The Colonia Volunteer Chemical Hook & Ladder Company was established in April 1943, with thirty volunteers. In 1943 there had been eleven fire departments in the township already. Carteret had split from the township and two other fire departments had closed. Colonia became Fire District # 12 with four fire commissioners in 1943. The company received its first fire truck a 1937 International coal truck bought from Chodosh Brothers of Rahway. The truck was parked in Ernie Fry’s garage until a firehouse could be built on Inman Ave (site of the present building). One of the first things that needed to be done was to convert the coal truck into a fire truck. This was accomplished by building a 500-gallon water tank with the help of a local steel company and installing a gas driven pump that was donated by the government to the front of the truck.

When the fire calls first started to come in, they were received by telephone through Vesperino’s general store, which was also located on Inman Avenue. Mr. Vesperino would then go to the firehouse while his family called the firemen and gave them the location of the fire.

With the help of the Colonia Civic Club, enough money was raised to realize the second goal construction of a two bay cinder block firehouse with a meeting room in that same year.

Matters with the fire department were okay until 1946 when a split arose in the rank and file. There was friction between two of the fire commissioners and an incident at the Colonia Civic Club between these two commissioners brought to a head all the friction between the commissioners. As a result, three commissioners started a new fire department on the West End of town and took the only fire engine. This new fire department operated with some of the previous firemen and the fire truck was parked in a garage on Inman Avenue near Wood Avenue. Eventually, another firehouse was built on Inman Ave (where the VFW now stands). Meantime, the original fire department was still in business; but, without a fire truck until the Valentine Brick Company of Woodbridge made a donation of a chain driven drive 1934 Mack pumper, with a 500 gallon tank and 500 g.p.m. pump in 1948. The next year, the company bought a late 1940’s Diamond T pumper from a Long Island fire company, which had been used as a competition fire truck. The engine was fast but there was no pump, so a 500 g.p.m. pump was purchased and installed. The cost of this engine was five hundred dollars.

Between 1946 and 1951, the two fire companies competed for the fire calls, usually racing each other to answer the calls. But in 1951, the commissioner who did not go to the new fire department attempted to get the town council to abolish the fire district and the fire commissioners. The other three commissioners discovered what was happening and planned to fight it. A meeting was scheduled for February 6, 1951, which was the next regular council meeting. However, a train crash in Woodbridge on that same day, required that all the fire departments and first aid squads in Woodbridge Township were called to respond to the disaster. When Colonia residents called town hall to inquire about the meeting they were told the meeting was postponed. But, the meeting was held as planned and Fire District # 12 was abolished. The next day, Colonia residents read about abolishment in the newspaper. The first thing the original fire department tried to do was to have the pumper and equipment returned; but, there was a slight problem the other commissioners of the second firehouse sold the pumper, firehouse, and equipment to a local citizen for one dollar. Later, the fire truck and equipment managed to return. However, another fire engine rotted away in the firehouse until in 1956, the VFW bought the property because the new fire department had never paid for the land. So, the VFW had to pay the original owner the three hundred dollars owed.

In 1954, a petition was endorsed to re-instate the fire district, and a year later (1955) Fire District # 12 was re-instated with five fire commissioners to oversee the fire department. During the early years, the commissioners had owned the firehouse. After 1951, the fire department gave shares to the firemen based on how long they were on. But, the firemen who went to the other fire department and came back were not given shares. Later in 1962, the commissioners placed on the ballot the request that the taxpayers purchase the firehouse and everything in it at a cost of forty thousand dollars.

In 1955, the new commissioners of the newly reinstated Fire District #12 set out to replace some of the older fire engines. The first piece of equipment bought was a 1942 Mack pumper. It was originally a Martinsburg Hose Company # 3 of West Virginia fire engine and had a 500 g.p.m. pump. The cost of this engine was five thousand three hundred dollars. In 1957, the company purchased a used Studerbaker pickup and converted it into a utility truck. This truck only lasted a short time and was replaced with an International utility truck in 1958.

At this time, the fire department now was tied into the Woodbridge Police Department for receiving fire calls by sirens and later by plectrons also.

