(Click on underlined text to see corresponding photos.)

 The Beginning... 

  In the 1900s in the Town of Chemung, a series of Out-Of-Control fires, including one that destroys several properties at one time, prompts five local businessmen to take action.  Guy Ford, Floyd Beers, Harold Lovell, Elmer Weston and Linn Straitor meet January 8, 1930, at the Chemung Spring Water Company Plant to form Fire District #1 in the Town of Chemung, New York.  Acting as a Board of Fire Commissioners, they arrange with the Elmira, New York, Fire Board for on-call protection. 

  To serve within the boundaries of Fire District #1, the Town of Chemung Volunteer Fire Company is formed.  At a Fire District meeting July 19, 1930, officers of the Fire Company are elected and Fire Wardens are directed to draft By-Laws and a Constitution. 

   By August 21, 1930, the organization is nearly complete.  On Friday evening September 26, 1930, an alarm sounds signaling the first fire drill for members of the newly formed Fire Company.  Large chemical tanks are emptied on a pile of burning debris, and the bucket brigade uses water to put out the remaining sparks.  The firefighters return to the station, sign the register, and receive congratulations from the Fire Chief for a job well done. 

   For the remainder of the year, both the Company and the Commissioners establish meeting and training dates, consider membership classifications, explore the types of suitable equipment available, and construct the framework of an organization that continues to provide volunteer fire and emergency protective services in the Town of Chemung today.

 The Early Years... 

1930

  At a Fire District meeting held on July 19, 1930, officers for a Fire Company were elected, and Fire Wardens were directed to draft By-Laws and a Constitution. 

1931

  The fire headquarters is moved from the Blacksmith Shop to the former  E.C. & W. Railway sub station on the Town’s Main Street.  The Fire Board has Frank Lovell, Town Supervisor, levy 2 ¼ mill per dollar on property in the Fire District to help support fire services.

1933

  The Model T Fire Truck is offered for sale for $15.00 or 8 cords of wood.

1936

  The Chemung Telephone Company installs a telephone in the Fire Station

1941

  WWII brings changes in the scope of services to be provided by the Fire Company.  Membership declines as men leave for the armed services.  Those who remain help with air raid drills, scrape collections, blackout patrols, and train to fight incendiary fires.  The Fire Board arranges for construction of an Honor Board containing the names of all townspeople in the armed services. 

1947

  As WWII ends, preparations are made for the purchase of a  new fire truck.  The truck, an International, is driven into town by Harold Lovell and R. Clark. 

1953

  A fire police classification is added to the Fire Company duty list.  A boat with an outboard motor is added to the equipment list.

1955

  The Fire Company purchases the Fire Station for $5,900.

1957

  Plectrons (tone alerting devices) are placed in some firefighter’s homes.  A  Blitz Buggy  fire truck is purchased for $10, 685.

  The Years of Change...

1963

  The Chemung Volunteer Fire Auxiliary is formed.

1964

  The 1957 emergency truck is replaced by a van equipped to provide emergency medical and transportation services for firemen and the Chemung community.

1965

  A gasoline tank truck slams into a utility pole and explodes in the center of the Chemung hamlet.  Firefighters work in unison with volunteers from other fire companies to battle the dangerous blaze and to cool 3,500 gallons of gasoline stored in a second section of the tanker.  Unexpectedly, two more trucks, one with foam generator and the other with 9,000 gallons of water, arrive in time to help quell the inferno. 

1970

  The rolling fleet is increased with the addition of a used  light and generator truck  571. 

1972

  Hurricane Agnes dumps rain on the Southern Tier creating a flood disaster zone that includes the Town of Chemung.  Fire District firefighters and residents work tirelessly assisting flood victims and extend their efforts to neighboring areas. 

1973

  The fire station and neighboring buildings are razed making way for construction of a new fire station which is dedicated on June 1, 1974.  New Rte. 17 which eliminates most of the thru traffic on the Town’s Main Street is completed. 

1977

  Training requirements for firefighters change.  All Fire Company members must complete an Essentials of Firemanship course within one year of joining the Fire Company. 

