Proudly Serving Our Community For Over 100 Years !
The Pine Bush Hook & Ladder
Company, No. 1, Inc
A Brief Look - Then and Now
A group of men, seeing the need for fire protection in the Village of Pine Bush, due to a growing community, met and organized a fire company to be known later as the Pine Bush Hook & Ladder Company, No. 1, Inc., on July 6 1906.
The first apparatus owned was a rope drawn ladder truck purchased for $400.00 on September 24, 1906. The longest ladder was eighteen feet high.
On September 3, 1907 the Town Board of the Town of Crawford gave permission for the formation of the Pine Bush Hook & Ladder Company. A certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State on December 7, 1907 for the Department to be known as the Pine Bush Hook & Ladder Company, No. 1, Inc., our present legal name. A set of by-laws was approved by the membership of the Company at a meeting held on January 13, 1908.
In October, 1909 a bell was hung and a hammer donated to signal fire alarms in the community.
In 1912, a rope-pulled two wheel chemical cart was purchased. A few years later our ladder cart and chemical cart were combined and pulled by a Model-T ford runabout.
A major innovation in fire-fighting apparatus took place in June of 1924 with the purchase of a LaFrance chemical fire engine mounted on a Brockway chassis. The cost of this apparatus was $3,800.
A fire police unit was formed in 1924 and still remains and important part of our fire-fighting service.
A "modern" pumper was purchased in 1938. A Sanford pumper with a 500 g.p.m. pump and 300 gallon booster tank.
Today the Pine Bush Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, Inc. houses apparatus in two building, Station 1 located on Center St. is run under the direction of the Pine Bush Fire District, Board of Fire Commissioners. Station 1 houses three pieces of apparatus. Station 2 is located on Thompson Ridge. The property donated by Jack Thorn is the home of two pieces of fire apparatus.
There is also a 1925 Brockway which is still running and has been refurbished to original in service condition. The Brockway is used for display and parade participation.
In 1975 the Pine Bush Hook & Ladder Co, No. 1, instituted a Fireman-Trainee Program allowing 16 year olds to join the Department and train as firemen. Our trainee program has been an outstanding asset to our fire protection capabilities.
Today our department has over 40 active men putting in roughly 10 - 15 man-hours per week per person.
Although we and most departments boast of our fire suppression capabilities, the need and thrust in recent years has been "fire prevention through education". Pine Bush Hook & Ladder with the guidance of member Brian McCarthy has brought to the community a fire prevention program to be proud of.
Personal motivation, dedication, education, training, and a strong value of tradition are the characteristics of Pine Bush firemen. We look forward with pride for continued service to our friends and neighbors.
