History of the Totowa Fire Department
Our Department currently consists of four companies. Each company has a distinct personality, yet all are part of the Borough of Totowa Fire Department, with the one goal to protect the residents of Totowa from fire and/or natural and manmade disasters. Each company has their own proud and distinguished history. Here are their stories:
ORDINANCE No. 37
AN ORDINANCE CREATING AND ESTABLISHING A FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE BOROUGH OF TOTOWA,
IN THE COUNTY OF PASSAIC, and to REGULATE AND CONTROL THE SAME.
Be it ordained by the Borough Council and the Borough of Totowa: --
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That a fire department of the Borough of Totowa be and the same is hereby created and established, coextensive with the territorial limits of said Borough.
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That the use of any fire apparatus of said Borough hereafter be entrusted to “LINCOLN FIRE COMPANY” and “TOTOWA BOROUGH VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO. 1” or any fire company hereafter organized in the Borough of Totowa, County of Passaic, State of New Jersey.
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That said companies shall be limited to a membership not to exceed fifty each.
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That the members and officers of said fire companies are made respectively members and officers of said fire department upon signing the membership role of said fire department and promising to perform the duties of a fireman prescribed by the by-laws of said Companies, which roll shall be kept by the Borough Clerk.
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That no person shall be a member of said Companies unless he shall be a resident of said Borough and over the age of twenty-one years.
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The officers of said Companies consist of a Foreman, Assistant Foreman, President, Vice President, Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, the Chief and Assistant Chief to be elected by the Department and to hold office for one year, and shall be confirmed by the Borough Council before he shall be entitled to hold office.
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That in case the Borough Council shall refuse to confirm the election of any Chief, the Mayor of the Borough and President of the Companies shall appoint a Chief to hold office until a Chief is elected by the Companies and confirmed by the Borough Council.
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That it shall be the duty of the Chief to file a report to the Borough Council at its first regular meeting each month, the condition of the department, of the apparatus and any other matters concerning the department he may deem necessary.
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That the by-laws of said Companies, a copy of which is now on file with the Borough Clerk,are hereby approved, except so far as modified by this ordinance.
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The Borough Council reserves the right to further alter or amend said by-laws by ordinance or resolution as it shall see fit.
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That each member of said Companies upon signing the roll of said Department shall be entitled to receive a badge of the Fire Department, said badge shall remain the property of the Borough and be surrendered to the Council on the death, resignation, removal, suspension, or expulsion of any member.
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That the services rendered by the members of said Department shall be voluntary to the Borough of Totowa and the residents thereof.
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This ordinance shall take effect immediately.
PASSED MAY 4th, 1908
APPROVED MAY 9th, 1908
Henry R. Crews, Mayor
ATTEST: -- S. J. Turner, Borough Clerk