Historical Society Presents 'The Evolution of Madison Fire Apparatus'

By David Luber

The speaker at the Madison Historical Society’s Tuesday, October 20 general meeting will be Madison Fire Department Chief, Louie E. DeRosa III, who will describe “The Evolution of Madison’s Fire Apparatus from 1881 to the Present.” Chief DeRosa’s presentation will take place at 7:15 PM in the second floor training room (Room 207A) of the Madison Public Safety Building, located on the corner of Prospect St. and Kings Rd.

Free evening parking is available at the borough parking lot adjacent to the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps building on Prospect Street and the commuter parking lot located behind the Public Safety Building (entrance is off of Kings Road). Refreshments will be available beginning at 7 p.m. The presentation is open to the public and there is no admission charge.

“We have chosen to hold the meeting at the Public Safety Building rather than in our regular venue, the Chase Room of the Madison Public Library,” stated Society Vice President and Programs Chairman Jim Malcolm. “This way members and guests can tour the Public Safety Building prior to the meeting and view the department’s operational equipment and its extensive collection of historical photographs, memorabilia, and equipment, including ‘Geraldine,’ the 1921 Ahrens-Fox model P-4 fire engine, originally presented to the borough on May 4, 1921 by Madison benefactor, Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge. We encourage everyone to come early so they will have enough time to see everything.”

Geraldine was permanently returned to Madison and the department in 2013 thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Geraldine, a grant from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund, and many generous contributions from local residents, businesses, and volunteer organizations.

Malcolm continued, “Chief DeRosa’s presentation will cover a lot of history. The Madison Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 was originally incorporated on May 23, 1881 ‘for the purpose of protecting life and property from fire,’ following a series of disastrous fires in the 1870’s. The first horse-drawn hose cart was purchased by the company the following April. One hundred thirty-three years later, the professional staff of the Madison Fire Department, now consisting of Career and Volunteer personnel, is still going strong protecting the lives and property of Madison’s residents and businesses.”

Louie E. DeRosa III joined the Madison Fire department as a volunteer fireman in 1977. In 1983 he was hired as a career firefighter and was promoted to captain in 1992. In 2010 he was named Madison’s Fire Chief. He was a member of the New Jersey Task Force one (NJ-TF1) from 2000-2013 as Search Manager. He responded with the NJ-TF1 for the first nine days following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. In his earlier career as a New Jersey electrical contractor, he served as a licensed New Jersey Fire Inspector, Fire Subcode Official, and Electrical Inspector. He currently serves as President of the Morris county Active Fire Chiefs Alliance.