The Metuchen Volunteer Fire Department is the sole agency responsible for providing fire and rescue services to the residents of Metuchen. The department consists of two incorporated fire companies which are each older then the town its self. The Eagle Hook & Ladder Company was organized in 1882 by residents concerned with the threat of fire due in large part to the sparks and hot embers thrown off by passing railroad locomotives. Then in 1897 another group of dedicated residents organized the towns second fire company the Washington Hose Company. Together, these two groups of volunteers have protected our community for 125 years.
Each of the fire companies consists of 26 volunteer members with a Captain, First Lieutenant and a Second Lieutenant. Since they are incorporated, each also has a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The positions of Fire Chief and Deputy Chief rotate back and forth between the two companies and serve a two year term. If the Chief is from the Eagle Hook & Ladder then the Deputy Chief will be a member of the Washington Hose. While administrative, maintenance and training responsibilities are often divided between the two companies; both come together as one cohesive unit when it’s time to respond to emergencies.
The Fire Department responds to between 300 and 400 calls for assistance every year. These responses include but are not limited to; structure fires, car fires, alarm activations, carbon monoxide emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, utility emergencies, pumping out flooded basements and providing mutual aid assistance to other communities. These jobs and more are answered by the departments volunteer firefighters operating three (3) Pumpers, one (1) Ladder Truck and one (1) Heavy Rescue Truck. In addition to the emergencies responded to by the department, members also participate in special fund raising projects, parades, fairs, public education, and an ever increasing list of community oriented events.
In order to prepare for the multitude of situations faced by the department, our members participate in a very demanding training schedule. Every Monday the members of the EHL (Eagle Hook & Ladder) conduct training followed by the WHC (Washington Hose Co.) on Tuesday. Additional training sessions are conducted randomly on weekends or other nights as needed. Because firefighting and the other jobs done by the members of the department are inherently dangerous, training never ends, lives depend on it.
