1923

It was during this year when our second truck, a 1923 Ford Model T was purchased. It was outfitted with the twin tanks from the first truck and was put into service. The Brookside Community Club was founded in this year and the annual Independence Day Festivities were started in this year. The fire department has been heavily involved with the club since its inception and to this day supports its annual activities. Members also have helped make repairs to the club building and maintain the grounds for many years. On December 28, a committee of four members was appointed to oversee the transition from the Brookside Fire Department being an independent fire department to a municipally controlled department governed by the Township Committee. This committee was to also oversee and pursue the establishment of a local Relief Association. 

1924

On August 29th, the department received the necessary application form for joining the New Jersey State Firemen's Relief Association and the foreman was authorized to appoint the required delegates to the convention. The Relief Association is in place to help members financially during their time of need. Mendham Township to this day has a local association which comprises the entire department. We send delegates to the annual convention held yearly in Wildwood to vote and represent our department. 

1926

A fire broke out mid afternoon on April 13th at the residence next to the Brookside Post Office on West Main Street. With assistance from the Mendham Borough Fire Department, the blaze was quickly brought under control. A truck committee was formed at the April department meeting to find a replacement for the Model T chemical truck. They recommended purchasing an American La France apparatus which was accepted. 

1927

On July 7th around 5 pm, a barn on the old Pitney Farm property caught fire after lighting had struck it. The Brookside truck was unable to respond to this fire as it was disabled. Mutual aid was provided by Mendham Borough and Morris Township but the barn was a total loss.  

1928

The department took delivery of a 1928 American La France Type 99 fire apparatus with a 500 gpm pump and a 100 gallon booster tank in October. The 1923 Model T was traded in and with an additional $950.00 paid to cover the cost. This truck was in service for over 20 years and was the pride and joy of our department during those years. 

1933

The department moved into its second firehouse, which was located in the current Brookside Community Church Offices. The department would be in this firehouse for the next 22 years. 

1935

The department expanded for the first time, adding a second apparatus to the fleet. A used 1926 Cadillac truck with two 75 gallon soda acid tanks was purchased for $300.00 and put in service.

1942

The department was called out on a chilly (five below zero) Sunday winter morning to the Brookside Community Church (Chapel). Sand was spread so that the firemen could keep their footing. It was so hot in the church the people opened the windows unaware that the Chapel was on fire. One of the men who were present at the fire recalls that there was a slate roof on the Chapel weighing about ten tons and had it collapsed the injuries would have been numerous. The department also took delivery of a new 1942 International tanker which was converted to carry 800 gallons of water. The men installed a direct drive pumper and ½ inch booster hose on board. This replaced the 1926 Cadillac chemical truck. 

1950

On January 25th the Ladies Auxiliary of the Brookside Fire Department was formed. There were twelve ladies present at the first meeting. Within three short years the ladies helped the firemen purchase a two-way radio system.  Since its formation, they have been a huge asset to the fire department/company and graciously assist us not only on fire scenes when needed with endless refreshments and beverages but also financially by contributing to the purchase items/equipment that help the company serve the community better. 

1951

A township wide truck committee with both Brookside and Ralston members was formed during the previous year to look at the department and its current equipment. Brookside’s current engine, the 1928 American LaFrance, was 22 years old and was not running very well. It had failed its last several pump tests. The committee on January 23rd recommended an immediate apparatus replacement for Brookside and a new tanker truck for Ralston. In September, the department took delivery of a 1951 Mack L Pumper. This truck was equipped with a 500 gpm pump and a 300 gallon water tank. It replaced the American LaFrance. 

1955

Citing the need for additional space and the immediate availability of said space, the department moved into its third firehouse. This firehouse was located on the bottom floor of the old Brookside school which is the current municipal building and library. This firehouse contained two bays that were located where the periodical collection is behind the check in counter. The social room, kitchen, and meeting room were located in the rear where the present day children’s room and other books are kept for the library. This firehouse was more spacious than the old and was better for the newer and more updated equipment that was being received. 

1959

The 1942 International Tanker was retired and was replaced with a 1959 Ford manufactured by H/H fire apparatus. This truck had a 500gpm pump and a 750 gallon water tank. Two major fires occurred this year; the Brookside Community Club fire, and the Bockoven Barn Fire on West Main Street. The Community Club fire occurred in February of 1959 and was a great save to the department’s credit. On the arrival of the men, flames were through the roof and a quick attack in tandem with an adequate water supply saved the building. Over the weeks and months following, many department members lent a hand with the rebuilding of the club to get it back open to the public once again. The other fire was at the Bockoven Dairy Farm on West Main Street in February. The fire was put out and all of the animals were rescued from the barn, although unfortunately some suffered some serious burns and had to be put down as a result. The owner of the farm, Frank Bockoven, was also a fireman. Many members of the department lent him a hand and helped him get back in business again. This was another example of the true brotherhood that has been in our department over the years. 

