Yisroel R.

The Piermont Fire Department is celebrating 175 years of service, marking a long history that dates back to the early days of the New York and Erie Railroad.

The first organized fire company in Piermont was formed around 1832 by employees of the New York and Erie Railroad, as railroad shops were being built in the area. The railroad organized its own fire department to protect its property, while local residents soon saw the need for a fire company to serve the village.

By 1851, the Village of Piermont had purchased fire equipment and began organizing a local fire company. Benjamin P. Westervelt served as the first foreman, or fire chief.

Piermont’s first piece of apparatus was purchased on October 25, 1851, for $630.10. The village’s first firehouse was built in 1853 at a cost of $700. In 1868, the village purchased two additional fire engines from the City of Albany, which took three months to be delivered and cost $1,704.08. One of the department’s oldest fire engines is on display today at the New York City Fire Museum.

Over the years, the department continued to grow and modernize, adding new fire engines, steam equipment, motorized apparatus, rescue vehicles, and other emergency equipment. The department also faced difficult moments, including a 1949 accident in Oradell, New Jersey, when a fire truck was wrecked on slippery pavement while returning from a parade, injuring 14 firefighters.

One of the most unique chapters in the department’s history came in 1956, when the Piermont Fire Department Underwater Rescue Team was formed following tragic drownings in the area. The team expanded the department’s role beyond fire response and added an important rescue service for the riverfront community.

As the department marks 175 years, its history reflects generations of volunteer firefighters, community support, and service to the Village of Piermont.