OUR BEGINNINGS and HISTORY
THE VERY EARLY DAYS - 1960'S AND 70'S
In the 1960s, fire and emergency response in Chester Basin was initially provided by trucks and equipment on loan from the Department of Civil Defense. In the 1970s, we contracted response services from other departments, including Western Shore and Chester. However, we recognized the need to improve our overall services to the local community.
In 1981, we began gathering volunteers and initiated training programs to form a new response team. Together, we worked diligently to establish our own department to better serve our growing community.
PHASE II: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHESTER BASIN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT 1982
After a lot of hard work, we held an election to raise our community fire tax and formed the The Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department on June 1,1982.
There were 27 original charter members of the Department. These dedicated volunteers were Dean Fitch, Chris Mader, Bill Falkenham, Richard Eldridge, Len Stevens, Peter Fitch, Jim Eisnor, Garnet Rafuse, Don Rafuse, Craig Rafuse, Vaughn Russell, Art Backman, Cliff McKinnon, Bill Morrow, Mervin Webber, Art Stevens, Russell Walker, Richard Countway, R. David Stevens, Gordon DeLong, Carl Clinton, Roy Zwicker, John Hatt Sr., Randy Hatt, Gib Russell, Tom Hatt and Robert Hat.
We purchased our first tanker in 1982 for the grand sum of $10,000 from Nictaux. The new truck was used for much of the required training of the department's original members.
We also purchased an emergency response van in the same year and featured it in the Heritage Day Parade of August 1982.
Now we had a basic apparatus fleet but needed a base from which to operate. We did not wait very long to start planning for a new facility.
PHASE III: THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRE STATION
We ran out of space quickly and in 1984 we began construction of our present day fire station.
MAJOR EMERGENCIES OVER THE YEARS
Our first significant response came in 1983 with a major fire at the Petro Canada Service Station. In the 1990s, we responded to large fires at Corkum's Bucket Factory, Robert Hatt's Mill, and the Swissair 111 disaster in 1998. Later, in the early 2000s, we managed a large fire at the Wayne Millett log mill. More recently, the most significant event in our district was the Chester Grant forest fire in 2020.
Since our founding, we have also played a major role in numerous mutual aid events across Chester Municipality and beyond, including responses in Kings, Hants, and Shelburne Counties. Our dedicated volunteer crews have worked tirelessly to control these challenging incidents.
As the community has grown and its needs have evolved, the Chester Basin Fire Department has continually upgraded its equipment and incorporated new technologies to better address emerging risks.
FAST-FORWARD TO TODAY
Today, our fire station operates four fire apparatuses, including two engine trucks, one tanker, and one heavy rescue truck. Over the years, we have maintained a commitment to ensuring that our "first-out" vehicle is always less than 15 years old, meeting NFPA standards. This has been made possible through sound financial planning by the Fire Protection Commission.
We continually upgrade our equipment, including extrication tools, SCBAs, and other vital gear used during incidents such as fires, motor vehicle collisions, and medical emergencies, ensuring we are always ready to serve our community effectively.
