The City Of Hackensack Fire Department was established April 1st, 1871. It has its origins going
back to March 11, 1864. That evening a meeting of all citizens was held for the purpose of devising
measures to protect the village from fires. Two weeks later, on March 25, 1864, it was reported that
the village commission had no power to raise money by taxation for fire apparatus of any kind, but
suggested that the fire committee try to raise $500.00 by voluntary subscription to purchase hooks,
ladders and buckets. Thus the Hackensack Fire Department was born.
In 1911 the necessitation for a full time fire department was recognized and on May 11th of that
year, an ordinance was passed by the Hackensack Development Commission creating such a
department. They worked 11 days straight and then had 24 hours off. They were allowed to leave
three times a day for one hour for meals. They slept upstairs in the Mercer St. firehouse and were
still on call on their 12th day.
The introduction of paid men began the end of the volunteer days and on December 15, 1914 the
Commission created a full paid and part-paid fire department. The volunteers, who had served for
43 years, were dissolved on that same evening. The men at that time worked 72 hours on and 24
hours off. This was a one platoon system which stayed in effect until 1928, when a second platoon
was formed by voter referendum. This meant an 84 hour average work week consisting of
alternating 72 and 96 hour weeks. In 1933 the part paid members were replaced by full time
firemen. In 1947 there was again a referendum to reduce the work week from 84 hours to 67
hours but it was defeated, and instead a 70 hour week was instituted in 1949. In 1964 there was
another referendum and the firefighters won a 42 hour work week.
The demand for the fire department services in this community has climbed steadily every year. 34
years ago, in 1974, the department had 1415 runs, and had 119 firefighters. In 2007 the
department responded to 5349 calls for help, and had 99 firefighters. This tremendous increase in
call volume is due to the increased rescue and EMS demands on the Fire Department, as the
department responds to all life threatening medical emergencies, in addition to fire suppression,
and other responsibilities.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th,2001, there has been a huge increase in the level of
training done by the Hackensack Fire Department. These programs are largely paid for via grant
monies available thru federal programs. These have been aggressively sought out and awarded to
us, with specialized equipment for the Special Operations teams being purchased, at little cost to
the city taxpayers. In 2003 a new program was established called the Urban Area Security Initiative.
The Hackensack Fire Department was selected as the agency responsible for Bergen County. A
new rescue truck and air cascade truck were purchased by the state and federal governments for
this program, using no local taxpayer dollars. Approximately $2million dollars of equipment was
purchased for these units, again at no local taxpayer expense. Just about all the members of the
Fire Department have undergone many hours of training in structural collapse rescue, high angle
rescue, hazardous materials, trench rescue, and many other disciplines, once again, at no local
taxpayer expense.
In 2007 we were awarded a $257,000 grant to purchase new Scott Airpaks. This was a welcome
grant to pay for replacement of our 10 year old Airpaks, most of which have seen better days.
Also, in early 2007 we were awarded a Federal grant called a SAFER award. This stands for
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response. Our award was one of the largest given out
by the federal government in 2007. We were awarded $1,059,650.00 for 12 new firemen. We are
hopeful that the city government will act on this award quickly, because if it is not accepted very
soon, the city will lose this grant of over 1 million dollars.
back to March 11, 1864. That evening a meeting of all citizens was held for the purpose of devising
measures to protect the village from fires. Two weeks later, on March 25, 1864, it was reported that
the village commission had no power to raise money by taxation for fire apparatus of any kind, but
suggested that the fire committee try to raise $500.00 by voluntary subscription to purchase hooks,
ladders and buckets. Thus the Hackensack Fire Department was born.
In 1911 the necessitation for a full time fire department was recognized and on May 11th of that
year, an ordinance was passed by the Hackensack Development Commission creating such a
department. They worked 11 days straight and then had 24 hours off. They were allowed to leave
three times a day for one hour for meals. They slept upstairs in the Mercer St. firehouse and were
still on call on their 12th day.
The introduction of paid men began the end of the volunteer days and on December 15, 1914 the
Commission created a full paid and part-paid fire department. The volunteers, who had served for
43 years, were dissolved on that same evening. The men at that time worked 72 hours on and 24
hours off. This was a one platoon system which stayed in effect until 1928, when a second platoon
was formed by voter referendum. This meant an 84 hour average work week consisting of
alternating 72 and 96 hour weeks. In 1933 the part paid members were replaced by full time
firemen. In 1947 there was again a referendum to reduce the work week from 84 hours to 67
hours but it was defeated, and instead a 70 hour week was instituted in 1949. In 1964 there was
another referendum and the firefighters won a 42 hour work week.
The demand for the fire department services in this community has climbed steadily every year. 34
years ago, in 1974, the department had 1415 runs, and had 119 firefighters. In 2007 the
department responded to 5349 calls for help, and had 99 firefighters. This tremendous increase in
call volume is due to the increased rescue and EMS demands on the Fire Department, as the
department responds to all life threatening medical emergencies, in addition to fire suppression,
and other responsibilities.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th,2001, there has been a huge increase in the level of
training done by the Hackensack Fire Department. These programs are largely paid for via grant
monies available thru federal programs. These have been aggressively sought out and awarded to
us, with specialized equipment for the Special Operations teams being purchased, at little cost to
the city taxpayers. In 2003 a new program was established called the Urban Area Security Initiative.
The Hackensack Fire Department was selected as the agency responsible for Bergen County. A
new rescue truck and air cascade truck were purchased by the state and federal governments for
this program, using no local taxpayer dollars. Approximately $2million dollars of equipment was
purchased for these units, again at no local taxpayer expense. Just about all the members of the
Fire Department have undergone many hours of training in structural collapse rescue, high angle
rescue, hazardous materials, trench rescue, and many other disciplines, once again, at no local
taxpayer expense.
In 2007 we were awarded a $257,000 grant to purchase new Scott Airpaks. This was a welcome
grant to pay for replacement of our 10 year old Airpaks, most of which have seen better days.
Also, in early 2007 we were awarded a Federal grant called a SAFER award. This stands for
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response. Our award was one of the largest given out
by the federal government in 2007. We were awarded $1,059,650.00 for 12 new firemen. We are
hopeful that the city government will act on this award quickly, because if it is not accepted very
soon, the city will lose this grant of over 1 million dollars.
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