1962

The department was called to assist Chester at a fire at the former Cross Roads Inn that sat along Oakdale road at the intersection connecting Oakdale, Main Street, Dover-Chester, and Route 24 all together. We, along with 11 other mutual aid companies, assisted in the suppression of the fire. The damages were in excess of $75,000.

1966

It was in this year that marked the 50th Anniversary of the Brookside Fire Department. It was also in this year that a new C501_3 not for profit organization was formed which was known as the Brookside Engine Company #1. Fred McGredy was elected by the membership as the first President of the Company. The title of the office of foreman was changed to the office of the Chief. An expansion of the then firehouse also took place this year as the now company was continuing to grow and expand. A committee was formed to look into a new firehouse in light of the fact that the company was outgrowing its current quarters. The company celebrated its anniversary with a gala dinner dance. The company was fortunate to have two charter members on hand to celebrate the occasion; Frank Bockovern and E. Harris hulbert. They were presented a plaque on behalf of the fire company recognizing them and the other 20 charter members' vision and efforts into making the company what it is today. 

1968

The company acquired its most prized apparatus during this year. We purchased our 1935 Mack from Mr. Wright Gross of Chester. This would not have been possible without the assistance of member Art Burns. This truck was originally owned by the Glen Ridge Fire Department and served them from April of 1935 to January of 1967. The truck has been the pride and joy of Brookside for over 53 years and remains a fan favorite at parades and shows. It is also used to escort Santa during the holidays and by request for funerals. The fire company along with the township committee and newly formed Mendham Township First Aid Squad, would be in agreement to build a new firehouse just south of the old and architectural drawings were drawn up and presented to the committee and fire company membership which were accepted. Construction began on what would become our fourth firehouse this year.

1969

As construction was ongoing to the new firehouse, our 1951 Mack suffered irreparable damage as a result of an accident it was in. With the cooperation of the Morristown Fire Department, they loaned our company one of the 1947 Ahrens Fox pumpers which belonged to the Washington Engine Co. This truck is unique as it has a 1000 gpm piston driven pump and the driver of this apparatus was 16 feet behind the front wheels. The truck is currently in the process of being restored by Washington Engine Co. members.  We borrowed this truck for ten months before our new apparatus was delivered the following year. We assisted Bernardsville on April 3rd at a fire at the Stonemere Seniors Home. 

1970

After many hours of hard work of designing a new apparatus, a 1970 Hahn 1000 gpm pumper was delivered and put into service. This engine was the first in Morris County to replace the then standard 2 ½ inch supply line with 3 inch supply line. The truck was specifically designed to handle over 2000 feet of 3 inch supply hose in any configuration. Eventually, we became the first company in the county to upgrade to 4 inch and then eventually to 5 inch or LDH supply hose. This truck was also the first truck in Morris County to carry 1 ¾ inch attack lines with task force tip nozzles. The department moved into the new firehouse located at 1 Cherry Lane. This was the first time a Brookside firehouse was not located on Main Street. This firehouse was very spacious for the time and had ample space not only to store the equipment and apparatus but also host company meetings, drills, and events.  

1971

We were one of the first fire companies in Morris County and the first in the Mendhams to form a permanent junior division within the fire company. The junior division had six charter members; they are: Jeffrey Betz, Robert Kollmar Jr., Douglas Schuette, Richard Apgar, Sandy Elliot, and Gregory Monaghan. The junior division was open to any Mendham Township resident between the age of 16 and 18. Plans were developed for a new apparatus which would be a first for Mendham Township and the area in general. It was also this year that our annual Clambake was started, held the first Saturday following Labor Day in September. The Clambake has become a favorite and very popular event in Mendham Township and it’s a tradition we continue to this day. 

1972

We purchased a 1972 GMC pickup truck for use as a brush truck. COuntless hours were spent by the membership constructing and maintaining this vehicle over the years. The project was led by Ex Chief Caryl Glaab who utilized his shop on West Main street to construct the diamond plate parts of the truck. The membership then installed the constructed pieces onto the truck at the firehouse and put it in service, filling the third bay and giving Brookside three pieces of firefighting apparatus for the first time. This unit won countless awards at many parades over the years and even held a streak of being the Best Appearing Brush Truck at the annual Boonton Fire Department Parade. Designed as a first responder or quick attack as well as a brush or field truck, it carried two SCBA’s (Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses) and a high pressure pump.

Back in the fifties through the early part of the seventies, the Mendham Area was considered a resort area for those who lived in the city. Many used the area as a weekend retreat area and so many hotels were located in Mendham Township and the surrounding communities as places to stay in the area were a premium. The last of these hotels, the Spar Hills Hotel, which was located on Mount Pleasant Road, was destroyed by fire. We were assisted at this fire by Ralston, Mendham Borough and Randolph Co #3 Mount Freedom. First arriving units found a fire in the main room and knocked it down. This fire was deemed suspicious in nature.

