MountainsideFD ^.ORG

The Mountainside, NJ Fire Department (Union County) first founded in 1910, and currently serves a population of approximately 7,000 residents living, in approximately 4.1 square miles. In addition, over one half of the Watchung Reservation is located in the Borough of Mountainside. The fire department responds to an average of 300 calls per year and provides the town with an array of fire, rescue, and community services. The department is responsible for protecting residential property as well as two large nursing homes, a hospital, a major movie theatre, and numerous manufacturing facilities. The department also responds to motor vehicle accidents on its 2.7 mile stretch of State Highway 22.

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.