The fire department started its journey into the next century, by purchasing its first new fire engine, a 1959 Mack pumper with a 750 g.p.m. pump 500 gallon booster tank, one booster reel and a 1 ½ preconnected line in the rear tray. The cost of this engine was twenty one thousand two hundred dollars. The old firehouse was getting very small so the commissioners started planning for a new one, which was completed in 1966. The new building had three bays and a large hall on the second floor. The cost of the building was one hundred fifty thousand dollars. In addition, a new pumper was ordered and arrived in 1969. A 1969 Mack with a 1000g.p.m. pump, 500-gallon booster tank, twin 1" boosters reels with high-pressure capacity off a power takeoff. All the equipment was stored in compartments on both sides of engine. All the ladders and hard suction hose was also stored under the hose bed. There were five compartments on each and one in the rear. It carried a full complement of ladders, 35’, 24’, 18’, two 14’ and a 10 ‘ folding. This was the pride of the fleet; it was the first fire engine of its kind. This fact was confirmed by Mack motors and all later fire trucks were built basically the same. The cost of this engine was thirty seven thousand dollars.

In the late 1960’s, the fire department installed fire alarm boxes around the district, which are still in use today but updated to include a computer in its system.

The fire department purchased its first car in 1972, a used Ford Falcon from a uniform company. The cost of this car was six hundred dollars.

In 1972, the fire department responded to the Rahway (Avenel) prison riots where the utility truck spent the next twenty-four hours in steady sleet. As a result, the fire department realized the need for an enclosed truck to carry our equipment. So, they purchased a G.M.C. step van to replace the International in 1973. The cost of this truck was four thousand dollars. The truck’s first response was to a fatal Christmas morning fire, which occurred in Avenel’s district of Colonia. Because of this fire, a meeting was arranged with the township council to redraw the district lines. Avenel did an excellent job at the fire. However, many residents felt that they had to travel to far because three major highways had to be crossed to get to them. Consequently, the district lines were changed. Colonia #12 and Iselin # 11 divided the area on the West Side of route # 27.

In the late 60’s, the Fire Company received one of its most memorable members a Dalmatian, which we named "Sparky". "Sparky’ was a gift from a Colonia resident and his original name was Whiskey. He spent ten years with us riding to calls on the fire engines. The most memorable call was the response to a working fire at Frystock Motors in Colonia. While the fire was being fought, ‘Sparky’ ran off and he found a house with an open front door. He ran right into the house and jumped up onto the dining room table, which was set for dinner and ate the prepared dinner. The very irate homeowner called the police about this and was informed about the fire. ‘Sparky’ was returned to the fire scene, as the fire was a very tough one and ‘Sparky’ lightened it up alittle. ‘Sparky’ was also known as "daddy’ to many of the area dogs. He was a member from 1967 to 1977 when he retired. He died about two years later.

In 1973 we started escorting Santa around our fire district on the fire truck on Christmas Eve, Santa sat in his sleigh atop the pumper. We would cover the whole district, stopping to let children sit on Santa’s lap and ask for gifts, usually finishing around midnight. The people would wait in front of their homes or all meet at one neighbors house to wait for us. It was an instant success with the firemen and the town.

In 1975, the company purchased the "Jaws of Life’ to assist in removing people trapped in car accidents. Colonia district #12 was one of the first in area to use this tool. On a daily basis, we were called upon to assist in car accidents throughout the township and nearby union county towns.

In 1978 our 1969 Mack Pumper was featured in a book by Chartwell Books Inc. called Fire! The Story of the Fire Engine by Simon Goodenough. It was on pages 150 & 151; it used three quarters of the pages for the picture.

To meet the increasing demands in 1979, a large bay was added to the building and also an elevator. The cost of this addition was ninety seven thousand dollars. The elevator was to enable the handicapped accessibly to events being held in the hall upstairs or to the commissioners meeting room also upstairs to attend their meetings. With the new addition, the commissioners finally had a meeting room and a storage area was also added for the hall. The commissioners also purchased the corner lot to expand the parking lot for the hall. While they tried to purchase the entire lot from Inman Avenue to Florence Avenue the taxpayers voted this down.