1973

In January we were called to assist Randolph at a fire at the former MacArthur Military Academy located on Brookside Road. The structure was a complete loss despite the valiant efforts of Randolph firemen and the other companies on scene. The temperatures that evening were so cold that water was freezing on the turnout coats of the firemen and also made access to the roof very limited and dangerous. 

1975

The company appointed an auxiliary truck committee to look into the possibility of acquiring an auxiliary truck. This truck was being considered to be an addition to the fleet with the responsibility of carrying miscellaneous tools and equipment as well as manpower to a fire scene. We also drilled with Mendham Borough and surrounding departments on water supply in the center of Mendham. The results were very good from that drill as it showed that the men were ready to respond whenever called upon. 

1976 

The company acted and voted to purchase the auxiliary truck. A Ford C chassis was ordered and a contract with the Wendell Body Company of Newark, NJ was signed to provide the body for the truck. Our country’s bicentennial was this year and the community club put on a gala 4th of July Celebration complete with fireworks at the Middle School that evening. 

1977

We took delivery of the auxiliary truck in June. It was outfitted and alterations were made over the course of the next several months and it was put into service in December of that year. In April, an addition was added to the rear of the firehouse which added two extra bays, one for the new truck and the other for our 1935 Mack. The membership under the leadership of Ex Chiefs Ernie Maw and Nick Smarg constructed the addition by themselves and only in two weekends of work. 

1978

We assisted Ralston at a fire at the former Schiff Scout Reservation. The main scout building was deemed a complete loss. The land that was the scout reservation now makes up the Brookrace development as well as Schiff Nature Preserve.

1979

The truck committee was hard at work again, this time making plans for a replacement for the 1959 Ford Pumper which was now known as Engine 3. It was 20 years old now and was recommended to be replaced. The truck committee was directed by the membership to draw up specifications and report back, and then when all was said and done, present them to the township. On November 3rd we assisted Mendham Borough at a fire at the Bliss Mansion (Roxiticus Country Club Clubhouse). This fire was intense and the club owner and his wife unfortunately did not survive the blaze. Another unfortunate fire occurred in the early morning on May 28th. First arriving units met the homeowner at the front of the house who claimed his son was still inside. Through the use of ground ladders, Brookside firefighters were able to make entry through a second floor window and rescue the 18 year old victim, unfortunately resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful at the scene and on the way to the hospital. We were assisted at the scene by Ralston and Mendham Borough as well as the First Aid Squad. 

1981

We officially made the transition from 3 inch supply hose to 4 inch supply hose this year. The new Engine 3 had been ordered from Grumman in December and will come with the 4 inch hose preloaded in early 1983. 

1983

We took delivery of Engine 3, a 1983 White Grumman/Oren Pumper in May. This truck was equipped with a 1000 GPM pump and a 1000 gallon water tank. It was the first diesel powered truck that the company has used and it was the first to feature preconnected crosslays in the center of the vehicle. We held a wetdown  in June and many area fire companies came out to help us welcome the new apparatus. 

1989

For several years the truck committee was weighing the options of what to do with the Hahn Engine 2 that was approaching 20 years of age. It was decided this year that it was far more advantageous for the company to replace it outright as opposed to refurbishment. A contract was signed with Pierce Manufacturing for a new engine to be delivered next year. This was also the year where the state imposed new regulations stating that firemen could no longer ride the tailboard/mid section of the fire engine to calls or events. The new engine was going to be the first Brookside truck to address these new regulations.

1990

The 90’s started off nicely, with the delivery of our 1990 Pierce Lance Engine 2 in June. The truck was equipped with a 1500 GPM pump, 1000 gallon water tank and was the first Brookside truck with an enclosed cab. A wetdown was held for the truck on October 6th again with many mutual aid friends once again attending to show their support. Plans were well underway for the 75th Anniversary celebration next year. The 75th Anniversary Committee was hard at work with many events being planned. The company responded to a few fires in town in the early part of the year; all of which were great saves. The most significant fire of 1990 was at the TAP Mansion in Mendham Borough. The new owners of the property had contractors working to restore the mansion to its former glory. These renovations included roof and gutter maintenance. At some point on the morning of the blaze, it is believed to have been as early as 11:00 a.m.; the contractors working on the gutters in the rear of the building ignited a fire in the building’s rafters while using a torch. Instead of immediately calling the Fire Department, they attempted to extinguish the fire by themselves for several hours before summoning help. We joined the Mendham Borough Fire Department along with an additional 10 fire companies and over 150 firemen in putting out this blaze. We acquired a used Chevrolet Suburban from the police department as a fire prevention and communications unit. The unit was known as 19-91 and put in limited service. 

