The Teaneck Fire Department 1936
- Make Every Week Fire Prevention Week in Teaneck

Volunteer Fire Companies

The first Volunteer Fire Company in Teaneck was organized in 1904, followed by three more Companies; these volunteer units are:

• Co. No. I -- Operating from Fire Headquarters.
• Co. No. 2 -- Kenwood Place Fire House.
• Co. No. 3 -- Morningside Terrace Fire House. 
• Co. No. 4 -- Glenwood Park Fire House.

Company Nos. 2, 3, and 4, own their premises, and the Township pays rent therefor to them, also, furnishes light and heat for the Kenwood Place and Morningside Terrace quarters, where paid men are stationed.

Until 1920, this group or Volunteers was the only fire fighting force in the Township. In that year the first "paid" men were introduced into the Department, and the numbers have been gradually increased until now there are thirty paid men, all previous Volunteers. The number of "active" Volunteers remaining, besides those employed as Temporary Firemen, is now about thirty. There is also a large group of Exempt Firemen in the Township, among them many prominent men who having ably served Teaneck, still continue their interest in their old associations.

In the examinations now being held to obtain men for permanent appointment to the paid division of the Department, all possible consideration, commensurate with the principle that the taxpayer is entitled to an able-bodied, efficient force, is being shown to the Volunteer Firemen in appreciation for their civic services.

Fire Manual

In May of 1936, a Fire Manual was prepared, adopted, and published in handy book form to enable all members of the Paid and Volunteer divisions to become fully informed with respect to the, duties and privileges of all ranks. The contests of the Manual include numbered sections relating to the following subjects:

Fire College and Drill School

Among the outstanding features of Department activities are the Fire College and Drill School courses. These two divisions of training are conducted by the Deputy Fire Commissioner, and provide a series of lectures, and drilling sessions devoted to the technical, mechanical, and physical essentials of fire fighting and fire prevention.

This training is compulsory for all members of our Paid Branch of the Department, and is open to Teaneck Volunteer Firemen, and members of departments outside of Teaneck.

The record of attendance during 1934 and 1935 is as follows:

	Year	Paid Firemen	Volunteer Firemen	Outside Firemen	Total
Fire College	1934	11	25	43	77
	1935	25	*11	74	110
Drill School	1934	11	23	46	80
	1935	25	*9	31	65
*The drop in attendance of Volunteer Firemen in 1935 is accounted for by the induction of Volunteers into the paid ranks as Temporary Firemen, which on the other hand, is responsible for the increase of Paid Firemen attendance.

In addition to the Fire Lectures by the chief officers of our own Department, talks are given by officials from outside departments, including New York City and Newark authorities, and engineers of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.

Including the Fire College, Drill School, and extra training, the Paid Firemen have received three hundred eighty-seven hours of schooling and drilling within the past two years.

Reo Hose Wagon

Here is shown a hose wagon, the body of which was reconstructed and mounted on a new two ton chassis (by the Fire Department), and equipped with a 110 gallon Booster Tank. It carries 750 feet of 2½ inch hose and 250 feet of Booster hose, together with minor equipment This apparatus is operated by Volunteer Co. No.4.

Reo Hose Wagon (Volunteer Co. No. 4)
Cost of two ton 1932 chassis	$900.00
Cost of rebuilding	473.00

 

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