The East Vineland Volunteer Fire Co. started in 1926 by a group of farmers, who saw a need for some type of fire protection for their rural farming community. This area was known for growing potatoes which are grown in “hotbeds” made out of wood and covered with salt hay. There was a wood fire underneath of the beds that produced heat and steam. Many times a farmer would catch a “hotbed” on fire.
A woman named Josephine Benero donated the ground which the original East Vineland Firehouse was built on. The original building housed trucks within 2 bays on the first floor with a meeting room and other recreational areas on the second. Additions to the building were made in the sixties, seventies, and in 1991. Upon being established, the newly formed fire company provided protection for the East Vineland area, “New Italy,” Milmay and Dorothy.
The fire company received its money through taxation but also raised funds through various events which have continued to this day. Tickets for a ravioli supper in 1927 sold for $1.00 each, Horse shows, carnivals held behind the fire company and card parties which took place from the first years through to the end of the forties. Turkey shoots and chicken & beef barbecues were common from the fifties to the seventies. In the eighties and nineties, breakfasts and sub sales became popular giving rise to the phrase “Home of the Famous Firehouse Sub”.
From the early years until the sixties, fires were called in by phone directly to firemen’s homes. The fireman would then activate a siren from his house which was usually located near the firehouse. In the days before pagers, the first fire truck out would drop small paper bags filled with lime to indicate the travel route to other responding firemen and fire trucks.
In 1999 East Vineland and Richland Fire Departments realized there was a need for a rescue squad in the two areas. Meetings were held to see if there was any interest and it was found that many members of East Vineland and Richland wanted to devote their time to the cause and took EMT/ First Responder classes with the rest being history as Buena Vista Township Emergency Medical Services was formed. Funding is provided to the squad by Fire District #1 (Richland), Fire District #2 (East Vineland), Fire District #3 (Newtonville), and the Township of Buena Vista.
Officially, on Labor Day, September 5, 2000, the squad became fully operational. Its ambulance is housed at the East Vineland Firehouse and now responds to calls in the Richland, East Vineland, Newtonville, and sections of the Milmay area. Mutual Aid is also provided to our neighboring communities. We are very proud of the commitment of the squad’s members and the overwhelming support of the community.
After celebrating our 75th Anniversary in 2001 and housing our new tanker, The East Vineland Volunteer Fire Company and Buena Vista Township EMS continued to grow in members and calls. BVT-EMS added their second ambulance in 2004 as well as a third ambulance in 2012. Prior to the fire houses' new location, the second ambulance had to be housed in a metal, unheated, dirt floor building, behind the fire station. Due to cramped conditions, donning of fire gear would occur while trucks were parked within inches of each other and have no training space available, the need for expansion was realized. Part of the original station was built in 1926 added on in 1950's, 1970's and again in the 1990's. The fire commissioners began several years ago to pursue adding on or building a new station. After the purchase of land and architectural work, we have our 13,800 square foot new fire station.
A woman named Josephine Benero donated the ground which the original East Vineland Firehouse was built on. The original building housed trucks within 2 bays on the first floor with a meeting room and other recreational areas on the second. Additions to the building were made in the sixties, seventies, and in 1991. Upon being established, the newly formed fire company provided protection for the East Vineland area, “New Italy,” Milmay and Dorothy.
The fire company received its money through taxation but also raised funds through various events which have continued to this day. Tickets for a ravioli supper in 1927 sold for $1.00 each, Horse shows, carnivals held behind the fire company and card parties which took place from the first years through to the end of the forties. Turkey shoots and chicken & beef barbecues were common from the fifties to the seventies. In the eighties and nineties, breakfasts and sub sales became popular giving rise to the phrase “Home of the Famous Firehouse Sub”.
From the early years until the sixties, fires were called in by phone directly to firemen’s homes. The fireman would then activate a siren from his house which was usually located near the firehouse. In the days before pagers, the first fire truck out would drop small paper bags filled with lime to indicate the travel route to other responding firemen and fire trucks.
In 1999 East Vineland and Richland Fire Departments realized there was a need for a rescue squad in the two areas. Meetings were held to see if there was any interest and it was found that many members of East Vineland and Richland wanted to devote their time to the cause and took EMT/ First Responder classes with the rest being history as Buena Vista Township Emergency Medical Services was formed. Funding is provided to the squad by Fire District #1 (Richland), Fire District #2 (East Vineland), Fire District #3 (Newtonville), and the Township of Buena Vista.
Officially, on Labor Day, September 5, 2000, the squad became fully operational. Its ambulance is housed at the East Vineland Firehouse and now responds to calls in the Richland, East Vineland, Newtonville, and sections of the Milmay area. Mutual Aid is also provided to our neighboring communities. We are very proud of the commitment of the squad’s members and the overwhelming support of the community.
After celebrating our 75th Anniversary in 2001 and housing our new tanker, The East Vineland Volunteer Fire Company and Buena Vista Township EMS continued to grow in members and calls. BVT-EMS added their second ambulance in 2004 as well as a third ambulance in 2012. Prior to the fire houses' new location, the second ambulance had to be housed in a metal, unheated, dirt floor building, behind the fire station. Due to cramped conditions, donning of fire gear would occur while trucks were parked within inches of each other and have no training space available, the need for expansion was realized. Part of the original station was built in 1926 added on in 1950's, 1970's and again in the 1990's. The fire commissioners began several years ago to pursue adding on or building a new station. After the purchase of land and architectural work, we have our 13,800 square foot new fire station.