A History of the Bradley Beach Fire Department By Gary Crawford and updated by Rev Dr John W. Zech Firefighter/EMT BBFD
The Pioneer Fire Company
The first fire company of Bradley Beach was founded and organized on June 5, 1893 by the following Charter Members: H. Werner, J. R. Muddell, F. Ashworth, S. Murphy, B. Bennett, W. Murphy, W. D. Flood, C. A. Bennett, D. F. Gant, W. J. Paynter, I. Borden, W. Mudil, J. C. Woolley, A. Hutchinson, J. B. Rogers, J. T. Steward, G. H. Patten, J. Leonard, F. Herbert, C. A. Truex, C. B. Poland, and A. T. Jones. The company was named the Pioneer Fire Company.
On June 8, 1893, first President H. Werner appeared before the Mayor and Council of Bradley Beach with the minutes of the fire company's organizational meeting in hand. He requested the Council to introduce and pass an ordinance to organize a Fire Department in the Borough of Bradley Beach. The request received the Council's endorsement and on June 14, 1893 an ordinance to organize a Fire Department was introduced and passed, becoming effective on July 3, 1893.
The election of the Department's Officers was held two days later on July 5. Charles A. Bennett was elected as the First Chief and Frank Ashworth was elected as the First Assistant Chief. Mr. Bennett was also serving as the Constable of Bradley Beach.
On August 1, 1893 Chief Bennett recommended a fire signal code, the different number of whistle blasts denoting different parts of town. This code remained in effect until a new fire alarm system was donated by Buchanon and Smock Lumber Company of Asbury Park on November 9, 1893.
The first Fire Police officers to be appointed were C. B. Poland and C. Bennett at the end of 1893.
The first piece of apparatus used was a horse-drawn chemical engine loaned to the Borough by Ocean Grove Fire Department and was stored in Councilman Peter Poland's barn when not in use.
On April 10, 1895 a number of members of the Pioneer Fire Company along with several citizens petitioned the Mayor and Council for permission to organize a Company known as the Independent Fire Company. The Council voted against another fire company at that time and further passed an ordinance limiting the membership of Pioneer to forty members.
On June 12, 1895 a 45 gallon double tank horse-drawn chemical engine was purchased for $500.00, delivered on September 19 of that year.
The Independent Fire Company
After persistent appeals, the Independent Fire Company was finally accepted into the Fire Department on February 10, 1897. A new engine was purchased on March 1, 1897, for $1,350.00. The Council amended the Fire Department Ordinance to allow membership of eighty members, to be equally divided between the two companies.
The Pioneer Company became the Pioneer Fire Company No. 1, and the Independent Company became the Independent Fire Company No. 2.
From the Fiftieth Anniversary booklet of the Independent Fire Company No. 2 in 1945: The short-lived Excelsior Fire Company merged with Independent on November 8, 1908 with an increase of 25 members. In 1908 the Mayor and Council purchased an Amoskeag Steamer and a hose wagon (The Amoskeag engine served faithfully for 32 years, until retired in 1940). In 1919 a Christie tractor was purchased to replace the horses then used to pull the Amoskeag steamer, turning the machine into a self-propelled motor vehicle, a unique piece of apparatus. A White Hose Patrol hose truck was purchased in 1922, and in 1930 a 350 gallon Barton pump was installed on the front of the White. A new 750 gallon American LaFrance pumper replaced the Amoskeag in 1940, and the White was retired in 1944. The White was also used to carry flowers for at least 112 funerals.
The Bradley Fire Company
In 1908 the Ordinance was further amended to permit the Bradley Fire Company into the Bradley Beach Fire Department. The Bradley Fire Company, located on Evergreen Avenue, had been part of Neptune City. After that portion of Neptune City was annexed into Bradley Beach on June 2, 1908, the Borough now had a third fire company, manned by the members that lived in that part of town. The Company became Bradley Fire Company No. 3 of the Bradley Beach Fire Department.
Naturally, the three Fire Companies became rivals. As a result, the Borough of Bradley Beach could boast of the finest fire protection in the Shore Area. New and better equipment was acquired over the years keeping abreast of the most modern fire fighting methods available, always ready to respond to the needs of the residents and businesses of the Borough.
United Engine & Truck Company
In March 1989 a vote was approved to merge the three Fire Companies into one entity.
This Company will be know as United Engine & Truck Company of The Bradley Beach Fire Department
This was a very hard time for all firefighters in Bradley Beach as now the rivals will have to become one and for many this was a very sad time but for the people of Bradley Beach this was the start to a better fire department as now the talents of all three companys were working together as one.
