History

In 1902, a major fire hit the Toohey store, Crosby house and large horse shed on Wallkill Ave. In the downtown area of Wallkill (across from the Post Office). No fire department existed at that time. Residents using buckets scooped up water from the melted snow and fought the fire. A steamer from the Walden (Orange County) Fire Department was summoned and averted a disaster. After the fire in 1902, E.B. Dubois gathered citizens together to form a fire department. In 1903, the fire department was officially organized. Two companies were organized: Wallkill Hook & Ladder Co. #1 and Wallkill Hose Co. #2. Two hand-drawn hose carts and a used hand-drawn ladder truck were purchased. In 1924, the two companies combined to form the present company. The first motorized piece of apparatus was purchased in 1926. In 1964 we moved from the original firehouse located on Bridge Street to 18 Central Ave. In the spring of 2022, we moved to our new fire house on 112 Bona Venture Ave.