Oxford Volunteer Fire Department

On November 11, 1945 the first definite step toward forming a fire company was taken as a small crowd gathered to watch a demonstration of the Hale F22 lightweight portable pump that had been developed for the Coast Guard and the Navy during the war. Ludwig Little of Liedy Electric Company in Phillipsburg, New Jersey put on the demonstration. 

            A meeting was held in the Oxford School on November 15, 1945 to discuss the equipment that was demonstrated the previous Sunday, and to vote on the organization of the volunteer fire department. Chaired by Mr. Leland Bayless, a majority vote was the start of their dream almost fulfilled. 

            Mr. Leland Bayless, Vice-President, and other newly elected officers James Winget, President; Stewart Loux, Secretary; Lawrence Maginnis, Treasurer; John Esposito, Chief; Victor Fichtel, Assistant Chief; also trustees Haydon Docker, John Neuburger and Peter Michaloski, set out to do their job. The department by-laws were drafted at the second meeting November 27, 1945. The meetings were to be held the first Tuesday of each month. The by-laws and the department were incorporated February of 1946. 

            Thanks to Allen Wood Steel Company in June 1946, for giving the men the land with a 99-year lease to put up a 26' x 40' block building. Due to the fact local contractors and the firemen built the firehouse, the total cost was $2500.00. 

            During the time of construction, the Oxford Volunteer Firemen would meet at Wilkinson's Service Station to respond to fires. Since they hadn't acquired any equipment they would work with Belvidere or Washington Borough Fire Departments. 

            With $83.69 in their hands and a lot of spirit they placed a down payment on a new fire truck (help came later with a loan of $4000.00 from the Washington Trust Company.) It was a 1947 International K7 Front End 400 American Barton Marsh pump with a 650 gallon booster tank, costing approximately $9500.00. 

            How proud Chief John Esposito must have been to bring home to Oxford and the other hard working firemen their first new fire truck purchase from Mr. Sonny Trautwein of Woodbridge, NJ. 

            Frank Kohen, a resident and blacksmith of Oxford, donated the second fire truck, a 1929 Mack on August 2, 1947. The 500 gallon per minute rotary pump was put to work the very same day at a fire on Bull Run. In the same year the firemen took First Aid training and the Red Cross presented them with a Dual Resuscitator Unit valued at $500.00   

            The volunteer Firemen, Ladies Auxiliary and their families in pursuit of making money for equipment gave a lot of their time. Fundraisers were held including raffles, block dances, carnivals, card parties, game parties, fund drives, and minstrels. The minstrels were an asset for money raised. Thanks to Paul Snyder who helped organize them. 

            In December 1949, a tradition well known by the community was started. Santa rides around the town on a fire truck, giving out candy and oranges to the children. 

            From 1949 to 1959, the volunteers worked hard to raise money and thought it was time to buy new equipment. They purchased a 1959 International, 750 gallon per minute pumper with a 1000 gallon booster tank, and retired the most likely tired 1929 Mack. 

             Another milestone was crossed in 1962, when the firemen purchased the Ukrainian Hall for $10,000. This building supplied them room for raising more needed money. They now could hold dances and bingo games. The room downstairs was used for a social hall. 

            The department acquired a 1956 Dodge panel truck, from a very generous citizen of Oxford, for hauling equipment to fires. 

            Radio communications was a must, so in 1974 the department purchased a second hand base station and mobile radio from the Belvidere Fire Department for $200.00. Before this time fire calls went to Mulligan's store and he sounded the alarm. Washington dispatch center was able to dispatch Oxford Fire Department in January of 1981, and firemen were issued hand radios and plextrons in their homes for quicker response to the fire scenes. 

              Another great day in October of 1975 came the "Pride of Oxford," a Diamond Rio Pumper-Tanker equipped with a 13-speed transmission, a 750-gallon per minute pump with a 2,300-gallon tank. This truck carried hose and other fire fighting equipment, but its main purpose was for fire scenes with little access to water. The Pride was retired in 1996 when it was replaced with a Freightliner pumper-tanker with a 5 speed automatic transmission, a 3000-gallon tank, and a 1250-gallon per minute pump. It is garaged in the new 100' x 60' 5 bay firehouse erected in 1981. The 1954 Dodge 4x4 brush truck acquired in 1980 was retired in 1997, and was replaced with a 1952 Dodge Powerwagon 3/4-ton military truck. 

            On June 30, 1990, the department acquired a 1990 International pumper purchased by the town of Oxford. This truck is capable of carrying 6 firefighter. It was built by General Fire and Safety of Minnesota. The second pumper purchased by the fire department also in 1990, by the sale of the old building and fundraisers, from Opdyke's Sales and Service in Washington, was built by Welsh Fire Apparatus on an International chassis. Both trucks have 1,000-gallon tanks and 1,000 gallon per minute pumps. These trucks have replaced the 1957 Ward La France Quad and the 1959 International. 

In the years since the trucks were acquired the dedicated volunteers have continued to go to school to be trained and work hard to raise money to better the Oxford Fire Department. Lives and properties have been saved by their commitment.

Most recently, the Department has replaced one of the 1990 international pumpers with a new never before seen piece of apparatus.  Our newest engine is the first of its kind, a 2003 Spartan pumper built by    S & S Fire Apparatus of Fairmount Indiana. This truck is capable of carrying 8 firefighters. It has a 100-gallon per minute pump and carries 1000 gallons of water.

In 2002, the Ladies Auxiliary donated a John Deere Gator to the department. It carries 50 gallons of water and other equipment used in brush fires. There is also a STOKES Basket mounted on the water tank used to rescue injured people that are not accessible with a motor vehicle.

In 2003, the fire department purchased another John Deere Gator. This 4x4 Gator carries 65 gallons of water and essential woodland firefighting tools.

The department recently applied for a grant through FEMA for a rescue pumper. This truck would carry extraction equipment used on motor vehicle accident scenes.