History Of The Clinton Volunteer Fire Department

The Clinton Volunteer Fire Department began in 1911 when a group of concerned citizens decided to create a fire company. In 1912, the Clinton Hose Company was formed at a town meeting. Shortly after, a building on High Street was rented and became the first Fire Headquarters. The company soon began to grow, and paid a fireman $5.00 to pull the newly acquired hose cart to the scene of a fire. In 1913, the Hose Company disbanded and reorganized as the Clinton Volunteer Fire Company. Until Ponds Extract company donated a fire signal horn in 1917, the phone company would call members to alert them of fires. The new horn would give a series of long and short blasts to indicate the location of the fire.
In 1919, Ponds donated a Ford truck chassis that was transformed into the company's first fire truck. In 1929, members of the company with help from many townspeople, constructed a new, larger firehouse on Route 1, on the banks of the Indian River which is the former location of the Police Department.
Local Businessman and the department's greatest benefactor, Sturgess Redfield, donated the land and the building that we currently occupy not only as a memorial to his parents and brother, but as a token of appreciation to the many firemen and townspeople who made his life in Clinton enjoyable.
In 1988 construction began at the future site of our north end station on Glenwood Road. Completed in 1989, the building currently houses an Engine (954), a Tanker (962), and a brush truck (985).
In April 1996, the Town of Clinton approved a plan to build an addition to the East Main Street Firehouse. Construction began in August, and seven months later the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department settled into our NEW eight bay firehouse with much needed office space, storage, and training facilities.
We have come a long way since the era of hand-drawn hose carts, today the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department has an all-Volunteer, Professional Staff of approximately 150 members .
The Fire Department has started to plan for its 100th anniversary celebration. The Department will be hosting the 2011 State Fireman's Convention and Parade in September 2011. More details to follow.