TRUMANSBURG'S HISTORY
The Trumansburg Fire Company Inc. has a proud tradition of service to the community that dates back to the 1880’s. A time line of the company’s history resembles the climbing of a ladder. As time progresses the company’s service to the area grows. Some of the highlights of this growth are as follows:
Major conflagrations in 1864 and 1881 leveled large portions of the village business district. As a result of the latter, the residents of Trumansburg formed fire companies that formalized the firefighting forces within the village. In the early years the village was served by several different fire companies. The most notable of the companies were the Excelsior Engine Company No. 1 and Gregg Hose Company.
Other companies that existed were a Chemical Hose and the Hook & Ladder. As noted by the names, each company focused on a specific function on the fire ground. Forty-seven years later these functions were combined with the formation of the Trumansburg Fire Company Incorporated in 1929. From that point forward TFC was the unified pool of manpower that manned the firefighting equipment of the Village of Trumansburg. This cooperative combination of the village owned equipment and the company’s “member-power” continues to this day.
During the mid 1900’s the department and company grew together. The village had progressed from hand drawn equipment to several used motorized trucks. One of the most notable of these was the 1926 Buffalo pumping engine. This particular truck remained in the fleet until the 1970’s when it was sold to a collector. During the post WWII years the village purchased several Army Surplus vehicles to bolster the force. In the meantime, members of the company started to take advantage of training through the county and state. TFC eventually established the local schedule of gathering every Wednesday to train or care for company business. This schedule too, continues today.
The village and the fire company took delivery of their very first “brand new” fire engine during the summer of 1963. The engine having been built by the Sanford Fire Apparatus Company of East Syracuse, New York. The engine was given a home in the village fire station on Union Street. The building that is today home of the Trumansburg Phone Company. The Union Street Station was a first for the department too. After a period of using different buildings around the village to house the apparatus, the Union Street station was built. The ground floor became home to the trucks and the second floor was the home of TFC. Eventually the village offices and police departments were housed in parts of the same building.
Due to increased call volume and increased size of fire apparatus, the village and fire company decided to buy a former automotive repair building at 74 West Main Street in the village. The building was purchased and the remodeling of the structure was performed by the volunteers. In doing so, the TFC members saved one third of the budget for renovation. The fire department moved into the new quarters in 1972. This station served the village and TFC until it was leveled in 1988 in order to build the current station on that same site. Again the volunteers rose to an unusual occasion as they operated out of the village DPW complex and the Trumansburg Fair buildings during the construction. The new building was occupied early in 1989 and has served as headquarters ever since.
Shortly after moving to the address on west main street, the village fire department and TFC faced another new challenge. Emergency Medical Services within the district were left up in the air when the local funeral home gave up operating the area ambulance service. TFD and TFC combined to meet the need. A village owned emergency van was converted by the volunteers to provide for patient transport. Members of TFC quickly enrolled in first aid and EMT classes. Thus was born the Trumansburg Fire Department Ambulance service. A short year later, the fire departments first brand new ambulance was purchased as the result of a very successful fund drive conducted within the fire protection district. This was the first of many ambulance fund drives that have been so generously supported by our community. To this day, we the members of the fire company, enjoy a very close relationship with the community we serve. The EMS program of the fire department has grown to account for nearly 70% of all yearly calls. The service provided to the community today consists of both paid and volunteer staff operating ALS (advanced life support) ambulances and rescue services around the clock. Many of today’s members are emergency medical responders as well as firefighters.
Through all the years, no matter what the challenge, the volunteers of TFC and the village’s TFD have worked together to meet the needs of the community.
OUR VALUES - ESPRIT
E xcellence
S killful Responsiveness
P rofessionalism
R espect
I ntegrity
T eamwork
OUR VISION
The Trumansburg Fire Company Will:
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Continue to provide dynamic, realistic, and comprehensive training
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Incorporate all members as active contributors
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Actively recruit members, maintain a dedicated membership, and provide effective mentorship for all members
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Continue to develope an organization that inspires the community
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