Gales Ferry Volunteer Fire Company
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Since 1942

January 1942 -- Ledyard Fire Company District #2 (our original name) organized.

June 1942 -- Gales Ferry Country Club building converted to serve as the Fire Station.

December 1942 -- 500 gallon motorized Pumper is purchased.

January 1948 -- Fire Station destroyed by fire. All equipment lost.

February 1948 -- Women's Auxiliary Organized.

July 1948 -- Replacement Maxim 500 gallon fire truck purchased.

February 1949 -- Fire station on Allyn Lane rebuilt.

April 1950 -- Fire Police organized and recognized by the Town of Ledyard.

May 1959 -- Recreation room, kitchen, and Chief's office added to station. Mack Fire Engine Purchased and wins best in state at the Connecticut State Fireman's Convention.

October 1969 -- Second Mack Fire Apparatus Purchased.

February 1971 -- Fire Company changed name to Gales Ferry Fire Company.

July 1972 -- First career fire fighter hired.

October 1975 -- Truck bay added to house new tanker truck.

June 1976 -- Rescue squad organized and temporary rescue vehicle acquired.

Oct 1978 -- Purchased E-1 Mini-pumper Rescue Apparatus.

March 1980 -- Purchased Saulsbury 2500 gallon Tanker.

September 1982 -- Purchased GMC 3500 4x4 and built our brush unit.

March 1984 -- Fire station second floor gutted by fire.

January 1985 -- Fire Company secured Mortgage for new fire station.

February 1985 -- Ground broken for new fire Station on Route 12 on land leased from the Dow Chemical Company.

March 1986 -- Fire company moves to new station on Route 12.

August 1988 -- 1959 Mack replaced by Pierce Arrow 1500gpm/1000gallon pumper.

October 1992 -- Defibrillator purchased for rescue apparatus.

May 1994 -- 1969 Mack Engine replace by Pierce 1500 gpm/500 gal/ 65 foot Telesqurt.

February 1995 -- First female firefighter qualified as apparatus driver/ pump operator.

June 1996 -- Rescue team certified as R-1 organization.

February 1999 -- 1978 E-1 rescue apparatus replaced with Marion/Freightliner.

April 1999 -- Installed vehicle exhaust extraction system in apparatus bays.

Dec 2000 -- Mortgage on new fire station paid off 6 years early.

October 2001 -- Rescue team certified to administer Epinephrine by auto-injector. The first injectable medication we have been permitted to carry on our apparatus.

June 2002 -- Purchased turnout gear washer-extractor and renovated bay washroom.

August 2002 -- Fire Station floors reconditioned with chemical resistant non-skid material.

August 2002 -- Replaced 1980 Tanker with US Tanker/Freightliner 3000 gallon elliptical tanker.

August 2003 -- Replaced breathing air system with 6000 psi high capacity compressor and updated cascade system on Rescue 27.

December 2003 -- Received Homeland Security Hazmat equipment including meters and level B suits.

February 2004 -- Replaced Scott 2.2 SCBAs on Ladder 25 with Scott 4.5s with 45 minute carbon fiber bottles.

May 2004 -- Took delivery and placed new Engine 22 an S&S Attack1 into service as our new brush engine and medical response rig. Forestry 26 is converted to Service 26 and will support various service calls and carry our extended hazardous materials support equipment.

March 2006 -- Fire company secured second mortage to pay for refurbishment of outside of the fire station.

August 2006 -- Completed Stucco application to refurbish the exterior of the fire station.

January 2010 -- Took delivery of new Engine 21, 2009 Ferarra/HME Engine.