The first pagers were bought to facilitate communications. The men could carry them anywhere enabling them to know there was a fire call.

Also, in 1979, the next new pumper was delivered, a 1979 Mack pumper with a 1250 g.p.m. pump, 600 gallon booster tank, and designed like the 1969 Mack with the addition of two 1 ½ " crosslays and a foam system. A 1979 Chevy Suburban for company use was also bought. The cost of the pumper was one hundred thousand dollars and the cost of the truck was eight thousand dollars. The cost of the car was eight thousand dollars.

In 1979 we expanded our Santa, Christmas Eve escort by using two pumpers now that we had two that looked exactly alike. One pumper would escort Santa around the streets west of the parkway and the other would escort him on the East Side streets. Both had Santa’s in sleds on top of the pumpers.

In 1984, the company purchased its first aerialtruck. A 1972 Mack Aerial scope purchased from the Baker Company. It was a refurbished unit that saw its early years in New York City. It was ladder truck 146 of the green point section of Brooklyn. This was a 75’ tower ladder, and the first one in Woodbridge Township. It has gone to all the major fires in the area including Woodbridge Township, Plainfield, Elizabeth, and other parts of Middlesex and Union counties. The cost of the truck was one hundred seventy five thousand dollars.

In 1986 a Ford Crown Victoria wagon was leased to the company by Bell Ford, they even paid the lease until we later purchased the car from them and it was used as a chiefs car. The cost of this car was fourteen thousand dollars.

In 1990 the first enclosed pumper was purchased. It was a 1990 Emergency-One with a 1500 g.p.m. pump, 750 gallon booster tank, 50 gallon foam tank, 10 man Spartan Eurospace cab, diesel engine, automatic transmission, 8 preconnected hand lines seven 2’ and one 3’ lines. A Wilbur light tower was added in 1994. This was our first non Mack (since Mack went out of the fire truck business). No booster reels were used on this engine, only large volume lines. The 1959 Mack was sold to Woodbridge Township for one dollar. The cost of the pumper was two hundred thirty eight thousand dollars.

In 1991 two new Chevy Suburbans were purchased with four-wheel drive, which were needed for the snowstorms. One was a chief’s car and the other was a company car for men to go to schools or meetings. The Ford wagon was given to the fire prevention bureau. The costs of the trucks were nineteen thousand dollars each.

In the early 1990’s the Fire Company started getting dispatched by Iselin # 9. Six companies were dispatched by district # 9 and the other three by Fords # 7. Prior to that there were four dispatch points Woodbridge Police, Woodbridge Fire, Fords Fire and Iselin # 9 Fire. The township also went to a enhanced 911 system, when the state went to 911. Presently, all calls go into police headquarters and are sent to the dispatchers by computer and to fire and first aid buildings also.

In 1993 the company bought its first rescue pumper. It replaced the 1969 Mack (which was sold to a fire explorer group from Staten Island for eight hundred dollars) and the 1973 G.M.C. step van was sold to a volunteer fire department in the Clinton area for twenty five hundred dollars. It was a Emergency-One Hush pumper with a 1500 g.p.m. pump a 500 gallon booster tank 50 gallon foam tank, rear engine diesel, automatic transmission, air conditioning, 10 man cab, Wilbur light tower, Harrison hydragenerator. This pumper carried all of our rescue tools: Jaws of Life, air bags, air tools and piercing nozzles. The cost of the rescue engine was three hundred seventeen thousand dollars.

As allowed by the state, in 1993 an ambulance was purchased for the Colonia First Aid Squad. The squad was in desperate need of a new rig and could not afford one. It was leased to them for one dollar. Other fire departments have started to do the same for their squads. We also give the squad ten thousand dollars a year to help them operate. The cost of the ambulance was sixty three thousand dollars.

The state has not made training mandatory for volunteer fire departments yet. All paid departments must meet fire fighter 1 requirements, which consist of eighty hours of training. The Colonia Fire Department has been meeting this requirement since 1982 long before the state even considered this requirement. We started the Woodbridge Township fire school in 1975 with the other township departments. In 1982 it was changed to the Woodbridge Township Fire Academy, with Rich Anderson taking over the school. Rich was a fire officer in Colonia at the time. Rich was responsible for the changes which the state finally adopted.

