The History of the Depew Fire Department

History Courtesy of Past Chief Arthur J. Domino

     The organization of the Depew Fire Department began initially with the formation of individual fire companies, after the incorporation of the Village of Depew, New York on July 23, 1894. The fire companies, which were originally formed, functioned more or less as independent bodies. Although there was some degree of cooperation, the companies were not legally bound into one single unit.

It should be noted here that the need for a fire department was one of the main reasons for organizing the Village of Depew, and incorporating it was the desperate need for a fire department. It was reported that during a fire early in 1894, while watching the fire that completely destroyed a building, S. Jay O’Hart and others stood in a group and concluded that, “If we expect people to come to Depew, we must have a fire department to protect their homes from destruction.”

Therefore with the incorporation of the Village of Depew, immediate steps were taken to organize fire companies.

On July 1, 1897, a village law went into effect and provided that “the members of all fire, hose, protective, and hook and ladder companies of the village, organized and maintained in pursuance of the law, constitute a corporation by the name of the Fire Department of the Village of Depew.”

By this time, there were a total of three previously incorporated fire companies that now made up the Depew Fire Department, and they were the Depew Hose Company #1 (Established 1894), the Aetna Hose Company (Established 1896), and the Depew Hook & Ladder Company #1 (Established 1896).

It was recognized that there was a need for another fire company in 1897. It would protect the area in the Southside of the village that lied west of Transit Road, a small area referred to as “Cayuga Town”. Thus, in 1898, the Cayuga Hose Company #3 was formed and admitted into the department.

As the village continued to expand, it became clear that another company was needed. Since the area around St. Peter & Paul Church on Burlington Ave. was beginning to develop, the new company would have to be close by. In the year 1902, the Central Hose Company #4 was organized and incorporated.

The department was now in full operation. After the incorporation of Central Hose Co. #4, the department had 4 fire stations, 5 companies, 4 hose carts with hose, and a horse drawn ladder truck.

The most significant change in the department probably was with the apparatus. Though in good condition, the hose carts of the department was outdated and not useful for its time. Department Chief John Carlson, Jr. led the campaign to motorize the department a few years earlier. He was successful, and in 1919, the department placed 2 motorized fire engines into service, and a motorized ladder truck in the following year.

The Depew Fire Department’s companies would march together in parades, but wore different uniforms. Realizing the need to bring the department together further, new department standard uniforms were bought in 1925. A total of 140 uniforms were bought for $3,900. The uniforms were of blue serge with a cap to match. The coats had 4 silver buttons with the letters D.F.D. The caps were of blue serge and had two buttons of silver similar to those on the coat, in the front. Between these were two loops of silver braid and silver lettering spelling out the name of the village.

In 1933, the Depew Fire Department began running first-aid calls in the Village of Depew. About 6 people from each company, or about 30 people from the department, were qualified in first-aid care. Many companies won awards in first-aid contests in the 1940’s. However, many ambulance companies began popping up in the area in the ‘50’s. In 1954, the fire department discontinued its first-aid services.

As the village became more and more developed as time went on, it became clear that the fire department had to make some changes and additions. In 1962, a report from the New York Fire Insurance Rating Organization stated that the original four stations were too old and not in good locations to provide service. Therefore, in 1964, 2 new fire stations were built and the original four were sold.

In addition to the new stations, it became obvious that we needed fire companies in the western part of the village due to the growing number of industries in that area. In December of 1966, the fire chief sent a letter to the village board asking them to take into consideration, two new fire companies to be placed in the west end of the village. They listened, and in 1967, the village board authorized 2 more fire companies to be established, an engine company and a ladder & rescue company. Prospective members met on December 10, 1967, and on December 17, 1967, 2 separate meetings took place to form each company.

In 1968, both the West End Hose Company #6 and the Depew Ladder & Rescue Company #7 were incorporated. The West End Hose Company #6 and the Depew Ladder & Rescue Company #7 began operating and worked together with the rest of the department to provide service and protection to the Village of Depew. However, a political battle rose on the type of apparatus for the Ladder Rescue, and in 1972, the Depew Ladder & Rescue Company #7 was dissolved and all firefighters and equipment were transferred to the West End Hose Company #6.

The Depew Fire Department has provided fire protection and emergency service to the Village of Depew for over 110 years. It has seen many changes, and many events in its long history. One thing that never changed, however, was the departments dedication to the residents of the Village of Depew.