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Our History
The Malaga Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was organized April 15, 1920. The first president was H.C. Richman, William Van Note, Secretary, James B Kandle, Treasurer, H.C. Richman, Fire Chief and Joseph Fisher, Sr., Assistant Chief. Members were John A. DiMatteo, Joseph Mongelluzzo. The bucket brigade was used at this time.
The Malaga Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was incorporated February 26, 1937. The signers to the certificate of incorporation were:
Joshes Richman, William Richman, H. Corval Richman, George Van Note, Gus Prince, and Joseph Fisher, Jr.
The officers were as follows: H. Corval Richman, President, William VanNote Secretary, Ephraim H. McCarty, Treasurer and Charles Palmer, Fire Chief.
Members were Joshua Richman, Charles Schmidt, William Richman, Willis Nichols, Victor Wright, Harry Fisher, Joseph Fisher, Jr. Theodore Marciano, Kenneth Smith, George VanNote, Steel Peach, Joseph Dimatteo, Erling Eversen, Vernon Langley, Joseph Langley, and Edward Trasferini.
In the years prior to 1944, the only important piece of apparatus consisted of a 1929 Model A Ford with a 50-gallon drum for its water supply and a small quantity of chemicals.
Quite in contrast to the early fire-bucket brigade, the present equipment consists of a modern Model 704-A White fire truck acquired March 20, 1944, as a contribution of Dinshah P. Ghadiali. Other equipment including portable oxygen mask for firemen and respiratory inhalator for asphyxiated or drowning victims is also available for immediate call. The old iron wheel rim no longer calls the members to their duties. A recent model 3 horsepower electric siren has replaced it.
Our former home at the Fire Hall was leased from the Jr. O.U.AM., Rising Sun Council No. 15.
Under able leadership and splendid member cooperation our Building Fund grew form a modest $300.00 to a sizable amount in the neighborhood of $10,000.00, which enabled us to build a new and modern fire house, a recreation center and we expect in the near future to acquire new equipment, such as an ambulance, all the better to serve a growing community.
A brief history submitted by Ralph Jiannotti, Fire Chief 1962.
Note in 1954 a group of men in the Forest Grove section of the township started the Forest Grove Fire Co. Its district was cut out of our area. This allowed a quick response for help in the Far East section. The 3-hp. siren was given to them along with some equipment to help them cover the Forest Grove Plainville, Piney Hollow, a part of the Lake sections.
Due to the growing size of the Malaga area in 1968 a larger 3 bay addition to the station was made out on the back side of the building. All the apparatus was moved to the new bays to make way for the dance hall. Before this the fire apparatus had to be placed outside so the hall could be used. Also, in 1968 a 1967 Dodge panel van was placed into service as our first emergency unit. This vehicle carried stretchers, portable spotlights, a generator, respirator, chains, a come-a-long and other fire/rescue equipment. A short time later a third addition was completed in 1973 so a 7000-gallon tractor trailer tanker could be housed for an additional water supply source. This was a vehicle that was donated from the Hess Oil Company.
This third addition made room for the station to become 5 bays with a meeting room, workshop, and a utility room. The company meetings were held in the basement of the main part of the building till then.
The fire district in 1974 ordered a 1000 gpm 1000-gallon Hahn/ GMC pumper. This was the 2nd vehicle that the company received that was designed and ordered new for us. Now the company had a 1955 Dodge 500 gpm 500-gallon engine number 4341. A 1957 Y model Dodge 750 gpm 1000-gallon engine number 4342, a 1974 GMC Hahn with a 1000 gpm pump and 1000-gallon water tank, a 1967 Dodge Emergency Van numbered 4347, and the tanker numbered 4344 this was an International tractor with a Heil tank. In 1979 the district placed an order for a 1980 Pierce/ Ford C8000 pumper with jump sets and a 1000 gpm pump and 1000-gallon water tank. This was the first diesel engine for Malaga. I will replace the 1955 Dodge and run as 4341. This new engine run first due from 1980-2005, then was removed for active service in 2013.