1981

  A Class A Fire Pumper replaces the “57 Blitz Buggy.  The Chemung and Lockwood Fire Companies make an agreement that alters the course of the fire services for the Town of Chemung properties located in the proximity of the Lockwood Fire District.
 

  The Challenging Years...

1983

  A tornado skipping along the New York Pennsylvania border rips dwellings and power lines along Hilliker Road and Rotary Road Extensions.  Then it hops a hill to swipe at residences along Dry Brook Road.  Twenty-seven properties are damaged, nine people are injured.  The Fire Department sponsors a fund drive to assist displaced families and works with other agencies in clean-up process. 

1986

  A forest fire starts at the base of Katy Did Mountain, spreads rapidly in a “V” pattern to the mountain top where it then threatens several homes in the Neason Road area on the downside of the slope.  Firefighters carry 5 to 10 gallon “Indian”tanks on their backs and men in brush trucks, three wheelers transport men and equipment to the widespread fire site.  It takes at least nine hours and up to 200 firefighters to bring the blaze under control. 

1991

  The number and types of training courses that the volunteers are required to complete begins to escalate.  In this year alone, there are 58 training sessions ranging from SCBA, SCUBA diving and search and rescue team drills to EMT, CPR and HAZ Mat courses.  There also are courses on the subjects of blood borne pathogens, air bag deployment, turn out gear and changes in protocol for communication calls and responses. 

1994

  Faced with the escalating NYS Mandates related to the training of ambulance personnel, the popular and effective Fire Company ambulance service is discontinued.  However, the Company’s emergency services continue to be provided by a Quick Response EMS Unit and Greater Valley EMS. 

1996

  Heavy rains and January thaw flood County Rte. 60 and River Road.  River blocked by ice jam.  Residents blocked off from town and stores, the Army Reserve called in to assist. 

2003

  The Federal Emergency Management Agency announces a grant award of $102,355.00 from the 2002 Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program to the Chemung volunteer Fire Company.  With these funds, the Fire Company takes immediate steps to increase the safety of its volunteers with the purchase of additional portable breathing apparatus, full firefighters turn out gear and upgraded Fire Service Communications and training equipment. 

2004

  A KME  rescue pumper truck  designed to cover rescues of any size as well as fight major fires is put in service. It also has state of the art  equipment.
 

The Anniversary Year...

2005

  Thanks to gifts from NUCOR and the Chemung Town Board, Trucks 534 and 582 have defibrillators onboard.  The Auxiliary classification is now Active Support.  Newly elected officers of the Commissioners and Company are installed at the annual membership meeting.

2006

  On June 10, 2006 we celebrated our 75 years of service with numerous events as shown in this booklet we had printed for the occasion. You will need  Adobe Acrobat Reader  to view it.

2007

  Jim O'Driscoll president and Teresa Degarmo community and media relations administrator for Fortuna Energy Inc. were at our station on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 to present us with the 2007 John Deere 850D XUV 4x4 Gator with warning light and winch, that they generously donated to our Fire Company.

  In late October we added 573 to our fleet of apparatus. It is a 2008 Ford F-550 Super Duty 4x4 with the 6.4 liter twin turbo diesel. It has a four door crew cab and 9.5 foot aluminum rescue body with roll up doors and a 12,000 pound front mounted winch.  It has two telescoping 500 watt quartz halogen lights mounted to the front of the body and two 110 volt outlets supplied by a 2000 watt inverter. This is a dual purpose vehicle whose primary role is for Emergency Medical Response to the residents of the town of Chemung. This unit also has a skid mounted 300 gallon water tank and 370 gallon per minute pump that is skid mounted in the bed with a booster reel, inch and a half pre connect and a two and a half intake and discharge. It also has a high pressure Lukas hydralic tool that is a combination cutter and spreader for automobile extrication, Two MSA 4500 PSI air packs with 45 minute bottles, MSA Carbon Monoxide meter, Stokes rescue basket and Four rigid back boards. It carries a full compliment of BLS medical supplies for both pediatric and adult patients.

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