Proudly Serving Since 1897: The Oradell Fire Department
A Legacy of Courage, Commitment, and Community—From Hand-Drawn Hose Carts to Modern Firefighting
The Oradell Fire Department traces its roots back to January 18, 1897, when it was first established as the Delford Volunteer Fire Department, just three years after the Borough of Delford (now Oradell) was incorporated. Led by its first Fire Chief, D.Z. Westervelt and Assistant Chief James Earl, the department began with a hand-drawn hose cart and a strong sense of duty to protect its growing community. Over the decades, the department evolved alongside the town, transitioning from horse-drawn equipment to state-of-the-art apparatus and moving into its permanent home in 1948. Though much has changed, the dedication to service and community remains as strong as ever.
The following two articles were taken from the Bergen County Democrat newspaper. These are the two earliest articles relating to fires in Oradell before the town became its own municipality.
Tuesday night the depot narrowly escaped being burned. Persons passing the station noticed a blazing lamp in the agent’s office while he was at supper. The door being locked, James Searles busted it open and threw out the defective lamp, the room being filled with smoke. Mr. Searles discovered the fire in time to prevent the destruction of one of the company’s finest depots. - December 8, 1893
Tuesday’s fire has renewed the agitation for fire protection. Oradell certainly should have a fire company. It has among its residents two old New York State Firemen – A.A. Devore and John Hoyt, who distinguished themselves at the Leedy fire. The home occupied by Mrs. Leedy and owned by Barney Cole narrowly escaped destruction by fire on Tuesday morning. The family, excepting Mr. Leddy, was at home, when Mrs. Leedy discovered that the extension of the building at the chimney was on fire. By hard work and liberal use of water the flames were quenched. The damage is about $300. - December 9, 1893
The Borough of Delford was incorporated on February 24, 1894. In late 1895, four men meeting out of the local general store put the idea of forming a volunteer fire company for the town on paper and began the process of forming our organization. On January 18, 1897 the Delford Volunteer Fire Department was founded. They elected A. Landmann, president; George F. Moore, vice-president; James Hall, secretary; and James Searles, treasurer. To organize and command the members at a fire, they selected D.Z. Westervelt, foreman, and James Earl, assistant foreman. By June 7th, 1897, there were 45 active members registered in the department.
A piece of property on Linden Avenue (now Kinderkamack Road) belonging to R.W. Cooper was purchased for the price of $300. The Fire Committee was given $765 for the construction of a firehouse. This firehouse served the department until 1949 when new quarters needed to be sought to house the new, heavier, and larger equipment. Currently, the old firehouse building is occupied by the Bergen County Players.
Now the newly organized fire department needed equipment, the first piece of fire apparatus, a hand-drawn hose jumper, was purchased from the Maltese Hose Co. for $96 in 1897. This piece of equipment was ordered with 700 feet of carbonized-rubber hose at the cost of $1 per foot. A hand-drawn hook and ladder made by Hayward & Co. was also purchased for the price of $425. The ladder cart was equipped with seven wooden ladders of various lengths, two hand torches, four Dietz Fire King Lanterns, one lamp, twelve leather fire buckets, one length of rope, two axes (one flat head, one pike head), and two pike poles. At the time of delivery, the proud owners hired a local sign maker, Mr. William Barnes, to emblazon the department’s name on their apparatus.
Unfortunately, the new firehouse was not ready, and the apparatus needed a home. Peter Demarest leased his barn to the borough for $200 a month for housing the apparatus. In 1902, the hand-drawn hose jumper, which had served the borough, was replaced and, in turn, was sold to the new Riverside Volunteer Fire Brigade (now the River Edge Volunteer Fire Department). In 1997, as a gift to the Oradell Fire Department for their 100th anniversary, it was given back to the borough of Oradell. Currently, the department is looking to restore this hose jumper by replacing the wheels, the pull bar, the missing nozzles, and the spring bells.