1991

This year marked the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the original Brookside Fire Department and the 25th Anniversary of the incorporation of the Brookside Engine Company #1. The 75th Anniversary Dinner was held at the Bretton Woods Inn on January 12th and was a very nice affair. The Brookside 4th of July celebration this year honored the service of the company over the last 75 years and many town residents built floats that also expressed their appreciation. The company marched proudly down East Main Street during the annual Independence Day Parade escorted by the Bloomingdale Cornet Band who for many years had marched with us at the parade. Many of our mutual aid partners from Morris, Somerset, and even as far away as Sussex counties came out to participate and congratulate us on this milestone. By all accounts, everyone in attendance had an extremely memorable time. We assisted Mendham Borough at an early morning fire in the Kings Shopping Center at the Caroline Cleaners on September 24th. The fire was contained to the store but it left an odor in several neighboring businesses. The 20th annual Clambake was held in September and was well attended. We also made the switch over to the LDH supply hose this year and members installed it on both engines around the end of the summer. 

1992

We responded to a large fire on the Ralston side of town in June. The company rededicated Fire Support 5 to Elliot Domans in recognition of a significant contribution he made towards its midlife refurbishment. Call volume keeps increasing by the year. We were just under 100 calls this year. 

1993

A committee was formed to look into the replacement of the 1972 GMC Brush Truck or Brookside Brush 4 due to its aging and ever changing mission of that vehicle. The committee recommended a truck with a CAFS (Compressed Air Foam System) on board that could be useful in attacking a fire. The committee with the backing of the membership presented to the township committee their findings and recommended purchasing this CAFS truck.

1994

We responded to assist the Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department with a large brush fire in May. In December, after many hours of planning and hard work, the truck committee was able to give a presentation to the township in regards to the new first response quick attack truck and they received a vote of confidence from the Township Committee to go ahead and purchase this new piece of apparatus. 

1995 

We responded with Ralston to a fire on South Road in September. Continued progress was made in fine tuning the specifications for the new CAFS truck. It was ordered in December from 3D Manufacturing for a bid price of $136,400. 

1996

We responded to assist Mendham Borough at a very large fire at the former Mendham Motors which is now the site of the Audi dealership. Engine 2 was the first truck out of Brookside with six men and deployed every length of hose in order to fight the fire. We also responded to a fire on Summit Road in the same month. We were able to take advantage of an opportunity to do live burn training in Marshalls Creek PA. There were old army barracks that were being torn down and different FD’s were invited to come out and conduct live burns as a training. This training also gave the company the opportunity of practicing with CAFS in anticipation of the arrival of the new Engine 4. We participated in this drill with both Ralston and Mendham Borough. We also responded to a house fire on Corey Lane which was another great save to our company’s credit. 

1997

The new CAFS truck was delivered in April. The truck, a 1996 Ford/3D/Quigley CAFS truck, initially known as 19-64, was placed into service in May and the Brush Truck was semi-retired. We elected to hold on to the brush truck through the end of brush fire season this year and to accommodate that, we moved the 1935 Mack to storage up at the town garage and moved the brush truck into its designated bay in the fire house. The wetdown for the new Engine 4 was held in September along with the First Aid Squad’s new ambulance. We responded to a fire on Cherry Lane in June and also assisted Mendham Borough with a tractor trailer fire in the alleyway of the Kings Shopping Center on August 7th. The tractor trailer was attempting to navigate its way through the alley when the top of the trailer snagged the wires above, which caused the transformer to leak oil which in turn caused it to ignite and catch fire. Due to a quick aggressive attack by the Borough and mutual aid, the fire was contained to the trailer and did not spread into any of the buildings. We began the process in October of this year of performing a refurbishment of our 1935 Mack. 

1998

We responded with Ralston to a fire on Winston Farm Lane in June and made a great save. The first part of the restoration of the Mack was finished in August in time for the Boonton Parade where she took home 3rd Place. The old 1972 GMC Brush 4 was returned to the township for disposition after 25 years of faithful service. This truck is still in the area today, converted back to a normal pick up truck however with a new paint scheme, and is currently owned by a firefighter in the Mendhams. 

1999

We switched our dispatching provider from our long time dispatch at the Morris County Sheriff’s Office to Washington Township Police, joining Mendham Borough, Chester, Mount Olive, and Washington Township police/fire/ems agencies on this new system. At the beginning of September, the company won the Best Appearing Company Under 20 Men Without Music 1st place trophy at the Boonton Parade which was a tremendous achievement. Many hours went into preparing for the day in terms of cleaning the apparatus along with holding several marching practice sessions and the men were quite pleased with the results. Although there were not many calls of significance, the company responded to multiple calls during Hurricane Floyd, which hit on September 16th and was cleared out by the evening on the 17th. The company also made the trip up to the Rockland County Fire Academy in October to conduct a live burn drill. We responded to assist Randolph in December at a fire at the Millbrook Barn Restaurant. 