In its fifty- four-year history the fire department has come along way since 1943, it has progressed greatly through the years. From old style cotton turnout coats to total Nomex (fire resistance) turnout gear (coats, pants gloves and hoods), from 1 ½ ‘ and 2 ½ ‘ hose to high volume 2’’, 3’’ and 5’ hose. From fixed gallonage nozzles to lighter weight automatic nozzles. From sirens to pagers and computer operated dispatchers.

In1994 our 1993 E-One Hush Rescue Pumper and the E-One Ambulance were featured in the 1994 E-One calendar.

Now in 1998, the company looks toward to the twenty- first century and the challenges ahead such as: better equipment, training, and knowledge of our job. In the near future the district will be replacing the tower ladder and the purchase of a new truck should be coming this year To better meet the needs of the changing community, the Fire District #12 is not only assisting the Colonia First Aid Squad with calls, financial contributions but also is contemplating taking over the squad financially. In 1998 we will be buying the Colonia First Aid Squad another new ambulance and buying the better of the two old ones. This will free up money for the squad to pay a crew to man an ambulance during the day. By us owning the ambulances we can insure them and maintain them, helping the squad financially stay afloat until more can be done to help the community.

In 1998 the fire budget was defeated in a close vote, also a question to expand the firehouse was also defeated. This is the second time that a budget or question was defeated to anyone’s knowledge. We still need the office space and will try again next year to get addition passed by a different means. The township council cut forty thousand dollars from our budget.

Also in 1998 we ordered a new Ford Expedition to be the new chief’s car and the 1991 suburban will be passed down to the fire prevention bureau, both will be equipped with lap top computers, printers and cell phones. The 1986 ford wagon that the bureau used will be sold, as was the 1979 suburban this year. Also ordered was the replacement of our twenty six-year-old tower ladder. A new L.T.I. Ladder Tower will replace the Aerialscope. It will be a lot different than what we have now; this one will have a 2000 G.P.M. single stage pump and a 93’ climbable ladder. The problem of cabinet space no longer exist with this truck, every bit of available space on this truck was utilized for storage of equipment.

In 1998 we received our new Chief’s car a 1998 Ford Expedition. This car was set up with all new radios to give the chief the ability to communicate with everyone he has to. A new emergency lighting system was added for better visibility responding to or being at a fire scene.

Also in 1998 we purchased a new Ambulance for the Colonia First Aid Squad. It was a two-year-old demo; (this is what squad wanted). It was a much bigger rig and a lot more money when new. We purchased an Emergency One ambulance again like in 1993 for seventy nine thousand dollars. On the day before delivery the older rig that the squad owned was in an accident, hit broadside while transporting someone to the hospital. Everyone was okay but the rig was totaled. Thanks to good planning by the squad the rig was replaced with a new one. After delivery of the new rig the Fire Commissioners took ownership of that rig from the squad and now own all the rigs. The new ambulance was purchased for seventy eight thousand dollars (seventy three thousand from insurance company) from Wheeled Coach. This rig is about the same as the demo from E-One.

Also in 1998 the squad had asked us if they could get the old inspectors car (1986 Ford station wagon). We felt that the car was on it’s last leg and not worth repairing, so the squad got a donation of a 1986 Chevy Caprice from the South Old Bridge Fire Commissioners. This donation was made through the COLONIA BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS, and we registered it in the fire company name and let the squad use it as a first responder car. This was the first in the township.

In 1998 we started a trench rescue /confined space team. All the necessary equipment was purchased and the Colonia First Aid Squad gave us the old ambulance to use for the team. This team is combined with the Keasbey Fire Department. Within the first few months of the team they responded to calls in Perth Amboy and Sayreville.

In 1998 we are into our twenty fifth year of escorting Santa around town. We now go out with as many as three pumpers with Santa riding at the pump panels. We stopped Santa from riding on top of the hose beds a few years ago because the pumpers are so much higher now and safety was getting to be a major concern. We had a couple of close calls with branches hitting firemen or Santa. We still see a lot of enthusiasm from the people of our district, they are out there every year waiting for us, many of them were the kids that sat on Santa’s lap and now their kids were doing the same. A lot has changed in twenty-five years but Santa is stilled welcomed every year, some things never change.