The 1967 Dodge Van was replaced with a 1973 Dodge shops made recuse truck. This unit was in service until 1982 went a new shops-built GMC 4x4 rescue was placed into service. This unit was the main rescue squad until 1995. I was repurposed to a Marine unit tender then brush truck until 2005.
The 1957 Dodge was replaced with a 1978 Dodge power wagon as our first brush truck in 1988.This truck was in service till 1995.
In 1983 the fire company started a dive team due to the many drownings in the area. Before the team was started the fire companies in the county used grappling hooks to drag the bottom of the lakes for the poor souls who lost their lives. It was a grizzly site to say the least when a body was found. So Chief John Borelli, Jr. started the team with 5 other members. The district supported the new mission be all members were to be responsible for their own equipment and training.
In 1990 the district ordered a 1991 Grumman custom pumper tanker with a 1500 gpm pump with a 2500 water tank. This engine ran as 4342 from 1991 to 2010. I was sold to the Frytown Fire of Pennsylvania.
As the company kept growing and the need to more space (The overhead doors with a 10’ height)
The need for a new fire station was starting to be discussed. Since the company already owned the property across the street from the current station, a committee was formed, and funding was looked for the new building. By 1993 the new building was built with a large engine room (7 bays), office space, Day room, meeting room and kitchen. The new station even had the basement for a workout center.
1995 came with the delivery of the first custom build rescue truck for the company. The first three were all built by the members in house other than the painting and graphics. It was a Rescue 1/PL Custom rescue truck with an 18.6-foot-long body. This was also the first rescue truck to be equipment with reel mounted hoses for the Hurst Rescue System. The vehicle also boosted a 6-man cab, 25 Kw generator with a 15’ tall light tower that can be neatly stored in the roof.
1995 also marked our 75th year of service for the area. A small event was held at the station.
By 2001 there was a need for a command vehicle. All the other ones were old police cars.
Also, in 2001 on September 11th we were called to service for the terrorist attack in New York City, NY. Our rescue truck and crew were dispatched and sent to the Meadow Land Complex to stage.
A truck committee was started to replace the 1980 pumper and the 1982 brush truck.
After the request was approved, the trucks were ordered and delivered. The pumper with a 2003 Seagrave 2000 GPM pump with a 1000-gallon water tank. It was mounted on a 6-man cab rescue pumper body. This vehicle has a foam system, winch, deluge gun (mounted large nozzle) and room for a large assortment of rescue tools.
The brush truck is a Ford F450 4x4 with 4 door cab 150 gpm high pressure pump and 250 gallons of water.
In 2010 the 1991 Grumman Tender was replaced with a Freightliner/Crimson Tender equipment with a 1500 gpm pump and 3000-gallon water tank. This tender can also operate as a fire engine too if required.
In 2013 the 1980 Ford was finally retired from active service running as the first out engine from 1980 till 2003, then as the second out engine till the 2013 Freightliner/Spartan with its 1500 gpm pump and 1250-gallon water tank.
Office and storage space started to get tight in the new building so once again a committee was set up to explore an addition to the fire station. After a period of time the best and most cost-saving plan was to buy the old fire station back and make it the admin building.
All office rooms, the meeting room, and storage were transferred to this admin building. The dive team’s equipment is also staged there.
Our 1995 rescue truck will be replaced by an ultra-modern fire rescue vehicle in the winter of 2021. This vehicle shall be equipped with the Jaws of Life both hydric and battery powered, a 25kw generator, light tower, rescue struts, hand tools, fans, chain saws, gas detectors and a thermal imaging camera.
The constant upgrading of our equipment, apparatus and training has moved the fire company well into the 2100 century, with our current membership staffing of 28 members the Malaga area will be well serviced by us for another 100 years.
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