The Fort Johnson Volunteer Fire Company is a
volunteer fire department
A volunteer fire department (VFD) is a fire department of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction. Volunteer and retained (on-call) firefighters are expected to be on call to respond ...
that provides
fire protection
Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of potentially destructive fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as we ...
and
emergency medical services
Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care. ...
to
Fort Johnson
Fort Johnson was a U.S. Army post built on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in modern-day Warsaw, Illinois, during the War of 1812. The fort was established in September 1814 by Major Zachary Taylor, future 12th President of the United Sta ...
and
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...
New York.
History
FJVFC was founded in 1935, and manages two stations.
In 1995, a fire erupted in the home of one of the department's volunteers. David Grandy, a lieutenant of the fire company, his wife Stephanie Grandy, also an active firefighter at the department, and their three children, were killed in the fire. A monument was dedicated to the Grandy family behind station 2 in Amsterdam.
In 2009, the fire company petitioned for a bill to allow non-resident members of their company, sponsored by
Senator Hugh Farley.
The bill passed in July 2009, making the FJVFC the 24th fire department in the state of NY to receive such an exemption.
In 2011, Chief Alden Miller found
child pornography
Child pornography (also called CP, child sexual abuse material, CSAM, child porn, or kiddie porn) is pornography that unlawfully exploits children for sexual stimulation. It may be produced with the direct involvement or sexual assault of a ...
on the company computer, which he turned into the State Police. A volunteer at the company, Randolph Billington, was arrested for allegedly downloading the material. Billington was subsequently also charged with felony child sex abuse.
The department has around 25 active members,
and fields over 250 calls per year.
Apparatus
The department has 9 trucks, including 2
fire engine
A fire engine (also known in some places as a fire truck or fire lorry) is a road vehicle (usually a truck) that functions as a firefighting apparatus. The primary purposes of a fire engine include transporting firefighters and water to an ...
s, 2
tankers
Tanker may refer to:
Transportation
* Tanker, a tank crewman (US)
* Tanker (ship), a ship designed to carry bulk liquids
** Chemical tanker, a type of tanker designed to transport chemicals in bulk
** Oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tank ...
, 1
tower
A tower is a tall structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting structures.
Towers are specifi ...
, 1
wildland fire engine
A wildland fire engine is a fire engine specifically designed to assist in fighting wildfires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment. Most commonly used by the Unit ...
, and 1 rescue.
Their original engine from 1935 is still categorized as active, but is not used during emergencies.
Both tankers come equipped with an engine, and hold 2,000 gallons of water.
References
{{New York fire departments
1938 establishments in New York (state)
Fire departments in New York (state)