2000

We assisted Mendham Borough at a house fire in the early morning hours of March 12th on Dean Road. The homeowner had attempted to get rid of the smoke by opening several windows but that only resulted in the fire fanning into a more intense blaze, causing several men to suffer burns. A later investigation indicated the fire was caused by an electrical short in one of the vintage automobiles kept in the garage. A truck improvement committee was formed in January of this year to look at our current fleet and determine what upgrades needed to be made in order to keep our fleet up to date and current. Several meetings were held throughout the year to determine what exactly we wanted to pursue and how that would affect the future of not only our company but the entire township department. 

2001

We were called on January 3rd to assist Bernardsville at a fire at an elegant restored home on Chapin Road. The fire managed to pass through the air conditioning vents and proceeded to pass through the balloon construction and was unable to be controlled. The cause of this fire was careless disposal of fireplace ashes. Another early year mutual aid call went out in February to assist Peapack-Gladstone with a structure fire. A fire on Cedar Lane in Ralston on March 7th was fully involved on arrival and was impossible to save, even through the valiant efforts of several men. The flames were so intense that it led to minor injuries and burns to several firefighters. We assisted Randolph at a fire at the main building of the Harbor Hill Day Camp on Doby Road in late March. A fire in the Drakewick development in June was quickly put out by the department. September 11th remains in our minds to this day as many brother firefighters and civilians were lost as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center. For the weeks that followed, the company stood by on alert ready to answer any call that came in. Our hearts and deepest sympathies are forever with the families of those whose lives were taken as a result of this tragedy. 

2002

The only significant call that the company answered this year was a fire at the Elementary School on West Main Street, which was a fire in the roof. The company quickly responded and extinguished the fire. School was fortunately not in session and the repairs to the roof were made before the school year began again. The most significant event for this year was the Morristown Firemen’s Parade, which after its long run ceased after this year. The company made the best of it, setting a new record with the number of trophies won at a single parade, taking home eight trophies at this parade. The company placed first with the 1935 Mack, Engine 4, marching over 20 men, and Support 5; placed second with Engine 2, Engine 3, and the colorguard. Additionally, the company won the award for Best Overall Department without music which is a tremendous achievement. These parades are a great way to assist in maintaining the apparatus and equipment to be sure of its functionality and readiness for service.

2003

We responded to assist Mendham Borough at a kitchen fire on January 12th. There was an entrapment at this blaze as a child was still trapped inside and Mendham Borough firefighters were able to rescue the child. Unfortunately, the child passed away as a result of the injuries sustained from the fire the next day. We responded to a fire in our first due on February 15th. The fire on Corey Lane was in a property that was under renovation and was fully involved on arrival. Numerous mutual aid departments from Morris and Somerset Counties assisted us in suppressing this fire. Due to the heavy fire conditions and the structure being renovated a defensive operation was employed to extinguish the fire. 

2004

The only incident of note is that we responded to assist Bernardsville at a fire at the St. Bernard’s Episcopal Church on October 23rd. Because of the valiant effort of the Bernardsville Fire Company and first arriving mutual aid units, the structure was saved. 

2005

Although this year was mostly a down year for fire responses, the truck committee was reinstated along with a global planning and improvement arm. The global planning arm was looking at the current needs of not only our community, but those surrounding us as well and what could change in the future that we need to be ready for. The improvement arm was designed to look into what we currently have and if we could make upgrades to our apparatus/equipment to improve our services to the community. This truck committee was addressing two apparatus in particular; Engine 3 and Fire Support 5, which are 22 and 29 years old respectively. 

2006

Ground was broken this year on our fifth firehouse, which is located directly behind the old one at the other end of the municipal lot on Cherry Lane. The new firehouse is expected to be ready sometime in 2009. 

2007

In late February, we responded with Ralston to a structure fire at the main house on Backer Farm. It was a very cold night with temperatures hovering around 15 degrees which in turn caused many challenges, but the members put in a valiant effort to prevent the structure from burning completely to the ground. Mutual aid was received from Mendham Borough, Chester, and the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. In March, we switched dispatch providers again, leaving Washington Township and moving over to the brand new Morris County Communications Center. The Mendham Township Fire Department was the first fire agency in Morris County to make the switch over. With this switch over, the daily test of the firehouse siren was discontinued. The company instituted a brick fundraiser this year in order to raise funds for equipment for the new firehouse. The bricks from this campaign were built into a memorial garden in front of the building for all to see. 

2008

There were quite a few mutual aid responses this year. We responded in February to assist Bernardsville at a fire at Bernards High School. We also responded to assist Morris Township at a very large house fire on Brigade Hill. We sent a crew in August at the request of the county fire coordinators to assist Boonton Township during a large water main break in their town. The crew stood by for several hours ready to assist if needed.

