| On October 21, 1921, a few men met in the
home of Lloyd Tredway and started the Chester Volunteer Fire
Company. They mounted Lloyd Tredway’s chemical tank onto William
Axford’s Pierce Arrow chassis in Morris Chamberlain’s garage and the
first apparatus was on-line. An electric alarm was installed atop of
Green's drug store (directly across the street from the firehouse)
and the telephone operator, located in the rear of the drug store,
spread the alarm. By the end of 1922 there were 47 members and three
alarms. Population was 1200.
As the Chester municipalities have grown in
population, so has the complexity and scope of Fire Company
operations. Fires are no longer controlled solely by spraying water.
Today the Company is able to select from a mixture of water
pressures, foam, and ventilation techniques. Training, once
on-the-job, has now become formalized. New recruits are required to
complete a basic academy fire fighting course before they are able
to fight fires. In spite of all the improvements in technology and
training, two things have remained the same within the company: a
dedication to protect the lives, property and environment of Chester
residents.
The mission of the
Chester Volunteer Fire Company
is to respond to all reported emergencies
with the resources available and with the
utmost regard for the safety of its members,
and to work to the best of its abilities to
help preserve and protect the lives,
property, and environment of the residents
of Chester Township and Chester Borough. |