In 1903, a horse-drawn hose cart was purchased by the borough of Delford from the Seagrave Company. This apparatus was able to be pulled by a team of horses, allowing firefighters to respond even quicker to emergencies. The new hose cart was equipped with 800 feet of fire hose, two Dietz Fire King Lanterns, two leather and brass nozzles, an axe, and two chemical fire extinguishers. As far as getting it to a fire, that was a whole different story.
Two different stories exist in the archives of the fire department. The first is that any person able to respond and hitch their team of horses to the hose cart would be paid $5 for their use. The other is from John Haring; if a fire was sounded, Biss Westervelt would bring a team of horses to the firehouse, but the eager and dedicated volunteers were so quick that they were able to pull the hose cart to the fire before he could even respond. The hand-drawn hook & ladder at some point in time was converted to a horse-drawn ladder for quicker response. Unfortunately, nothing remains of this apparatus but a carriage torch and a lantern.
In 1916 and 1917, the borough purchased the fire department two Reo motorized fire engines. One engine carried a hose and a chemical tank, the other carried ladders and a hose. In 1928, realizing that the town was growing and with the advances in the fire service with the development of the “Fire Pumper” an American LaFrance Metropolitan Class B Type 145 fire pumper was purchased. This pumper was able to pump 1000 gallons of water per minute. This pumper became affectionately known as “Old Moe” which it is still called today. This apparatus has been showcased not only in Oradell’s Fourth of July Parade, Chiefs Parades, New York & New Jersey Firefighters Association Parades, but also for Fire Prevention Week in New York City by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. This pumper is still kept in original condition by the membership.
In 1932, the members tried to build their own. After purchasing a GMC chassis and equipping it with a water tank, a booster pump, a hose, and various equipment, it was placed in service and served the borough for many years. In 1939, a Buffalo Ladder Truck was purchased. This apparatus carried ladders large enough to “reach any roof in Oradell”. The truck was also equipped with a flood light system and various tools for salvage and overhaul. This ladder served the borough until 1962, when it was sold to a local chimney sweep.
Firefighters now needed a way to be notified of a fire. The Reformed Church of Delford used its bell to signal an emergency. A rope hung outside the bell tower for people to report a fire. Realizing they needed a better way of dispatching the members, “fire gongs” (used railroad steam engine wheels) were strategically placed throughout the borough. These gongs, when struck with a hammer, resonated a loud tone that could be heard by the members. In 1912, the gong system was disbanded, and the Water Company steam whistle was used to signal the members (the steam whistle is now located at Bergen Tech in Hackensack). The only remaining gong is located in front of the firehouse as a memorial to members who have passed away. In 2004, the wooden posts supporting the gong were removed due to rot; the department is currently looking into redesigning the memorial area. In 1927, a siren was mounted on the hose tower of the old firehouse and eventually relocated to its current spot behind the new firehouse. It is this system that is still in use today. In 1949, the telephone company installed bells in members’ homes; these bells were set off by the police department to dispatch the firefighters to their alarms. With technology advancing at such a rapid pace, members are now notified by pagers that they wear similar to cell phones. These pagers are activated by the police department whenever the department needs to respond.
On July 2, 1949, the new firehouse was dedicated, located on an old corn field just a block from the old structure. It was built to handle the weight of the new style of fire apparatus. An addition was added to the firehouse to allow for the equipment due to its growing size. In 2004, the firehouse underwent its latest renovation, lowering the apparatus floor and widening the door openings. This project was done to accommodate the growing size of fire apparatus today, a far cry from the humble hand-drawn apparatus of the past.
Whether you are a resident, a fellow firefighter, or have attended a firefighter’s parade, you’ve most likely seen us, dressed in our traditional red parade shirts, black bow ties, white pants, polished shoes, and leather parade belts. These wool (yes, wool) parade uniforms were worn by almost every fire department founded prior to 1900. Although many departments have forgone tradition for the suit-type uniform, Oradell Firefighters have remained steadfast in continuing the tradition.
Our members have marched with pride in many parades over the years; some of the trophies won by the department are pictured within this text. Trophies in our collection date back as far as 1910. Our greatest recent achievement was in 2000, winning Best Over All Department at the New York & New Jersey Firefighters Parade and Convention.