2009

In April, the company responded to a structure fire on Queens Court. The company working in conjunction with the First Aid Squad continued preparing throughout the year to move into the new firehouse. Many meetings were held along with many hours of wiring equipment together, constructing and moving other items into the new building which we were set to occupy in the springtime. The year ended on a sad note as we responded to assist Peapack-Gladstone at a house fire on Main Street; Christmas Eve. The Borough of Peapack-Gladstone recognized all of the mutual aid companies that responded to this fire and we received a resolution from them thanking us for our efforts. After many hours of hard work by the truck improvement/replacement committee;  it was determined that a rescue style engine should be ordered in order to meet the current and future needs of the company. The truck committee sent out the agreed upon specifications to truck manufacturers to commence the first round of bidding. 

2010

The company moved into our fifth firehouse in March and the first event held in it was the monthly meeting on March 29th. There was major flooding in town in the month of March and the company responded to over 20 requests for basement pump outs. In April, our new engine was ordered from Pierce Manufacturing. Delivery of the truck is expected between December and January of 2011. We were requested to respond as part of a taskforce into Lincoln Park in April to assist during the severe floods there. Brookside Engine 2 was sent and joined other units from around the county in helping the residents of Lincoln Park. We developed a close friendship with the Lincoln Park Hose Company #2 as a result which continues to this day. In conjunction with the Independence Day Festivities on July 3rd of this year, the new firehouse was dedicated with a ceremony and open house for the community. Later in July, we responded to a house fire on Cobblefield Drive which was quickly put under control with minimal damage.

2011

In early January the company was alerted for a house fire on Kensington Court. Thanks to the quick response of the company and our mutual aid partners, the house was saved. The new Engine 3 was delivered in January. The engine is a 2010 Pierce Velocity PUC equipped with a 1500 GPM pump and a 750 gallon water tank. Compartment space was designed specifically on this engine for it to be equipped to respond to motor vehicle entrapments and carry additional rescue tools to support the mission. In March we were again deployed to Lincoln Park to assist them answer calls during severe flooding in their town. In July, recognizing the need to ensure adequate staffing was always on hand for daytime calls, a dual response program was started with the Mendham Borough Fire Department between the hours of 6 am-6 pm Monday-Friday. This is a program that continues to this day. We respond to calls in the Borough with an engine and they in turn respond to our calls with their quint, rescue, or one of their engines depending on the call type. Also, in August, Hurricane Irene hit New Jersey between August 27th and August 28th. Over the 48 hours of the storm, the company responded to multiple calls for service including pump outs, water rescues, and other calls. This storm showed first hand the dedication of our members and their commitment to serving our community. To top that off, there were two mutual aid responses for structure fires on Thanksgiving this year, one to Randolph and the other to Chester. The company answered a record number of calls this year; nearing close to 365 for the year. 

2012

The company responded on March 11th during the early hours of the morning to a house fire on Woodland Road. Unfortunately, the homeowner was unable to make it out of the building safely and the house was fully involved on the arrival of the company and mutual aid. Another Hurricane hit New Jersey this year, Hurricane Sandy. The company responded to numerous calls for assistance, from trees and wires down, to pump outs, generator refills, motor vehicle accidents, and others. What was most spectacular, was during those long 14 days, our junior membership stood by at the firehouse alongside our senior membership and responded to numerous calls and helped in whatever way they could. Keep in mind most of them were either 16 or 17 at the time and were away from their own families for a significant period of time. The most significant call during Hurricane Sandy was not in Mendham Township; but rather a deployment request from Morris County. A task force consisting of an engine from Brookside, an engine from Mount Arlington, and a ladder from Morris Plains was deployed to the shore to assist the firefighters in the most severely impacted areas respond to calls. Brookside Engine 3 and a crew of six responded to this deployment and spent the next three days in Ocean Beach and Seaside Heights assisting during the storm. As one member of the crew recalled: “We were arriving at the Ocean Beach Firehouse and the firefighters there were just weeping for joy, they had been running around doing the best they could for several hours and were exhausted. They were so grateful for our presence and kept thanking us over and over.” Once the deployment was over this crew returned back to Brookside and assisted the rest of our dedicated volunteers during this time. Additionally, the firehouse also served as an emergency shelter during the storm and in the weeks following and many residents from all over the township who needed shelter or power to charge their phones were welcomed into the building. This, along with 2011, will go down as the busiest two years in the history of Brookside to date with 362 calls, and is a prime example of why the community of Mendham Township is very fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers. 

2013

Our junior membership received the community service award at the annual Brookside Independence Day Parade this year in recognition of their service above and beyond the call of duty. Many of these members have gone on to become senior members and officers of our company. While there were no significant calls within the Township this year, we were called upon for mutual aid several times in the latter portion of the year. We responded to assist Chester in November at a house fire on Route 24.  In December, we had two mutual aid responses. One was to Washington Township Morris County to assist Long Valley at a structure fire and the other was to Jefferson to assist with a large and complex fire in a tire yard. Both responses required many hours and is a great example of how committed we are to serving not only in our community but our county as well during a time of need. It further shows how well the BEC is regarded throughout the county of Morris. The truck committee was reactivated again this time to look into the replacement of the 38 year year old Fire Support 5. 

