The Monmouth Junction Fire Department Begins

The birth of the Monmouth Junction Fire Department began when the Monmouth Red Sox baseball players conducted a discussion after a ball game in April 1924,

J.J. Ryan, president of the Red Sox, proposed a meeting to take place on August 15, 1924 for discussions on forming a fire department.

A motion was passed to hold an open meeting for the entire town, which took place two weeks later and was attended by 34 men, who would become the charter members of the Monmouth Junction Volunteer Fire Department.

The men recognized the most immediate needs were for land and equipment. In September of that same year, a three-day carnival was held and raised $2,400, a tradition that continued for 20 years.

The fire company was incorporated in February, 1925. In December, 1926, ground was broken on Ridge Road to build a firehouse, which was completed in January 1927.

By 1933, the small structure was removed and a new building was erected with two bays and a meeting room. After a long discussion, the First Aid Squad was created in 1941. The squad served as a separate body from the fire department, for those who may not want to serve as firemen.

As the need for modern and larger trucks arose, a third bay was attached in 1956. In 1980, the Dayton substation was built with two bays. Two additional bays were built in 1990 to accommodate the First Aid Squad.

Finally in 1998, the building that is used by the fire department today was built on the corner of Ridge Road and Route 522.

The current building has three bays, a full kitchen, a member’s room, training room, workout room and offices.