The 1999 elections brought LOSAP (Length of Service Awards Program) this will allow the Board of Fire Commissioners to put money aside each year for the firemen as long as they make their drills and calls for the year. This will hopefully help keep the men we have and bring new members in. Since the cost of the addition is way less than the reported cost the Board will put money away each year to pay for the addition in the next couple of years.

In June of 1999 we took delivery of our new tower ladder. It is a L.T.I.( Ladder Tower Inc) It has a 2000 G.P.M. pump, 93’ steel ladder,6 cabinets on each side and one in the rear, 15,000 kw Amps hydrogenertor, 6 man American La France cab,a/c,auto,series 60 Detroit diesel, carries 700’ 5" hose, 1 2" preconnect with solid bore nozzle, 1 3" preconnect with solid bore nozzle, dual nozzles in bucket capable of flowing over 2000gpm, 200’ of 2" hose in cabinets attached to bucket, parapit adapters on each side of bucket. The price of this truck was $735,000.00 but because the commissioners were able to get $35,000.00 for a trade in on the aerialscope ( it was only worth $15,000.00 because it was a New York City truck) and they saved another $55,000.00 by putting money up front and getting 9% interest on that money off the price of the truck. Total money paid out to L.T.I. was $645,000.00 There was a few problems with truck in the beginning but they were worked out.

Also in 1999 we started an Explorer program in the fire department which has worked out well, we have 10 explorers and they are trained up to wearing air packs. They ride on all calls and can do everything but enter a burning building, and they also have restricted hours that they can ride.

Also in 1999 the trench rescue team had it’s first trench rescue in Colonia, a backhoe operator was working on a trench across the street from the Colonia First Aid Squad building, when he entered the trench the wall collapsed on him burying him from the waist down. The fire department was called and implemented the rest of the team( Keasbey Fire Department). Mutual aid was called for additional manpower to help remove dirt and stabilize the incident. A total of 8 fire departments responded to the scene or stood by o cover Colonia in case of another fire call. The incident was brought to a successful conclusion when the man was freed with no major injuries, in a short period of time.

Also in 1999 the fire departments of Woodbridge Township went to one dispatch center. All fire and first aid calls now come out of the 911 system and goes to the Fords Firehouse for dispatching.

In 1999 our 1993 E-One Hush Rescue Pumper was featured in a book by MBI Publishing Company called Pumpers Workhorse Fire Engines by Larry Shapiro. It was a picture with the light tower up and the roll up cabinets open to see rescue equipment layout. It was on page 105 and it was about a third of a page.

In 2000 we purchased some more new rescue tools, a synmo pack, ram extensions, and a multipurpose tool (maverick tool) from Hurst.

In 2000 we were given the okay to go ahead with extension on our building and we will be starting the addition right away. We will also start looking at a new rescue truck and trailer for trench rescue team. The fire department lost two long time firemen in 2000. Jim Souza Sr. passed away in March after many years of active duty and Raymond J. Hughes Sr. passed away in July after 48 years of active duty

In 2001 we purchased a Dodge 3500 4-wheel drive with dual rear wheels and a 20’ trailer for the trench rescue team. It went into service in May. We started paying a fireman to be around in the daytime to take messages and deliveries since Raymond J. Hughes Sr. passed away in July of 2000. We also completed a major overhaul to the firemen's room and all the bathrooms. This was first overhaul since building was built in 1966. The first few of our Explorers turned 18 and joined the fire department. In the township the Joint Board of Fire Commissioners bought a fire safety trailer with weather package to be used by all township companies, all year long instead of just Fire Prevention Week or having to wait two years to get the one from St. Barnabus Hospital. Colonia Fire Commissioner Raymond J. Hughes Jr. was the President of the Joint Board of Fire Commissioners when the trailer was ordered. This was a long time coming he was pushing for this at least 10 years before.

