Madison firefighters celebrate 100th anniversary

by News Channel 8's Kent Pierce
Posted Aug. 3, 2007
6:20 PM

(Madison-WTNH) _ A shoreline fire department is celebrating a milestone this weekend.

Madison Hose Company #1 has been fighting fires for 100 years.

"The house burned down, the town realized the need for a fire department," says Chief Robert Gerard of Madison Hose Company #1.

Madison formed one on September 23rd, 1907. "Original hose cart and original charter members before they even had uniforms, set up in front of the original firehouse," says Chief Gerard talking about a picture shown to News Channel 8.

As they come up on their 100th anniversary, Chief Gerard has become an expert in Madison Firefighting history. He's even put together a book he's trying to get published.

Gerard knows everything from the first hose cart to the Model-T they bought to pull the hose cart. "The members would come down in the early days. I believe it was a bell that would ring when there was a fire," Gerard says.

There have been different fire trucks, fire houses and different firefighters but many of the same last names. "There's several people who are second, third, fourth and fifth generation firemen in this department, yes, " says Gerard.

"My father was a member and I kind of grew up down here," says Sam Deburra of Madison Hose Company No. 1.

Deburra is in charge of Saturday's parade celebrating the anniversary. fire departments from all over the state will march and be judged in dozens of categories.

"It's really nice to see the competitive spirit of all the companies when they come down here to show their apparatus, and the pride that they show," says Deburra

It's nothing compared to the pride of an all volunteer fire company that's been saving lives for 100 years.

"I don't know if you can say it's in the blood," says Deburra. "I just enjoy it and my sons are in it. I've got two sons who are members, and it's a lot of that family stuff and the tradition carries on."

The huge parade will march through Madison on Saturday afternoon and News Channel 8's Ann Nyberg is Grand Marshal.