WRITTEN HISTORY

OF THE

RUMFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Town of Rumford was incorporated on February 21, 1800.  The Fire department was established and organized in 1895.  Equipment was acquired through the Rumford Falls Village Corporation.  The first station housed a 2 wheel hand pulled hose cart with fifty feet of hose and had twelve members. It was located near the Park at the end of Congress St.

In 1895 a group of local businessmen built a town hall that was known as the Wig-Wam.  The Wig-Wam housed Town meetings, church services, dances, the Universalists fair of 1897, and other public gatherings.  The building was on Canal Street by the  now CMP garage.

In 1900 the Town of Rumford purchased the Wig-Wam building to house the Fire Department for $850.00.  An additional $650.00 was raised for additional apparatus and equipment.  By 1907 the department consisted of,  70 volunteers, one Chemical engine, one hook and ladder truck, 7000 feet of 2 ½ inch hose, six chemical extinguishers, a fire alarm system of 16 pull boxes, and four hose carts.  One hose cart was housed at central station, and the three other were housed in other places in town; one in the Virginia area of town, one on Waldo St., and one on the corner of Washington St. and Maine Ave.  This was the home of the Rumford Falls Fire Department until 1925.

With the acquisition of more apparatus and equipment, the Wig-Wam building became obsolete in 1924.  The last call out of the building was on March 24, 1925.  It was a three hour blaze at 415 Waldo St. 

In March of 1924 the Town proposed to build a new central station at an estimated cost of $80,000.  The Town voted its approval on May 17, 1924.  Construction began in May of 1924 and it opened on March 25, 1925 at a cost of $95,000.  Its first call was on congress Street on March 25, 1925 in the Cheney Block.  It was caused by a cigar setting a curtain on fire and was contained to the window frame area.  The Estimated damage was $25.00.

The new building was located on Congress Street beside the Town Hall.  The original apparatus housed in the building were: A Ford Chemical truck, 1917 American LaFrance city service ladder truck, 1924 American LaFrance chain drive 750 GPM engine with a 250 Gallon tank, motor driven chemical / hose truck, horse drawn combination chemical-hose wagon, and a Chief’s car. 

The new station was dubbed the “fire palace” by the Rumford Falls Times.  It boasted a modern ticker tape fire alarm system for its 45 pull boxes in town.  It also had spring operated “automatic” door openers, modern sleeping quarters, kitchen, reception room, showers and bath.  It had a modern horse stall for its two horses (presently the department’s break room). 

This building is still in use as the Rumford Central Fire Station.  It now houses a digitized fire alarm system for our 73 pull boxes in town and 24 master boxes in MeadWestvaco Paper mill.  It has 13 full time members who work rotating shifts allowing a minimum manning of 4 members at all times with a utility member covering vacations and other vacancies.  We have a full time Chief, 3 Deputy Chiefs, 3 Lieutenants, 7 Privates, and 35 call force members. 

Our fleet consists of:  Engine 2 which is a 1979 American LaFrance 35 foot snorkel with a 1500gpm two stage pump and a 750 gallon tank, Engine 3 which is a 1965 International with a 1000gpm pump and a 1000 gallon tank, Engine 4 which is a 1993 International / Wilson combination pumper-tanker with a 1250gpm pump and 2000 gallons of water, a 1990 E-One 100 foot  Ladder truck,  and a 2003 Ford-F-550 Rescue Truck.  We also have a 1998 Ford F-250 utility truck and a 1996 Jeep Cherokee Chief’s car.

Rumford Center Village Improvement Association

Prior to 1920 Rumford Center had no fire protection.  At that time after a major fire it was decided to start an effort to improve fire protection.  At first a few soda and acid extinguishers were purchased.  In 1925 a Model-T Ford was purchased for $220 and converted to a chemical truck.  The truck was stationed in a makeshift garage of strapping and canvas near what is now known as Richardson’s store. 

In 1926 Merton Colby was elected fire Chief of the Rumford Center Improvement Association.  Residents were alerted to emergencies by church bells and later by a red phone system. 

In 1949 The Town appropriated $1000 to acquire a 1942 GMC truck with a 800 gallon tank.  A 500 gallon pump was bought and placed on the truck.  In 1950 A Quonset hut building was obtained from Brownfield and moved to the Center by many volunteers to be used as a fire station. The Rumford Center station was disbanded in 1984 due to modern equipment responding from Rumford Central Station.

Rumford Point Fire Association

The Rumford Point Fire Association was also organized in the min 1920’s.  The association acquired its first motorized pump, a Sterling rotary pump driven by a four cylinder Osh Kosh engine. The pump was mounted on a four wheel trailer which could be towed by any vehicle available.  A Hudson touring car was purchased and made to accommodate various equipment.  Due to the size and weight of the pump, a four wheel hand drawn wagon, and a hand drawn pump was placed with this unit.

Irving Cole became Chief in 1925.  He was replaced by John--- in 1933.  A red phone system was used to alert volunteers of a fire. The number was 917 R1-4.  This rang into the home of John Martin.  Once answered Mr. Martin or his wife would go across the street to the station and activated the station’s siren.  This siren is still in service at the Rumford point substation, serving the Point area since 1926. 

For many years many vehicles have been used at the Point to protect its citizens.  In 1966 a triple combination international pumper with a 1000 gpm pump and a 1000 gallon tank was purchased. This truck is still in use today.  In 1978 a new two bay station was erected by department volunteers which is still in use as our Rumford Point Sub-Station.  In 1994 a Class A International pumper-tanker made by Metal-Fab was purchased for the Point Station.  This truck boasts a 1250 gpm pump with 2500 gallons of water.

