BERKLEY — Chief Scott Fournier is pleased to announce that Berkley Fire Rescue will be hosting an event celebrating the department’s 75th anniversary and invites community members to attend.
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 30 starting at 6 p.m.
WHERE:
Berkley Fire Station #1, 5 North Main St.
WHO:
- Chief Fournier and members of Berkley Fire Rescue
- State Representative Norman Orrall
- Berkley Select Board
- Massachusetts Call Volunteer Fire Association representatives
- Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts members
- State Fire Marshal’s Office representatives
- Southeastern Regional EMS Council representatives
WHAT:
Next Wednesday, the department will celebrate Berkley Fire Rescue’s 75th anniversary in honor of the department formally being established by a town meeting vote on March 3, 1947.
At the event, local and state dignitaries will speak about the evolution of the departments and its continued growth. Speakers will include Chief Fournier, Rep. Norman Orrall, members of the Select Board, Town Administrator Heather Martin-Sterling and more.
Following the speaking portion, attendees will be able to check out the station and apparatus. Light refreshments will be served.
This event will kick off the department’s 75th year, which will include numerous other celebrations and events such as the return of the department’s annual old-time fire muster, parade, softball tournament and more.
The Berkley Fire Department was organized in 1947 shortly after the annual town meeting. Before Station 1 was built in 1953, handmade fire apparatus was housed in private barns and garages around town. In that same year, the department purchased a factory-built fire truck–a 1953 Ford-Farrar. Station 2 was then built in 1957 and it received the second factory-built firetruck–a 1957 Ford-Darley.
In 1960, the Town got a “Red Network” phone system installed. The Red Network had phones installed in key fire department members’ homes so they could be notified in an emergency and then they could run to each station and “pull the hook” which would activate the roof sirens at each side of town. It was also during the early 1960s that the department bought its first ambulance, a used Packard.
Since then, the department has continued to grow with a new public safety building having been built, equipment and apparatus upgrades, and an increase in staffing. Currently, full-time personnel and approximately 45 on-call members and 24 hours a day fire/EMT/paramedic service.
To learn more about the department’s history, including previous chiefs, click here.
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