The seedlings of this Department were planted by a few interested and foresighted individuals of the community who met in August 1910 and set plans to organize a Volunteer Fire Department. Before long, quite a large group of men were holding meetings at the Borough Hall. They operated as a bucket brigade until a chemical engine was located in Westfield and purchased for $35. Henry Weber hitched it to his horse and buggy and brought it back to the Fire House (then part of the Borough Hall where Police Headquarters is now located). The engine contained two seventy gallon chemical tanks and was drawn by horses.
In 1918, the Fire Department bought their first truck. They still talk about the first fire when Henry Weber sped up the road, one fireman turned white and hopped off the swaying chemical trailer, while those lucky enough to be seated hung on for dear life. In 1915, Garwood donated to the Fire Department a gong which was the old type railroad wheel, sounded with a sledge hammer. It was used until a siren was installed in about 1933.
The department purchased a Flying Thomas from Rahway in 1921. This engine was equipped with chemical tanks. This was a good engine once they got it started. After a few years of heard cranking, the purchased a Reo. The Reo was replaced in 1940 by a Mack Pumper.
In 1944, the Fire Department purchased a used Ford chassis and rebuilt it into an A-1 Fire truck. This was about six months later, after working 865 hours to put it into service. The Ford was replaced in 1949 by Engine 2.
Our Engine 1 was purchased in 1960. In 1963, the Fire Company, through monies from our fund drive, purchased a 3/4 ton Dodge chassis on which a high pressure pump was installed. This is our current Engine 3.
Our telephone bell alerting system was replaced with a plectron radio alerting system in 1964.
In 1974, the Borough Council bought a one acre parcel of land on New Providence Road. The building was finished being constructed in June of 1975 and is the current home of the Mountainside Fire Department.