The Town of Rumford was incorporated on February 21, 1800.
The Fire department was established and organized in 1895.
Equipment was acquired through the Rumford Falls Village Corporation.
The first station housed a 2 wheel hand pulled hose cart with fifty feet
of hose and had twelve members.
It was located near the Park at the end of Congress St.

In 1895 a group of local businessmen built a town hall that was known
as the Wig-Wam. The Wig-Wam housed Town meetings, church services, dances,
the Universalists fair of 1897, and other public gatherings.
The building was on Canal Street by the now CMP garage.

In 1900 the Town of Rumford purchased the Wig-Wam building to house
the Fire Department for $850.00. An additional $650.00 was raised for
additional apparatus and equipment. By 1907 the department consisted of,
70 volunteers, one Chemical engine, one hook and ladder truck, 7000 feet of
2 ˝ inch hose, six chemical extinguishers, a fire alarm system of 16 pull
boxes, and four hose carts. One hose cart was housed at central station,
and the three other were housed in other places in town; one in the Virginia
area of town, one on Waldo St., and one on the corner of Washington St. and
Maine Ave. This was the home of the Rumford Falls Fire Department until 1925.

With the acquisition of more apparatus and equipment, the Wig-Wam building became
obsolete in 1924. The last call out of the building was on March 24, 1925.
It was a three hour blaze at 415 Waldo St.

In March of 1924 the Town proposed to build a new central station at an estimated
cost of $80,000. The Town voted its approval on May 17, 1924.
Construction began in May of 1924 and it opened on March 25, 1925 at a cost of $95,000.
Its first call was on congress Street on March 25, 1925 in the Cheney Block.
It was caused by a cigar setting a curtain on fire and was contained
to the window frame area. The Estimated damage was $25.00.

The new building was located on Congress Street beside the Town Hall.
The original apparatus housed in the building were: A Ford Chemical truck,
1917 American LaFrance city service ladder truck, 1924 American LaFrance
chain drive 750 GPM engine with a 250 Gallon tank, motor driven
chemical / hose truck, horse drawn combination chemical-hose wagon, and a Chief’s car.

The new station was dubbed the “fire palace” by the Rumford Falls Times.
It boasted a modern ticker tape fire alarm system for its 45 pull boxes in town.
It also had spring operated “automatic” door openers, modern sleeping quarters,
kitchen, reception room, showers and bath. It had a modern horse stall for
its two horses (presently the department’s break room).

This building is still in use as the Rumford Central Fire Station.
It now houses a digitized fire alarm system for our 73 pull boxes in town
and 24 master boxes in MeadWestvaco Paper mill. It has 13 full time members
who work rotating shifts allowing a minimum manning of 4 members at all times
with a utility member covering vacations and other vacancies.
We have a full time Chief, 3 Deputy Chiefs, 3 Lieutenants, 7 Privates, and 35 call force members.

Our fleet use to consist of: Engine 2 which is a 1979 American LaFrance
35 foot snorkel with a 1500gpm two stage pump and a 750 gallon tank,
Engine 3 which is a 1965 International with a 1000gpm pump and a 1000
gallon tank, Engine 4 which is a 1993 International / Wilson combination
pumper-tanker with a 1250gpm pump and 2000 gallons of water, and a
1971 American LaFrance 85 foot open cab Ladder truck.
We also have a 1998 Ford F-250 utility-rescue truck and a 1996 Jeep Cherokee Chief’s car.

Rumford Center Village Improvement Association

Prior to 1920 Rumford Center had no fire protection.
At that time after a major fire it was decided to start an effort
to improve fire protection. At first a few soda and acid extinguishers were purchased.
In 1925 a Model-T Ford was purchased for $220 and converted to a chemical truck.
The truck was stationed in a makeshift garage of strapping and canvas near
what is now known as Richardson’s store.

In 1926 Merton Colby was elected fire Chief of the Rumford Center Improvement Association.
Residents were alerted to emergencies by church bells and later by a red phone system.

In 1949 The Town appropriated $1000 to acquire a 1942 GMC truck with a 800 gallon tank.
A 500 gallon pump was bought and placed on the truck. In 1950 A Quonset hut
building was obtained from Brownfield and moved to the Center by many volunteers
to be used as a fire station. The Rumford Center station was disbanded in 1984
due to modern equipment responding from Rumford Central Station.

Rumford Point Fire Association

The Rumford Point Fire Association was also organized in the min 1920’s.
The association acquired its first motorized pump, a Sterling rotary pump
driven by a four cylinder Osh Kosh engine. The pump was mounted on a four
wheel trailer which could be towed by any vehicle available.
A Hudson touring car was purchased and made to accommodate various equipment.
Due to the size and weight of the pump, a four wheel hand drawn wagon, and
a hand drawn pump was placed with this unit.

Irving Cole became Chief in 1925.
He was replaced by John Last Name Unknown in 1933.
A red phone system was used to alert volunteers of a fire.
The number was 917 R1-4. This rang into the home of John Martin.
Once answered Mr. Martin or his wife would go across the street to the
station and activated the station’s siren. This siren is still in service
at the Rumford point substation, serving the Point area since 1926.

For many years many vehicles have been used at the Point to protect its citizens.
In 1966 a triple combination international pumper with a 1000 gpm pump and a
1000 gallon tank was purchased. This truck is still in use today.
In 1978 a new two bay station was erected by department volunteers which
is still in use as our Rumford Point Sub-Station. In 1994 a Class A
International pumper-tanker made by Metal-Fab was purchased for the Point Station.
This truck boasts a 1250 gpm pump with 2500 gallons of water.

The Rumford Fire Department

In 1951 a new town charter was adopted which combined all fire companies
in Rumford under the direction of one chief. Chief Solomon Mercier
was the first Chief of the combined department.
This is the present Rumford Fire Company.