A Brief History of the Chester Volunteer Fire Company

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 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 firefighting course before they are able to fight fires.

Despite 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.

                                                 Chester Volunteer Fire Company on October 21, 2021

Chester Volunteer Fire Company Circa 1923

Chester Volunteer Fire Company July 4th, 1942

The first fire house of the CVFC

The Second Fire House on the site of the first firehouse( if you look the trees are the same )