History of the Department

The  Riverdale Fire Department is a 100% volunteer fire department. Fire  Headquarters is located at 56 Post Lane. We provide Fire Rescue and  Emergency services to the residents and businesses of Riverdale, as well  as, anyone who travels through our Borough. We also enjoy educating the  community on fire prevention and safety techniques. To request a fire safety demonstration for your workplace or place of worship, please contact us.  

The following excerpt originated within our 50th anniversary book and it made its online appearance on the Fire Department's Google Drive. Click  here to view the PDF file.  

Formerly  called the Pompton Volunteer Fire Department when it was organized on  February 25, 1907. The name was changed in 1958 to the Riverdale  Volunteer Fire Department.

It  was a tragic event that happened over ninety years ago that led to the  organization of what is now the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department. Mr.  MacWithey, a resident of the village of Pompton, returned home to the  news that his wife and two children perished in a fire that consumed  there house that day. This incident spurred the town citizens to  organize, as they put it, "To preserve and protect property from and  during such fires as may occur in the village of Pompton N.J. and  vicinity."

Twenty-three men were present in Post's Mercantile  Shop on the Hamburg-Paterson Turnpike at 8:15pm on January 2, 1907 to  discuss the organization of a local fire department.

Mr. Irwin  Titus was nominated and elected temporary chairman and C. E. Banks was  elected temporary secretary. The first order of business was the  preparation of three subscription lists for the raising of funds by  popular subscription. Messrs. J. Haycock, W. Gormely, and A. Hopper were  appointed as the subscription committee, each to cover a specific  portion of the village. It was noted at this meeting that Mr. E. R.  Richards started the list with a donation of $25.00 and pledged a  similar amount for Mr. J. C. Richards. At this same meeting, an  Apparatus Committee was appointed to investigate and get data concerning  fire-fighting equipment.

An important election took place at  this first meeting of the new fire department: what to name this group  of stalwart men dedicated to the fighting of fire and to the  preservation of life, limb, and property. Two suggestions were made -  Pompton Fire Department and Federal Rock Fire Department. "Pompton" won  out by a vote of fifteen to eight. 

In addition to the previously  mentioned, the remaining founders were: Messrs. W. Slingerland, C.  Williams, L. Coutts, A. Demarest, J. Demarest, L. Slingerland, J.  Brinkerhoff, M. Brown, L. Werling, G. Mead, J. Close, F. Siebald, G.  Fallon, W. Mathews, C. Lawton, and I. Van Duyne.

At the second  meeting, held on January 9, 1907, the following officers were duly  elected and installed: I. Titus, President; G. Mead, Vice-President; C.  Banks, Secretary; C. Mead, Treasurer; and J. Demarest, J. Brinkerhoff,  and W. Slingerland as Trustees. E. R. Richards was elected Chief at a  subsequent meeting. This election took up so much time, because of a  contest, that the balance of the officers were duly elected at another  meeting. At that time, the following officers were installed: J.  Demarest, 2nd Asst. Chief; J. Shroeder, 3rd Asst. Chief; G. Mead, Capt.  of Engine Co.; J. Brinkerhoff, Capt. of Hose Co.; H. Miller, Lieut. of  Engine Co.; A. Brown, Lieut. of Hose Co.; C. Mead, Engineer; A. Hopper,  1st Asst. Engineer; and W. Slingerland, 2nd Asst. Engineer. 

The  Pompton Volunteer Fire Department was officially organized on February  25, 1907. At a later meeting in March of 1907, the Chief, E. R. Richards  offered to donate ten (10) pails to the department, but the department  felt that they could purchase a number of pails and empowered the  Apparatus Committee to purchase "three dozen pails and paint them red."  As early as 1907, according to the minutes, the committee investigated  the feasibility of an electric fire alarm system, but was turned down as  being impractical. At a later meeting, Mr. W. Gormely was authorized to  "build a two wheeled truck, to carry ladders, at a cost not to exceed  $10.00." A decision was made at a subsequent meeting, later that first  year, to purchase a gasoline engine from the Howe Fire Engine Co. of New  York.

After meeting in various stores for a year, the firemen  rented the building of the Riverdale Social Club, located on Arlington  Place, for $1.00 per month, which covered five meetings. Dances were  held during the summer months at the Pavilion, which is now the present  site of Richard's Funeral Home. These dances helped to raise money for  the department. 

In 1913 the firemen began meeting in their first  firehouse located on the Hamburg-Paterson Turnpike, where the  Tri-County Safety Industrial Supply now resides. When the Village of  Pompton became the Borough of Riverdale in 1923, the men decided to  retain the name of Pompton Volunteer Fire Department. It wasn't until  1958 that the name was changed to the Riverdale Volunteer Fire  Department. In the early 1960s the Fire Department was united with most  other Borough organizations at the present municipal building located on  Newark-Pompton Turnpike. As the years went on the Fire Department  expanded in its membership and equipment. With such growth they sought a  larger structure to facilitate the growing needs of the department and  the Borough of Riverdale. In 1980 the Riverdale Volunteer Fire  Department moved into the Jersey Central Power and Light (GPU) building  located at 56 Post Lane, where it still remains today.

In the mid  1980s, with Route 23 expanding and Interstate 287 under construction,  the fire department expanded its services to include vehicle  extrication. Currently all members are certified to operate the Jaws of  Life.

The early 1990s brought new challenges for the fire  department. A rapidly expanding Borough was just one of these  challenges. Even with new challenges facing the department the  membership remained stable. In September 1993 Riverdale and nine other  Morris County towns formed the Northeastern Morris Mutual Aid  Association (NEMMA). NEMMA members organized the resources of the ten  towns involved so they could be deployed quickly and effectively in the  event of any emergency. The monthly NEMMA meetings are used to discuss  firematic issues affecting all towns, share information, and to train  together. Every October one-town hosts a large-scale simulated disaster  drill in which all NEMMA towns participate. 

During the mid to  late 1990's the Riverdale Fire Department responded to a variety of  major incidents. Fires erupted at the Mathews Avenue Condos, Powder Horn  Mill, Valley Spring Lake, Cotluss Avenue Plastic Factory, and the Acme  in Pompton Lakes. In addition, there were many motor vehicle  extrications on Route 23 and Interstate 287. 

As the century  turned Riverdale continued it's growth. Multi story Condominiums, Senior  Housing and a large retail complex were constructed. This development  increased the total number of emergency responses for the department. To  ensure firefighter safety state regulations required additional  training, certification and testing. In order to be a Fire officer you  now have to be state certified. 
Over the last decade the Mayor and  Council, as well as the residents continued to support their Volunteer  Fire Department by providing top quality facilities and equipment.  Additions and renovations to Fire Headquarters, Heavy Rescue Truck ,  Engine, two Command vehicles, Ladder, and new breathing apparatus were  purchased. In 2001 the Voters approved the Length of Service Awards  Program(LOSAP) to help recruit and retain membership. For the first time  in decades membership is over 30 firefighters. 

As with any  organization, over the years the officers have changed and members have  come and gone, yet the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department continues to  provide fire and rescue protection to the Borough of Riverdale while  remaining an active participant in community events. Work drills are  held Monday evenings at 7:00pm and monthly business meetings take place  every fourth Monday at 8:00pm. New members are always welcome and are  urged to stop by the firehouse any Monday.