Vernon honors Highland Lakes Fire Department

VERNON — In 1963, the Highland Lakes Fire Department was operating out of a shed.

Now, 50 years later it operates out of its own firehouse containing two engines, one tanker and a rescue truck, and the Vernon Township Council issued a proclamation recognizing the department's 50 years of service at Monday's Township Council meeting. The council also issued a proclamation honoring the Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

After Council President Patrick Rizzuto read the proclamation, Fire Chief Scott Semechesyn thanked the council, mayor, residents of Vernon and the founding members of the department for their support.

"The fire department was started by 20 farsighted residences of Highland Lakes area who realized there was a need for a fire department on the Mountain," said Councilman Brian Lynch, a member and former chief of the department. "There were more than 1,500 homes and it took more than a half-hour for fire vehicles to arrive at an incident."

The department started in a shed owned by Seckler and Shepherd Inc., and built its own fire house on Canistear Road on land donated by Seckler and Shepherd. The department moved into the building in 1966.

It purchased its first pumper in November 1964 and a few months later, it purchased a 1,000-gallon tanker from Hardyston. Now, the department has two Class A pumpers, carrying 1,000 gallons of water, a 2,500-gallon tanker and a rescue boat.

"Since there are no hydrants in our coverage area, it is necessary for our equipment to arrive with enough water to fight fires," Lynch said. "And because of our number of lakes, e have become a water-and-ice rescue source in the community.”

The council also honored the ladies' auxiliary, which also started in austere circumstances, holding its first meetings in the basement of Irene Whitehead's home. Over time, the auxiliary has held bake sales in front of the Highland General Store, sold wreaths during the holiday season among other fundraisers. The auxiliary outfitted the kitchen to allow for additional fundraising when the Fire Department secured a fire house. They also provided refreshments and other necessities at fire scenes for the fire department.

"We started as a small group," said auxiliary president Irene Boeren, who has been a member of the group for 15 years. "We had a mission and we wanted to help the fire department in any way we could. Sometimes they had to put an X on the spot to make sure we stayed there, but we were always willing to go whenever a fire was called. I want to thank the fire department for putting up with us."

Lynch said he was proud to serve with the department's 35 members.

There are a lot of beautiful homes and houses in Vernon area," Lynch said. "Some are architecturally magnificent. But I think the most magnificent house in the town is the fire house. Not because of any architectural planning or any paint color that was put on the building, which has become some source of conversation amongst our residents in Highland Lakes. It's not because of any materialistic things. It's because of the people in it. Just like every house that's beautiful on the inside that exudes it on the outside, nothing but good comes from the fire house."