History

In the spring of 1878 a fire completely destroyed a Barber Shop on South Road (now South Main Street) opposite Sparrow Park. This fire led to a meeting of some of the young men in town and as a result the Sayville Hook & Ladder Company was formed. Their first truck house was located on Railroad Ave, the building still stands today as a private home immediately south of the Island Fish Net Store. Their first ladder truck was built by Fred Munkelwitz, a member, whose Blacksmith Shop was next to their building. Early Firefighting equipment consisted of ladders, pike poles, axes, and leather buckets, used to throw water on the fire. The company would offer to pay $2.00 for the first team of horses to respond to the truck house when the alarm was sounded. If a team of horses wasn't available, fireman would pull the truck to fires by hand along long rope fastened to the rig. Firemen were alerted to an alarm by a man beating on a drum running down the street.

The year 1889 found a new Fire Company formed, Sayville Hose Company. At this time water mains were being installed through the village and fire hydrants were becoming available for fire fighting. They purchased a used Hose Reel that would carry several hundred feet of hose, or as much weight as the firemen could run with. This was an improvement over buckets as a hose line could throw more water and over a longer distance than that thrown from a bucket. Unfortunately, hydrant pressure was very low at times, as low as 10 or 15 PSI, which greatly limited the range of the hose stream. Sometimes the stream wouldn't reach the second floor window, let alone the roof of a building. So many buildings were doomed as soon as a fire started. Other problems such as early wood construction, unsafe heating systems, lighting with gas or flammable liquids, such as kerosene, made buildings very prone to fire. Originally Sayville Hose was quartered in a small carriage house a few hundred feet south of Montauk Highway on the east side of Candee Ave. In 1900 they, along with the many Theater people that lived or summered in town, constructed the Opera House, one of the finest show places on the Island. The Hose Company occupied a section in the front of the building. During World War I they had a problem gaining new members and finally disbanded in 1921 with the Hook and Ladder Company taking in all remaining members.

In 1890 the Hook & Ladder Company constructed a new Truck House on Main Street on the west end of the village. It was a very impressive building ad the first fire alarm bell was hung in a tower built for that purpose.

Resolute Hose Company was formed in 1891 after the Suffolk County Fireman's Tournament was held in town. A group of young men became interested in forming a new company and the Resolute Hose was born. For many years they shared the Truck House with the Hook and Ladder Company. As before, any firefighting effort was dependent on the water pressure in the Hydrants. The Water Company promised to raise the pressure to 45 psi when there was a fire, but by the time that was accomplished the fire was too far advanced t save the building. The hose used by the two companies was covered with a cotton jacket that was heavy and bulky. If this jacket was not dried completely before being packed on the hose reels a chemical action occurred. Black rotten spots appeared on the hose looking like acid had been splashed on the hose, and rendering that length of hose useless.

Because of the competition that existed between the companies, it was felt that overall management was needed. In 1905 the companies decided to unite as one and formed the Sayville Fire Department.