Galloway Township (NJ) Volunteer Fire Department (GTFD)

About Us:

Germania Volunteer Fire Company (Station 26-2):

The Germania Volunteer Fire Company was established in 1926. It is one of five companies that comprise the Galloway Township Fire Department.

The company is 100% volunteer, non-profit, and is on call 24/7/365. Our members are ALL NONPAID PROFESSIONALS and certified by the State of New Jersey. We do not receive any money for the many hours of serving you.

A short history...

On May 28, 1926 a meeting was held by the citizens of Galloway Township to organize a volunteer fire company.  This historic gathering was held at Liederkranz Hall.  The attendees made a motion and carried to form the organization as the Germania Fire Company No. 2 of Galloway Township.

On June 3 of the same year, it was decided to begin the meetings at 8:00pm, a tradition that was held for over 80 years.  With most firemen being area farmers, this start time was needed so the work could be done and a meal could be shared with their families before the meeting.   A motion was made to have these meetings on the first and third Wednesday of each month.  The fireman then carried a motion to create a Ladies' Auxiliary with the help of their wives and sweethearts.  At the third meeting, the name volunteer was added to the name and on June 21, 1926, the Germania Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 of Galloway Township was incorporated.  In October the firemen changed the meetings to the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, the same days the firemen still meet today.

Germania is the second fire company in Galloway Township.  It was started with the help of Egg Harbor City Chief Henry Breder.  Until the fire company was organized, EHC FD answered fire calls in most of the township.

During the first few meetings, approximately 70 men became members.  The first members included Assistant Chief George Hanselman, Jr., Captain John Dreyer, and President Arthur Rann.  On July 21, 1926, the first piece of apparatus was purchased, a REO Chemical Truck with a 6-cylinder engine.  The cost was $3,350.  Dedication of the firehouse was held on May 28, 1927.  The building was originally a 30 x 40 two story building, started in October 1926.  It was enlarged, in 1931, to twice its size.  The original part of the building is still standing today and is used in daily operations, housing the Brush & Utility trucks, gear lockers, bathrooms, kitchens, & chief's office.  The second floor is a banquet hall where the Semi-Annual Turkey Dinner is held.

The fire company began holding dinners in 1926 as a fundraiser.  It began as a chicken dinner, but with a growing demand, the company changed over to turkey to have more meat with the same amount of birds to cook.  Today, the Germania Volunteer Fire Company still holds the semi-annual fundraiser.  With the number of dinners served between 1400-1500 in each May and October, it is South Jersey's most popular firehouse dinner.

In 1931, the second fire apparatus was purchased from Buffalo Fire Apparatus in Buffalo, NY.  The Buffalo has a 400 gallon tank with a 500 gpm rotary pump.  This apparatus was in service for the Volunteers of Germania for over 30 years.  It saw many large fires, including the Union General Store fire.  It was sold to Post Marine of Mays Landing, NJ in the late 60's.  It returned in 1979 when the fire company traded the 1951 International for the Buffalo in 1979.  The original and first Germania fire truck has been fully restored.  In the past twenty years, the truck has won numerous awards in competition and parades.  It has also been used to honor our fallen members to bring them to their final resting place.

In 1937, a 1935 International Truck Chassis was purchased from Alfred Heuman to replace the REO Chemical truck.  Parts of the chemical truck were used in building what was known as "The Peanut".  It was completely fabricated by the firemen, led by firefighter John Parker, and used in service for three decades.  The Peanut was kept until it was sold to a local farmer in 2004.  It was returned to the fire company in 2008.

A 1951 International Pumper was added to the fleet to update the fire protection that the Germania Fire Company.  At this time, the Buffalo, Peanut, and '51 International were housed in the original building.  This truck was involved in the only known fire company apparatus accident while responding to a woods fire in Elwood, NJ.  The White Horse Pike was closed, but a civilian went through the barriers and was struck because of the limited visibility caused by the smoke.  In June of 1979, this pumper was traded to Post Marine in Mays Landing in exchange for the 1931 Buffalo that was sold to them in the 1960's.

The next purchase was a 1963 Duce and a half style 1500 gallon forest fire truck.  The tank was situated on a World War II truck used by the United States.  It received the name "Army Truck" because of its history before coming to the Germania fire house.  It was outfitted with brush guards and forestry equipment to combat the growing number of woods fires in the Galloway area during the mid century.  It was placed out of service following the purchase of Tanker 26-29 in 1990.

In May of 1967, the members decided that more space was needed.  A 16 x 70 foot addition was added to the north side of the firehouse, which added two apparatus bays, bringing the total to four.

Also in 1967, an International Brush truck was purchased.  It was built with a PTO pump, booster lines, and a 500 gallon tank.  The 1967 Brush truck was re-fabricated in the early 90s and is still in service today, providing the New Jersey Fire Service with one of the largest Brush Truck in South Jersey.  It also happens to be the oldest active piece in Galloway Township.

The company then purchased a 1978 Ford 1000 Gallon pumper.  Engine 26-23 had a two man cab, as most firemen would drive directly to the scene with their gear in their pickup trucks.  This truck was in service with the Germania Volunteer Fire Company until 2002, when it was sold to a company in rural Alabama, where it is still in service today.

In May of 1981, it was decided that another addition be put on the south side of the building.  This addition was 30 x 70 and added two engine bays and a meeting room.  This was the last addition to date and the present building is now 75 x 70 and has six apparatus bays.

In 1985, the company received a 1000 gallon E-One Ford pumper.  It was the first fire truck purchased by Galloway Township.  The engine had a PTO pump and booster reels for fighting grass and brush fires.  With 1000 gallons of water and a 1250gpm pump, it became one of the better pumpers in the area.  Engine 26-24 was used as the first out piece from 1984-1995, and as the second pumper from 1995-2007.  It was sold in May 2008.

A 1990 International Tanker was purchased by the Township for use by the Germania Fire Company.  Tanker 26-29 was fabricated by S&S manufacturing and has a 3000 gallon stainless steel tank.  It also has a 3000 gallon folding tank for water shuttle operations.  It is a member of the Atlantic County Tanker Task Force.

In 1995, Germania purchased its first closed cab pumper with financial assistance from the Township.  Engine 26-25 is a 1000 Gallon E-One that was used as the first due engine from 1995-2007.  It is a member of the Atlantic County Large Diameter Hose Task Force.

In 2004, a need was established that the equipment on the trucks was becoming overbearing.  A motion was made to look into a Utility truck to take on this burden.  Early in 2005, Rescue One delivered a 2004 Ford F-550 with a custom box.  It has a Nighthawk Scene Light, along with numerous spare SCBA bottles and firefighter rehab equipment.

In August 2007, the fire company received its newest piece.  Engine 26-26 was purchased from KME Manufacturing for roughly a half million dollars.  It comfortably seats six firefighters with 1000 gallons of water, 1500 gpm two stage pump, five preconnected hose lines, including a bumper line and a 2 ½ Blitzfire line off the back.  It also has a booster reel for grass and tanbark fires.

Also in 2007, under the direction of Lifetime Member Ernie Miller, the dream of a four bay addition was put into writing.  With the growing size of apparatus, larger engine bays are needed.  The current plan would create the space needed for future fire engine purchases.

As of 2001, the record books have shown 208 members, including 46 Life Members, with 25 years of active service.

Today, the fire company has 50 active members and a ladies auxiliary of 15 members.  We cover approximately 36 square miles of Galloway Townships 96 square miles.  In this area, we serve and protect over 900 residential and commercial properties in the Western portion of Galloway Township.

Photos from the past...