2014

While there were no calls of significance in Mendham Township, we did however respond to assist Mendham Borough in May at a fire on Stevens Road. In the latter part of this year, plans were made to form an ice rescue team in the beginning of 2015. Members were asked to consider signing up for the class to become qualified. Our call volume for this year regressed to 262. 

2015

In January, our ice rescue team was put online after the initial membership training was completed. Also in January, Fire Support 5 was officially retired after nearly 40 years of service. It was sold to Morristown Auto Body in February and through continued cooperation with them the truck has continued to make appearances at significant Brookside events. That apparatus will go down in history as the longest tenured Brookside apparatus to date. The new Utility 5 was ordered through DeJana Truck in Cinnaminson NJ and construction on the Dodge Chassis began in December of this year. In terms of responses, there were again no significant calls within Mendham Township but the company responded into Hackettstown to standby during the Centenary College fire in February and also to assist Fairmount (Washington Township) by standing by while they fought a house fire in their territory. The Anniversary Committee had been hard at work all year planning for next year’s Golden Anniversary. 

2016

This year celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Brookside Fire Department and the 50th Anniversary of the incorporation as the Brookside Engine Company #1. Our company held a ceremonial “anniversary meeting” on January 28th at 8 pm, exactly 100 years after our initial founding. Many members and especially old-timers were on hand to celebrate this occasion with dinner and fellowship. Many local dignitaries were also on hand to recognize this achievement and the fire company was presented with many federal, state, and local proclamations recognizing this huge achievement. Also in January, due to severe issues with the frame, Engine 2 was retired after 26 years of service to Mendham Township. Due to the sudden retirement of Engine 2, the Rainbow Lakes Fire Company, Parsippany District 2 graciously loaned us their old Engine 23 while they were looking to sell it. It was affectionately known as the Rainbow Wagon while it was with us and will be remembered fondly by those who rode in it. A new friendship was developed with District 2 as a result of this and we will be forever grateful to them for allowing us to borrow that apparatus. We were awakened around 2:45 am for a reported brush fire in the area of the Pitney Property on February 23rd. On the arrival of patrol the house was fully involved, and the call was upgraded to a structure fire. Numerous mutual aid departments from Morris and Somerset Counties responded to assist us in putting out the blaze. This fire was declared an arson and an investigation was launched into the cause. Also in February, we responded to assist New Vernon at a house fire in their town. Our Engine 3 was set up at the Bayne Park pond to draft and in turn feed multiple tenders for a tender operation. Our interior crew from Engine 3 assisted on the fireground with suppression and overhaul. On March 19th, we held our 100th Anniversary Dinner Dance at the Mountain Lakes Club in Mountain Lakes, NJ. It was a grand affair and all in attendance had a very memorable time. In June we responded to a deck fire at a home on McVickers Lane. A quick response by the Mendham Township Fire Department resulted in the fire being contained to the deck with no extension into the residence. Independence Day has always been a huge day for the fire company, but none was as big as this one. The annual Brookside Parade was dedicated to the company this year and was well attended with over 30 different fire companies from Morris, Somerset, and Sussex Counties. The weekend also featured a reunion BBQ party at Brookside Beach with many past and present members attending. The company attended a Somerset Patriots ballgame in July and rafting in August as social activities celebrating the centennial. In late August, we responded to assist Mendham Borough at a kitchen fire on East Main Street. The fire was under control within minutes of the company’s arrival. We responded to a fire on Old Orchard Road in November that was again brought under control by our dedicated volunteers. Our members in late November also attended a New Jersey Devils hockey game as a company outing and at the same game presented the colors during the anthems on the ice. We ended the year on a sad note, responding to assist Mendham Borough at a fire in the Kings shopping center. Many well known businesses suffered significant damages and as a result were unable to reopen. That fire was started by a propane tank explosion on a garbage truck that was picking up trash for that morning. Our members worked alongside the Borough and their mutual aid companies to put out the fire. Although this was in January of 2017, we closed out the hundredth anniversary celebration with yet another ceremonial meeting on January 28th, ushering the company into a new century. The Anniversary Committee worked tirelessly to ensure that the yearlong celebration was a success. It was most certainly that indeed and all of them should be very proud. 

