History
Appartus History
The Early Years
A group of more than one hundred citizens held a meeting at the Palmer House to organize the Depew Volunteer Fire Company in July 1893. However, they lacked proper equipment, including hydrants.
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World War II Years
In August 1941, Mayor Arthur Prestine instructed the fire and water committee, to inspect the Cayuga Hose Company’s truck, which was reported to be in very bad shape. A policy had been established earlier that, the apparatus was not to be used when it was found to be in bad shape. The fire and water committee must have verified that the Cayuga’s truck was indeed in bad shape and in need of replacement.
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The 1960's
The truck committee which had been appointed in 1958, was inactive until February 15, 1960, when a communication from the Depew Hook and Ladder Company with a copy to the Chief of the Fire Department Vitus Fiegl, requesting that an appropriation be made in the 1960-1961 village budget for an aerial ladder truck. Company Foreman Richard Dombrowski, had sent a letter to the company complaining of the condition of the 1937 G.M.C. ladder truck. This letter spurred the action by the company to make the budgetary request. The letters were received and filed and Mayor John Domino instructed the fire and water committee to set up a meeting with the Hook and Ladder at a time convenient to discuss the matter.
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The 1970's
At the same time, the West End Hose Company Number Six requested the village board to provide the company with the procedures to be followed when seeking replacement of existing fire apparatus. Mayor Joseph Natale informed the members of the company to forward their request in writing to the fire chief.
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The 1980's
The Depew Hook & Ladder Company Number one at its January 11, 1980 meeting endorsed a motion to form a tentative new truck committee to look into the replacement of the 1961 Seagrave ladder truck. Following established procedure, a letter was sent to Fire Chief Charles Scherer seeking permission from the village board to go ahead with this committee.
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The New Millenium
At the July 10, 2000 meeting of the village board, the village clerk was authorized to advertise for bids for (2) two new pumping engines for the Depew Fire Department pending a review of the bid specifications by the village board.
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The Motorized Era Begins
The village board received a communication on March 5, 1917, from Klepfer Brothers, a local motor vehicle dealer. The letter was read and it referred to an Ajax-Ford Chemical truck for the Depew Fire Department. No action was taken as the communication was received and filed.
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Fire House History
1890's
Once the incorporation of the Village of Depew was completed, the new village board immediately turned its attention to providing fire protection facilities for the new village.
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1900's
On September 9, 1901, the village board of trustees was petitioned asking that a firehouse be built on Broadway for use of the Cayuga Hose Company. The petition was received and filed and referred to a committee of the whole. (The entire village board.)
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Modern Stations
In December 1962, the Confidential Report issued by the New York Fire Insurance Rating Organization was critical of the firehouses as they existed and served the Village of Depew Fire Department.
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Firemen's Park History
In the early days of the Depew Fire Department when the annual inspection of the fire department was held or any type of carnival or fund raising activity was held, most of the time these activities were held in the local streets adjoining the fire house or in some private picnic grove of which there were several in the village.
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Past Chiefs
A List of previous Chiefs throughout the years
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