The Rumford Fire Department

In 1951 a new town charter was adopted which combined all fire companies in Rumford under the direction of one chief.  Chief Solomon Mercier was the first Chief of the combined department.  This is the present Rumford Fire Company.

Pictures of Old Engine 1 beside Engine 4. 

APPARATUS

Horse Drawn Apparatus:

            1907 Horse drawn wagon

            Wheeled for summer

            2-3 horses

             Sleigh runners for winter operations

Engine 1's:

   1913 Chain drive

   First six cylinder apparatus in Maine

1924 American LaFrance

     750 GPM, 250 gallon tank

     Retired in 1961

1962 American LaFrance

  1000GPM, 500 gallon tank

   Retired in 2000

ENGINE # 1 was retired in 2000.  Presently there is no plan to replace this truck

Engine 2's:

            1930 American LaFrance 600series

            Triple Combination pump, 250 gallon tank

            Retired in 1979

1979 American LaFrance

35 foot tele-squirt

1500 GPM two stage pump, 500 gallon tank

Presently our 2nd due Engine

Engine 3's:

    19?? GMC Retired in 1967

   1967 International Thibault

   1000 GPM, 1000 gallon tank

 1967 - 2003  

ENGINE # 3 was retired in 2003.  Presently there is no plan to replace this truck

Engine 4's

 1953 American LaFrance

  1993 International – Wilson          

Tanker-Pumper Combination

1250 Pump, 2000 gallon tank

Presently first due out of hydrant area

from the Point station.

Tanker 5

            1967 GMC dump truck

Converted into a 1500 Gallon tanker

No pump

Retired 1994

1994 International – Metal Fab

            Tanker-Pumper Combination

            1250 Pump, 2500 gallon tank

            Presently first due for Out of hydrant area. Housed out of Central Station

Engine 6's:

Engine 6  

1966 International Thibault

 1000 GPM, 1000 gallon tank

 Was the First due Engine at the Point station

 Unit  retired in 2006

Engine 7

2000 E-One

1250 GPM / 1000gallon tank

First due engine in Rumford

Ladder Trucks:

1917 city service ladder

Retired 1939

1939 American LaFrance

65 foot aerial ladder

Retired in 1972

  1971 American LaFrance

  85 Foot aerial ladder

  Retired 2003

1900 E-One

100 foot aerial ladder

2003 to present

Chief’s Car:

2 Station Wagons

Last one was retired in 1996

  1996 Jeep Cherokee

  Used as command vehicle and spare EMS vehicle

   Presently in use

Rescue 1

Retired 2005

and rope rescue.

Other Units:

            1907 four- hose carts

            Housed in different areas of town

1 at the Wig-Wam station, Waldo street, Maine and Washington,

and Prospect Ave in Virginia

1922 There were 2 35 Gallon Chemical soda units

Each carried 1000 feet of 2 ½ hose

192? Ford

35 Gallon Chemical unit

With 150 feet of one inch hose

1925 Model T Ford

Converted to Chemical truck

Housed at the Rumford Center Station

1942 GMC 10 wheel tanker

500 Gallon GPM front mount pump, 800 Gallon tank

Old camper trailer refurbished in 1995

Presently used for long term incidents

Also used for extreme cold or hot incidents

1929 Hudson-  Rumford Point truck

FIRE STATIONS

Rumford:

Old Fire Barn 1895-1900

Rumford Falls Fire Department (Wig-Wam) 1900-1925

Rumford Central Station 1925-Present

Rumford Center:

Make Shift garage of strapping and canvas

Housed near what is now Richardson’s store     1925-?

Quonset hut building 1950-1984

Engine 2 Museum built in 1978

Rumford Point:

Old station housed by antique store

Present station

FIRE CHIEFS

FRED B CARROLL

            Mr. Carroll was one of Rumfords early settlers and business men. He was successfully engaged in the plumbing and steam  fitting business with headquarters at 79 Canal Street. He was chief of the Fire Department of the Rumford Falls Village Corporation since its inception over 30 years ago. Through his efforts Rumford's new fire station and equipment were in large measure due.

            Chief Fred Carroll died at his home on Franklin Street at 4:30 on the morning of October 2, 1926 from injuries as the result of a fall at a fire on Spruce Street in January.

S.A. MERCIER

Membership:19?? - 1958

 Chief-1927

GEORGE BULGER

Membership: 1949- 1974

Hired - 1949

 Chief - 1958

President New England Chief’s Association - 1961

President Maine Chiefs Association - 1971

       George Bulger joined the Rumford Fire Department in 1949, advancing through the ranks to chief in 1958. He served as President of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs in 1969 and as President of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association in 1971.

J. E. Boivin

Hired - ?

Chief - 1974

Retired - 1989

J. ARTHUR BOIVIN

        Chief Boivin was awarded the 1987 Citizen of the Year Award from the Rumford Rotary Club for the production, direction and narration of the video cassette " Ruthless Rage" with the proceeds donated to the flood victims. He was also active  in the Oxford County Local Emergency Planning Committee Rumford, Regional Planning Committee, Rumford Finance Board, Local public access T.V. committee and as a Cub Scout leader.

John Woulfe

Hired - 1999

Chief - 1999-Present

1986 - 1999    West Hartford, CT  LT from 1991

                           Honorary BC  FDNY, Sergeant at Arms    Maine Fire Chiefs

THANK YOU

Thanks to the Rumford Falls Fireman's Relief Association, Deputy Chief Richard Coulombe, Rumford Historical Society, and J. A. Boivin for information and  prior research.