2017

January was a busy month for mutual aid calls for the BEC. We started off the month by responding to assist Mount Tabor Parsippany District 1 as a tender taskforce engine at an apartment complex fire. In mid- month, we assisted Dover as a coverage engine at a large fire in their town. Later in the month, we took delivery of the new Utility 5 and placed it in service in early March. The vehicle is a 2016 Dodge Ram 5500 with a Knapheide body; married together by the DeJana truck company. In April, Engine 4 was retired after 20 years of frontline service citing its age and that the pump had blown and was unable to be corrected. It now serves the Mendham Township DPW as a flatbed truck. In July, we were called upon by the Morris County Fire Coordinator to respond as part of a tender taskforce into the City of Maplewood for a standby during a large water main break. Our crew stood by alongside other Morris County tenders and Maplewood Fire units for approximately eight hours before the break was repaired and we were returned to service. Our truck committee had been activated for the purpose of finding a replacement for Engine 2. This committee had been activated for quite some time now as even before it was retired early last year we were exploring all of the possibilities for its replacement. The truck committee was able to locate a used engine out in Medford, New York (off of Long Island) that met our specifications almost exactly to a tee and recommended to the township committee the purchase of that engine. The Township Committee authorized the purchase and we received the engine in October of 2017. It is a 2000 Pierce Dash Engine equipped with a 1500 GPM pump and a 1000 gallon water tank. This engine was an engine of firsts for the BEC, as it was the first engine that had a top mount pump and seating for more than six men with a capacity of eight. This engine will be a nice asset to us for the next few years. The first drill for this engine was in November at the Verizon Complex in Basking Ridge during a multi-agency drill hosted by the Basking Ridge Fire Company. This drill was useful not only for us testing the capabilities of our new engine but also getting to see the sight so we know what to expect if we ever get called there for a fire as Brookside has agreed to respond to major emergencies in that complex. The year ended off with another two mutual aid assignments, one to assist New Vernon at a multi-alarm structure fire on Pleasant Plains Road and the other to Chester where we assisted them at a multi-alarm structure fire on Prides Crossing. 

2018

The truck committee once again became active this time for the replacement of Engine 4. In March, we responded as a cover engine to assist Basking Ridge while they were out at a structure fire, and again to Bernardsville three days later while they were out at a structure fire. Our DECON team was started in September with the first few members completing the required training to put our team in service. In October we responded to Dover to assist them while they battled a 7 alarm structure fire. Earlier that same morning, we responded to a deck fire on Parkwood Lane. The fire was quickly extinguished containing it only to the deck and preventing extension into the rest of the residence. Lastly, we responded to assist Chester while they battled a large structure fire at the Harrington Contracting Maintenance Garage. 

2019

The year 2019 fortunately only saw one fire in Mendham Township. This was at a home that was in the process of being demolished on Mount Pleasant Road. The fire was extinguished with the help of our mutual aid companies and all went home safely. We assisted Randolph twice this year at major fires, both times reporting to Randolph Mount Freedom Station #3 as a cover engine. The west side task force responded six times this year. And at one point, in November, there were two task force calls within an hour of each other! Brookside has been a part of the taskforce for many years. We are on the taskforce with Mount Tabor and Randolph and consider it a privilege to be able to help serve the greater Morris communities while they are out at a fire scene. The new Engine 4 was approved by the Township Committee in early May and a contract was signed with Ferrara Fire Apparatus to provide us with this apparatus. The new engine is due to be delivered in July of 2020. 

2020

The first six months of the year were far from any normal year that we’ve had. Nationwide we were dealing with the COVID_19 pandemic and through that all our members continue to go above and beyond what was required or at the very least expected to ensure that we were able to provide adequate service to our community even though there were some changes implemented to ensure due caution and to limit the risk of potential exposure. On a brighter note, we were able and very proud to have participated in so many birthday and community drive bys for different holidays in order to spread cheer and let the residents of Mendham Township know that they are not alone and we’re all in this together. The most grandest was Independence Day, as many people were disappointed that the annual Brookside Parade could not go on as normal. We participated in a drive by celebration and then stood by at the first annual township sponsored fireworks display. It was a great safe way to celebrate America! The members of the BEC faced a new challenge between August 4th and 8th, as Mendham Township was hit with Tropical Storm Isais. Members, albeit socially distanced due to the ongoing COVID_19 pandemic, were able to staff multiple pieces of apparatus during the storm. During the operational period, the BEC responded to over 47 calls for service. We assisted many elderly residents who needed essential items to be powered by delivering and filling generators. In addition, we responded to assist Randolph at a house fire on Tudor Place and again a few days later as a cover engine while they were out at a confined space incident. Just following the storm, we took delivery of the new Engine 4. This truck is a Ford F550/Ferrara Mini Pumper with a 1000 Gallon Single Stage Pump, 300 gallons of water, and 10 gallons of foam. After placing all of the equipment onto the vehicle and initial familiarization and training for all operators, the vehicle was placed into service in mid September. We held our Clambake in September albeit a little bit differently from years past. We held it as a takeout event due to the restrictions set by the state as a result of the COVID_19 pandemic. The event was still successful and well received and we look forward to seeing everyone next year at the 50th Anniversary event.

As you can see, over these past 104 years, the members of the Brookside Fire Department and Brookside Engine Company #1 have served the community of Mendham Township proudly and continuously and vigilantly stand watch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to protect lives and property within Mendham Township and surrounding communities.