New Paltz Fire Department
September 16, 1861 is the date that the first fire department in New Paltz was organized. It was called Huguenot Fire Engine Company No. 1. The fire engine was a hand drawn and hand operated pump purchased from the City of Poughkeepsie. Huguenot Fire Engine Company was disbanded around 1868.
The village was without fire protection until the Ulster Hook and Ladder Company No.1 was organized on July 1, 1889. Their equipment was housed in a building on lower Main Street until 1890 when it was moved to the corner of Church and North Front Streets, and finally in 1893 was moved into the flatiron building at Church and Main. When the water works was completed in 1892 this bucket company was supplemented by the Star Hose Company.
These two units served the community, often with keen rivalry, until they were united into the present New Paltz Fire Department in 1918.
The municipal building on Plattekill Avenue was opened on July 4, 1950 and has served as the firehouse since then. At present, the department houses four of its eight piece apparatus fleet there. The pride of the fleet is the 95 foot platform ladder truck.
Currently the department is 100% volunteer with a Chief, two Assistant Chiefs, 1 Captain, and 3 Lieutenants. Apparatus include 2 Engines, 1 Aerial, 1 Rescue, 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, 1 Brush Truck and 2 Rescue Boats. The department currently runs about 1000 fire calls per year, and does not provide EMS response. EMS response is provided by the New Paltz Rescue Squad. Our district includes the State University of New York at New Paltz, a 10 mile portion of the New York State Thruway, all of the Village of New Paltz and all of the Town of New Paltz.
The members of the New Paltz Fire Department are proud of our history and pledge to continue our services to the community.
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