Chiefs of the Bradley Beach Fire Department:
(P = Pioneer Co., I = Independent Co., B = Bradley Company, U=United Engine & Truck Company)
(Elected May to May)
1893 P Charles A Bennett
1894 P Charles A Bennett
1895 P Frank Ashworth
1896 I Peter O'Rourke
1897 P John Leonard
1898 I Thomas Barkalow
1899 I Peter O'Rourke
1900 P John Leonard
1901 P William Murphy
1902 P David Gant
1903 P George Bostick
1904 I William Gifford
1905 P William Trimble
1906 I Fred Bimbler Sr
1907 I Thomas Barkalow
1908 I Fred Bimbler Sr *
1909 P Daniel T Wilkins
1910 I Adam Harvey
1911 B Charles Abbott
1912 P Hartson Poland
1913 I J Edward Yarnall
1914 B Joseph Aguilar *
1915 P William Trimble
1916 I William Barton
1917 B Daniel Hoey
1918 (No election due to War)
1919 P Walter Panz
1920 I Joseph Y Gant
1921 B Harry Hurley
1922 P Harry Gilbert
1923 I Mason Sutts
1924 B Lester Rogers
1925 P George Shafto
1926 I Harry Francis
1927 B Stephen Van Gasbeck
1928 P Theodore Gant (Two year terms, May to May) *
1930 I Edward R Shumard
1932 B John Estelle
1934 P Addison Hutchinson
1936 I Ben Moffet
1938 B Daniel Convery
1940 P Theodore Gant
1942 I Albert H Kirms
1944 B Leonard Hauslet *
(One year terms, January to January)
1946 P Clarence Gilbert
1947 I Howard Trimpi
1948 B Irving Konner
1949 P Rudolf Malchow
1950 I Eugene Wilkins
1951 B Alex Ross
1952 P Phil Yanowitz
1953 I George Camburn
1954 B Frank Fitzgerald
1955 P Irving Keith
1956 I Charles M Cozzens
1957 B Robert Ross
1958 P Vincent White
1959 I Daniel T Wilkins
1960 B Earl Wilson
1961 P Vincent Montedoro
1962 I Alfred Parker Jr
1963 B Harold Chambers
1964 P Ernest Bianchi
1965 I James Polidora
1966 B Richard Johnson
1967 P William Greener
1968 I Vincent Applegate
1969 B Herman Cozzens
1970 P Vincent Napoli
1971 I George F Wilkins
1972 B Christopher Stewart
1973 P Gregg Farry
1974 I Jerome Weiss
1975 B Charles Alan Quixley
1976 P Harry Holmes
1977 I William Dorsey
1978 B Stanley Poinsett
1979 P Robert J Hughes
1980 I Theodore A Bianchi Jr
1981 B George A DeNardo
1982 P Philip Yanowitz
1983 I Joseph A Applegate
1984 B Andrew F Hankins
1985 P Philip Yanowitz
1986 I Leroy A Christensen
1987 B Frank G Sutphin
1988 P Robert L Herms
1989 I U Warren Wilson
1990 B U John W Zech
1991 U John McLoughlin
1992 U Joseph A Applegate
1993 U Daniel D Flood
1994 U Keith Dilello Sr
1995 U Daniel D Flood
1996 U John W Zech
1997 U John A Heidel
1998 U Mark W Christensen
1999 U John W Zech
2000 U Walter A Wilson
2001 U Daniel D Flood
2002 U John W Zech
2003 U John McLoughlin
2004 U John McLoughlin (Two year chief due to deputy chief resigning)
2005 U John W Zech
2006 U
Jason Afanador
Jason Afanador2007 U Salvatore Giacone III
2008 U Nicole A. Zech
* Note: 1908, Fred Bimbler Sr died 12-24-08, Daniel Wilkins appointed Chief 12-28-08 by Council, elected May 1909.
1914, Joseph Aguilar resigned in December 1914. William Trimble was elected that same month and re-elected in May 1915.
1928, Two year terms through 1944.
1944, Leonard Hauslet served 20 months. Ordinance was changed for terms to run
one year, January to January.
Other highlights of the Bradley Beach Fire Department:
In the 1920s the Fire Department established the Christmas Parties held for the Grammar School Children.
Bradley Beach emergency personnel assisted in the rescue efforts after the passenger ship Morro Castle burned off the Jersey Shore and washed up at the beach at Convention Hall in Asbury Park on September 8, 1934. Survivors and victims washed up on the beach from Sea Girt to Long Branch.
