Firefighting began in our community when the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company Limited formed the Grand Falls Fire Brigade in 1909 with J. H. Gately as fire chief. In those days, instead of a firetruck there was a fire cart which was handled by eight men. Four firemen pulled the cart, and four firemen held the ropes from the back when going down the hills. Fire boxes were installed around town. Whenever a fire occurred, the mill whistle would blow. The fire boxes were numbered and, for example, when the whistle would blow three long and two short the number would be thirty-two. The firemen would then know that the fire was in the vicinity of fire box number thirty-two. The mill whistle only blows now when there's a fire in the mill. However, this year it blows every day at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. because this year is our town's 100th birthday.
The first fire hall was located on Mill Road and then it was on Lincoln Road. Also, before the towns of Grand Falls and Windsor amalgamated in 1991, Windsor had its own fire department located on Bond Street. Currently, the Grand Falls-Windsor Fire Department is located right on the corner of Bailey Street and Harris Avenue. This Grand Falls-Windsor Fire Department was opened in October 1993. It is open 24 hours a day to make sure that everyone can get help in case there is a fire. The fire department has five people who work there all the time, and three people who work there part time, and forty-five really good people who volunteer their time. The present fire chief is Vince MacKenzie. Mr. MacKenzie and other firefighters visit our school often to conduct fire drills, and to teach us about fire safety.
People phone the fire department if there is an emergency like a fire. The person who answers the phone tells the other firefighters. Then they get dressed in their firefighting clothes and get on the fire trucks and race to the emergency. The
firefighters hook up their hoses to the fire hydrants and put out the fire.
We are lucky to have a fire department who responds so quickly located right in the middle of our town. It makes me feel safe.
Alaina Caravan(2004-2005)