History in Review

"Stub" Allen, Roy Walker, John W. Kennedy, Clarence Arnold, D.D. Davis, Mark Jolly, Ernest Gledhill, Arthur Hughes, E. Charles Smith,

James McNeill, Charles F. Adams, Max Rosenbloom, J.R. Griswold, Guy Wagner, Warren Billings, Walter Louck, Seymour H. Elliott, Robert Ormsby, fred Hill, Harry Towner, fred Overhiser, Clark thomas, and Deyo W. Putnam

Fire Department History

The Avoca Fire Department was established July 13, 1889 as the George Shults Fire Company, with an initial membership of twenty four (24) members. The department established a non-profit corporation in June 1896, Avoca Hose.

It was not until 1927 that the department purchased the Sanford Pumper. The Sanford was the departments first motorized vehicle for response to calls, replacing hand drawn equipment. The Sanford is still running. It is stored at Haine's Equipment and occasionally will appear in local parades.

The Avoca Fire Hall was built by the Village of Avoca in 1962. The Mayor at this time as Spence Thomas Mayor, and the presiding Chief was Al Hubbard. The building was constructed by Harold Sager and Richard Stedman.

Currently the department equipment consist of 2 pumpers, 1 rescue truck, 1 tanker, a large military surplus generator,One ambulance, brush/grass fire truck and a membership of fifty (50).

Avoca Hook and Ladderettes

The Avoca Hook and Ladderettes is an auxiliary to the Avoca Fire Department, formed originally in 1962 with sixteen (16) members'

The Avoca Hook and Ladderettes support the fire department through dinners at the fire hall, car washes, raffles and dinners held during the auctions at the fire hall.

The profits from the fund raising events held by the Avoca Hook and Ladderettes goes to support the fire department towards the purchase of new equipment. Over the years, there donations have purchased radios, a portable tank, equipment for the kitchen, a stove and a refrigerator.

Ambulance Corp History

The Ambulance Corp was started on January 1, 1967 by the Avoca Fire Department with twelve (12) members. The initial equipment for the Ambulance Corp was a Ford Fairlane station wagon. In 1970, the Corp added a Cadillac Ambulance to the fleet, purchased for $6,500.

Today, we have membership of twenty five. The membership consist of individuals who are state certified Emergency Medical Technicians, Drivers and attendants.