A group of men, devoted leaders in their respected communities, with an insight of a needed organization, informed fellow volunteer members of issues relative to the fire service and social interaction during a developing time of the early 1900s.
A strong connection between states by railroad — the old Erie Railroad line — served as the means by which these founders and membership would grow, servicing the organization well from meeting to meeting for many years as a connecting branch.
Organizational records show the association was informally started in 1913 as talks between a small group of community servants from both New Jersey and New York discussed formation, and on March 27, 1914 a permanent association was formed with roots in the counties of Bergen (NJ) and Rockland (NY).
This group of visionaries met at the home of the Volunteer Fire Department in Park Ridge, New Jersey, where plans and ideas for the organization were discussed and documented, with strong fundamentals forming a sound foundation. The original membership at the first meeting was Park Ridge, Westwood, Hillsdale, Spring Valley, and Pearl River. The purpose of this first meeting was to form a leadership group and recruit all volunteer fire companies along the New Jersey and New York Railroad, from North Hackensack, New Jersey to Spring Valley, New York.
During the past century of service to its membership, the organization has sponsored many progressive fire service related ideas, such as the formation of each county's fire academies, each known as among the best facilities to offer.
- The first convention and parade, held by Spring Valley Hook & Ladder Company, Spring Valley, New York — July 25, 1914.
- The first Firemen's Day contest at the Bergen County Fair — September 18, 1915.
- The formation of the Ladies Auxiliary of the NJ & NY Volunteer Firemen's Association — April 6, 1925.
- The publishing of the fire service newsletter, the "Signal," since the early 1960s.
- The awarding of student scholarships for the continuation of members' education.
- A gift card program for residents of our counties displaced by fire, to help them get a new start.
The publishing of the "Signal," the organization's newsletter, has provided a sharing of ideas, the gathering of issues, and the developing of solutions that affect the fire service.
Today the New Jersey and New York Volunteer Firemen's Association prospers with the latest fire service informational gathering to influence the future.
The Centennial Celebration honored our original membership with the Convention on June 7th in Spring Valley, New York, and a Parade connecting Pearl River, New York with Montvale, New Jersey on June 8th, 2013.
For the Centennial Celebration we wished all the associated fire companies, officers, members, delegates, and guests an enjoyable time — as in the past galas, dances, carnivals, parades, field day competitions, and conventions — to enjoy with the continued brotherhood and friendship of these two states and counties, that we reach across to strengthen the volunteer fire service through mutual association of these gatherings.