were taken to have members with­in proper age limits join the State Fireman's Association. This required that the Company be placed under the con­trol of the Borough Council in regard to approval of new members and elected officers and disposition of certain equipment. Since that time the Company has been financed partially through budget appropriations of the Borough Council.

The steady progress of the Company during its early years slowed to a struggle for survival with the advent of the Great Depression in the 1930's. In 1932, an Ahrens­ Fox fire truck that had been bought in 1930 was returned to the company from which it had been purchased. The Fire Company was unable to meet the required payments.

During the depression years, when funds were hard to come by, the Company operated a miniature golf course on the corner of Brown and Grand Central Avenues. Funds also were raised through dues, donations, suppers, raffles, carnivals and benefits. The Company even pumped holes for bulkheads to raise money.

Despite the difficult times, the company managed to survive the depression and the affairs of the Company were uneventful until the advent of World War II in 1941. The ranks of the Company were depleted when its younger members entered military service. During the war years, to help fill the gap, the acceptance of junior members was authorized and the junior members served with distinction. The Company was shocked and grieved to learn of the loss of member Harry Bloom who was killed in action while fighting in France.

The end of World War II in 1945 brought resurgence in the Company. The membership was enlarged vastly when many returning veterans became firefighters. A larger membership in the Company and the expansion of the Borough soon resulted in the need for larger quarters. The Borough Council recognized this need and, in 1958, the present firehouse was erected.

In 1962 the organization of a Junior Fire Company was authorized. The junior members, under supervision of the Fire Company, elect their own officers and con­duct their own affairs. The juniors have made significant contributions to the overall effectiveness of the Fire Company. A major project has been the restoration of the 1935 Ford Fire Truck.

Dick Killick, Ed Reim, Ralph Anteau, and Charles Shubert in the 1935 Ford, 1977

In 1990 the Ladies Auxiliary of the Lavallette Volunteer Fire Company was organized as a support group of the Company. It assists in any fire emergency by provid­ing food and beverages to the firefighters either at the scene or at the firehouse. It conducts several fund-raisers each year including taking pictures of people on the 1935 Ford apparatus during the Heritage Day festivities. It organizes the visits from Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. The Auxiliary places a wreath at the Veterans' Memorial each year during the Memorial Day services and makes an annual donation to the Fire Company at its annual Installation Dinner.

The firehouse meeting room, besides being used for Fire Company business and as a polling place for elections, was used five days a week as a site for the Ocean County Nutrition Project.

The Fire House in 1996

In 1996 the company was equipped with three fire engine pumpers, an emergency truck, a Ford pick-up truck for Fire Police, a Ford Expedition for use by the Chief and a jet ski. It has a boat rescue squad, and a scuba rescue team. In 1997 the Company received a new 1500 gallon E-One pumper. Its members stand ready twenty-four hours a day, year-round, to provide service and protection whenever called upon.

The Lavallette Fire Company is a well equipped, well-trained fire and rescue operation. Its growth and progress have kept pace with the growth and progress of the Borough. Its officers and members, along with constant in-service training, regularly attend train­ing courses to keep abreast of the latest firefighting tech­niques. All new members must attend approved fire fighting schools as a condition of membership. A plectron and pager system provides instant communication, unaffected by power failures, to each firefighter.

The Fire House in 2005