NORTH PATCHOGUE

FIRE DEPARTMENT

History

The beginning of the North Patchogue Fire Department dates back to 1930 when the area was nearly all pine forests.

When a structure caught fire, the only help that could be expected was from neighbors who typically arrived with brooms, rakes, and shovels.

Many structures burned to the ground and forest fires were a constant fear and lasted for days.

A group of about a dozen concerned citizens bonded together and held a meeting on July 11, 1930, inside John Weidner’s bowling alley on Medford Avenue. On August 8, 1930, the North Patchogue Fire Department was officially organized.

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It took almost two years after organizing in 1930 for the North Patchogue Fire Department to secure a building and a piece of fire apparatus. The new meeting house, as it was originally named, was purchased for $150.00 from Edgar A. Sharp and was formally the office of a home development off Medford Avenue. A white building with green trim and red headquarters lamp, sized 20 feet by 20 feet, it was moved from its original location to the east side of Medford Avenue at Clark Street on the property of the Continental Garage.

The department leased the land from the owner of the garage George Oberschlep. Oberschlep was also a trustee of the fire department. At the time of the opening, the membership had reached 65 and was being headed by Chief Henry Shaw.

The first piece of fire apparatus was purchased from the Babylon Fire Department’s Argyle Hose Company. The department had to wait for Babylon’s newly purchased pumper to be delivered before they took ownership of it. Though already nearly 10 years old, the 1922 Brockway Chemical and Hose truck sported a 350 gallon pumper attachment, two chemical tanks, 200 feet of hoseline for chemicals, an additional booster tank, and 300 feet of regular hose.

Shortly after Argyle Hose’s former truck arrived the department purchased an additional Brockway chain driven, solid tire Brockway from the Van Guard Hose Company in Patchogue. Milk cans were filled with water and placed on this truck.

The two original pieces of apparatus were housed inside the Continental garage next to the meeting house.

Our department continued to grow and in 1937 built a new headquarters at 33 Davidson Avenue. Over the years our department purchased newer equipment and in turn had to add additional bays onto the firehouse and in response to an enlarging population constructed two additional firehouses.

In 1999 the NPFD erected its current headquarters across the street from the original 3 bay firehouse.