Elsmere Fire Company A, Inc.

Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997

ELSMERE FIRE COMPANY CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY

The Elsmere Fire Company, located in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, this year will celebrate their 75th anniversary. In June of 1922 a local committee circulated a petition asking for a proposition to appropriate funds for the of purchase of fire fighting equipment. The proposition was finally presented to the taxpayers for approval at a special election held on November 18, 1922. The first fire company meeting was held on December 4, 1922 at which the Fire Company was duly organized and a full slate of officers were elected. There were 47 charter members.

In 1928, a fire district was established in accordance with town and county procedures. A Board of Fire Commissioners was elected. Peter Klein was elected as the first Chairman and he was also named the first Chief of the Department.

The original two story fire station on Poplar Drive was erected in 1929, a coded fire alarm system installed and a 1917 750 GPM fully equipped American LaFrance pumper was purchased. This building was remodeled and extended to house three pumpers in 1963 and further enlarged to house the "Snorkel" in 1969. The original pumper was purchased for $700.00, and is still owned by the Fire Company.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fire Company was organized on May 12, 1938 and has been a valuable supporting organization to the Fire Company.

The Fire Company holds regular meetings on the last Thursday of each month, an annual meeting for the election of officers in December, as prescribed by law and the anniversary meeting held on the first Friday in December.

The Fire Company operates under a Fire District, which has a Board of Fire Commissioners, elected by the voters of the Fire District. The Board of Fire Commissioners is responsible for the purchase and maintenance of the fire apparatus and the fire station. They also exercise supervision of the Fire Company through the Fire Chief and his Assistant Chiefs.

The present apparatus fleet consists of three pumpers; a 1970 Young 1250 GPM, a 1980 1250 GPM Pierce, and a 1991 1750 GPM Pierce, and a 1993 Pierce 100' Tower Ladder with a 1500 GPM pump. Present membership includes 70 active fire fighters, including 10 fire police and 9 officers.