Emergency personnel along the entire Jersey Shore were recruited as coast watchers and Civil Defense workers during World War Two.
On July 31, 1968 a Hahn 1,000 gallon pumper arrived to replace the 1939 American LaFrance 500 gallon pumper for the Independent Fire Company No. 2.
In 1971 the Fire Department held the first Easter Egg Hunt, and in 1972 established the Halloween Parade.
Fund Drives were begun door-to-door in 1971, later to be replaced by mailings.
April 1975 saw a new GMC rescue and utility truck for Bradley Fire Company No. 3.
The Independent Company took delivery in May 1977 of a new Hahn 1,500 gallon pumper to replace a 1956 GMC 500 gallon pumper.
On July 26, 1980, the disastrous fire fatal to 23 at the Brinley Inn rooming house caused sweeping changes in fire prevention and inspection, first in Bradley Beach, later in New Jersey, and soon throughout the United States.
The Bradley Company received a 1981 Pierce 1,250 gallon pumper in June 1981 to replace a 1962 GMC 1,000 gallon pumper.
1985 saw the establishment of the annual Santa Claus Run on December 23rd of each year. Santa starts at Riley Park on Main Street, then The Jolly Elf himself and fire department members travel throughout the Borough delivering toys to children who might not otherwise receive gifts. The toys are donated by local businesses and the members themselves. This has become a much-loved holiday tradition in town.
October 1986 saw delivery of a new Hahn 106-foot aerial ladder truck, replacing a 1961 GMC Seagrave 75-foot unit for Pioneer Company No. 1.
In March 1989 a vote was approved to merge the three Fire Companies into one entity.
In 1990 the Fire Department Dive Team was established, adding an extra measure of safety for Bradley Beach and surrounding towns.
Unit Citations were received by the Bradley Beach Fire Department from the Fire Marshall's Office of Monmouth County NJ for the rescue of a woman from Sylvan Lake on January 7, 1996. A Unit Citation was received from the New Jersey General Assembly for the Department's outstanding efforts during the dangerous twenty-three hour standoff in Bradley Beach with an armed robbery suspect on June 4 and 5, 1998 along with sixteen other local, county, and State emergency services organizations.
In November of 1999 the former Bradley Fire House on Evergreen Avenue was demolished.
For the safety of firefighters the Department constantly updated their Scott Air Pack systems. The first two personal air systems were purchased in 1948, with additions in 1968, 1969, and 1977 along with the first Cascade Air System in that same year. In response to the Respiratory Protection Act, new systems were purchased from 1977 through 1990, and again in 1992 and 1995, with the systems updated through today.
Although several women had applied to join the Department only two had what it took to complete the training required by the State of New Jersey. Ms. Tanya Carlino joined the Bradley Beach Fire Department in September 1997 after serving four years with the Amherst Volunteer Fire Department. Ms. Carlino is also a Registered Nurse. Ms. Nicole A. Zech joined in April of 2001. Ms. Zech is also the daughter of Chief John W Zech. Both women are active as interior firefighters.
In 2000 Chief Walter A Wilson was able to arrange for the purchase a Thermal Imaging Camera for the Department, a modern appliance able to find unconscious victims in smoke-filled environments.
From the first horse-drawn Chemical Engine in 1893 to the modern equipment of today, the Bradley Beach Fire Department has stood ready to protect the residents, businesses, and structures of the Borough of Bradley Beach. The volunteer firefighters attend classes and courses to hone their skills, on their own time, to ensure the safety of all.
Bradley Beach emergency personnel stood ready at Allaire Airport on September 11, 2001 to receive any casualties airlifted from New York.
In December of 2003 The Bradley Beach Fire Department said farewell to it home of over 100 years and moved to its new home at 815 Main Street. This was a dream started in the 1980s to build a state of the art firehouse for our department and today we have seen it come to pass. The Old Main Street firehouse was built with the loving hands of many of the fireman of 1880s and it still is used today as a Emergency service home but now it is home to the Bradley Beach Police Department.
It is comforting to know the skilled emergency personnel of the Bradley Beach are always ready to meet the needs of the Borough. The Police Department, the Fire Department, and the First Aid are always there, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
The authors are indebted to Past Chief Walter A Wilson (2000) and Past Chief John W Zech (1989, 1990, 1996, 1999, and 2002,2005) in providing the information and photographs required to compile the history of the Bradley Beach Fire Department.
Special Thanks to Gary Crawford for helping with this web page please buy a History of Bradley Beach Book from Local Business in Bradley Beach to learn more about the history of Bradley Beach.
How come Asbury park fire dept has to respond to your fire calls. Could you please explain?
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