BFD History
Prior 1927, the Town of Brewster did not have an incorporated fire department as we know it today. Town Fathers appointed a “Forest Warden”, and it was his job to handle any fires in Brewster and to maintain the community’s fire suppression equipment. When a fire was discovered, usually trees and grass burning along the railroad that ran through town (now known as the Cape Cod Rail Trail), the towns people would extinguish them using shovels and brooms. If a house fire occurred, or a brush fire too large for hand tools to extinguish, then help would be requested from a neighboring town.
1927- Brewster Fire Department was created. Maurice Lee was appointed the first Fire Chief. A volunteer Board of Fire Engineers managed the Brewster Fire Department. Town meeting approved $2,460.00 to purchase a chemical fire truck from the American LaFrance Company. With no fire station at the time, the truck was stored in a bay at what is now known today as the “Wobbly Barn” on Main Street. All members were volunteers.
1929- Leo Cummings appointed as Fire Chief.
1931- Charles E. Sears appointed as Fire Chief.
1932- Town report listed the first fire department roster including Chief Charles Sears and Edward C. Dillingham listed as the “driver”. At this point the fire truck was stored in Edward Dillingham’s garage, located behind what was Brewster Mobil gas station on Main Street. A front mounted pump was acquired from Maxim Motor Company and placed onto a 1932 Ford truck chassis by department members. This became the department’s first pumper.
1941- The town’s first “official” fire station was built in 1941 on Main Street, just west of Long Pond Road (Route 137). Town purchases a Buffalo pumper for $7,500 and moves its vehicles into the Main Street fire station. The Fire/Rescue Association was formed to provide fundraising and host department sponsored social events.
1949- Town purchases an additional Ford pumper.
1952- Gold Coast restaurant located in Crosby Mansion is destroyed by fire.
1956- Management of the Fire Department by the Board of Fire Engineers is ended and the Strong Chief 48/42 Law is adopted. Fire Chief John Gage now has full authority over the daily operations and budget of the volunteer department. The Chief receives a stipend for his services.
1957- Town purchases an additional Ford pumper for $15,000.
1964- Department purchases its first boat. A Boston Whaler.
1969- To provide improved medical and ambulance transport services Brewster Rescue Squad is created. A used Boston ambulance is donated to the Town. The Department becomes a leader in diversity allowing females to become members of the Rescue Squad. Squad members are compensated by the hour when responding to incidents and training events. The department is no longer considered a volunteer organization.
1972- The Town purchases a new “box” type ambulance. This is the first vehicle of this design on Cape.
1973- A Junior Firefighter program is started.
1974- Town builds a new facility on Main Street to accommodate both Police and Fire Departments. This building currently (2023) houses the Department of Natural Resources.
1974- First two full-time firefighters hired by the Department. Margo Fitch who is the first certified female Paramedic in Massachusetts and Arthur Romme. Department becomes a combination type organization.
1974- A Women’s Auxiliary organization is started to assist the Association with raising funds and provide rehabilitation services at fire and emergency scenes. They adopt the name “Firecrackers”.
1981- Roy Jones is appointed full-time Fire Chief. Brewster becomes the first fire department on Cape to use “pagers” to alert members for emergency response. These alerting devices are purchased by the Fire/Rescue Association.
1986- The department purchases its first aerial ladder truck. The unit was a 1952 Maxim S open cab 75’ ladder that had previously served in Fairhaven, MA.
1990- The department is the first on Cape to purchase specialized equipment such as low- and high-pressure air bag systems.
1991- A spectacular suspicious Christmas Eve fire destroys the 3 story Beach House on Crosby Lane and severely damages the Crosby Mansion. It is the first five-alarm fire on Cape Cod and uses 11 engines, 4 ladder trucks, and numerous support vehicles and ambulances to fully extinguish.
1993- Town purchases and refurbishes a used 1981rear mount aerial ladder truck from Belleville (NJ) to replace the 1952 Maxim.
2007-The Town receives an Assistance to Firefighter Grant to purchase a Spartan/Marion 109’ rear mount aerial ladder truck to replace the refurbished 1981 aerial ladder.
2010- Robert Moran appointed as Fire Chief. The department consists of 12 full-time and 37 call members.
2012- A spectacular arson fire destroys the Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church on Main Street.
2016- Town votes to construct new fire headquarters.
2018- Brewster Fire Department moves into new facility. The project, which was completed on time and under the proposed 12.5-million-dollar budget earns a silver award in the annual national Firehouse Magazine Station Design competition.
2023- Department consists of 23 full-time members including a Chief, Deputy Chief, Fire Prevention Officer, 4 Captains, and 16 firefighter EMT’s/Paramedics. Responses average approximately 3,100 annually.