In 2001 we continued to support the Colonia First Aid Squad by paying for the Rahway First Aid Squad to supply day coverage with paid crews, and we also replaced roof and heating/air conditioning unit at the squad building.

In 2001 we were given approval to take over Colonia First Aid Squad financially from the voters. We will be working out agreements with squad during year to take over ownership of all of the squad’s assets. When it is complete the squad will report to commissioners like the fire department does. There will be a division of Fire and a division of EMS.

We are just now getting started with building addition because of waiting until after the wetdown and a lot of red tape. We plan to open bids in August and be finished by year’s end. The addition was finished in December and we will be putting money aside from surplus to finish the interior by 2002 or 2003.

On September 11th 2001 the New York City World Trade Center buildings were struck by commercial jet liners that were taken over by hijackers along with another hijacked plane that struck the Pentagon building in Washington D.C. A fourth hijacked plane in route to Washington D.C. Crashed in Pennsylvania after the passengers fought with the hijackers to regain control of plane. The World Trade Center buildings collapsed in about an hour and a half trapping three hundred forty three fire fighters inside. All of the rest of the city firemen rushed to the scene to help rescue their brothers from the rubble leaving the rest of the city without fire protection. Fire departments from Long Island, New Jersey and towns north of the city were called into the city to fill the firehouses and cover all other calls. The Colonia Fire Department sent one engine to Brooklyn for twenty-eight hours before being relieved by another fire department. They covered a firehouse on Rogers Street. They ran to thirthteen alarms as engine 249 and they ran with FDNY’S truck 113. This firehouse was nick named Rogers Rats. In all rescue teams from the Merck , Elizabeth, Metuchen fire departments were sent to Staten Island to stand-by for use at the Pile (as it was referred to). At least fifty fire departments were sent to New York from Middlesex and Union Counties on the first response. Over two hundred ambulances from New Jersey were sent to Liberty State Park and other ferry ports to treat injured. This was the first time in the history of the New York City fire department that mutual aid was ever needed from outside of the city. In all the New York City fire department lost three hundred forty three men that day, the largest lost of fire fighters at one time in the history of the country and most likely the world. About one hundred eighty of the fire fighters lost were officers including the Chief of department. (On a personal note my cousin April lost her husband Lieutenant John Ginley of Engine 40 in Manhattan.) The collapse also crushed about eighty of the department vechiles. There were also about eighty NYPD police officers and New York Port Authority police officers killed who were stationed out of the trade center.

POST 9/11 2001
In 2001 we started seeing our old 1969 Mack pumper we sold to the Staten Island explorer group in advertising and on television shows like Sex in the City and Third Watch. They rent out the pumper to help raise money to run the explorers.

2002
In 2002 we started working on replacing the 1979 Mack pumper. We will be going out to bid by year-end. In 2002 the addition to the firehouse was completed with the bays being available for use and the upstairs to be completed in the 2003 budget. In 2002 we did away with the Rahway first aid squad and started paying for EMS service to the Colonia EMS for daytime coverage.

2003
In 2003 we took delivery of Ford Excursion to replace the fire company Chevy Suburban and a Ford Explorer to replace the Fire Bureau Chevy Suburban. We also took delivery of a Spartan/E-One pumper with a ten man cab, 2000 gpm single stage top mount pump, 750 water tank, 40 foam tank, 20” raised roof, Wilbur light tower, 15000 Onan hydra generator. We also took over possession of the squad building. We will now take over the insurance on building further helping the squad stay in business of supplying EMS service to the district. The fire house addition was completed upstairs with rooms for the commissioners, business officers, fire bureau, gym and a spare room for future use. The old commissioners room will be converted into a meeting/ training room. Also a large generator was added to building outside to run firehouse in case of black outs, replacing the small generator that was inside the building and just ran the radio system and some lighting.

2004
The Woodbridge Township Haz-Mat Team was disbanded in October due to lack of calls due to the non-support from township companies. The team was in service for eighteen years responding to the eight fire districts and Carteret. The only district it did not service was district#1 because the career firefighters in district #1 were in same union as county haz-mat team.

History Comprised from Raymond Hughes Jr.