June 22, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 11 When the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department was established on Nov. 23, 1911 under the leadership of Fire Chief W. Scott, state-of-the-art fire equipment consisted of a hand-drawn wagon. Times have changed. In the 1920s, the borough bought a 1924 A look back in time Brockway pumper truck and a Model A Ford pumper. However, it was the acquisition of the 1937 Ahrens-Fox pumper ladder truck that led to the enlargement of the firehouse, which was then located along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook next to the old borough hall on Franklin Turnpike. The Ahrens-Fox was unique at the time, as it had its own water tank, fire hose, and ladders, and could pump water. Although it is obsolete, having answered its last call 47 years ago, the vehicle has been rebuilt and remains a featured attraction at local parades. The department continued to upgrade its fleet over the ensuing decades, and the ever-increasing size of the modern firefighting vehicles eventually led to the move into the current firehouse on Sheridan Avenue. That firehouse opened in 1962. The borough adopted a fire prevention code in the mid-1950s, and the department has conducted regular safety demonstrations since that time. In 2004, the department received a grant from the State of New Jersey, which was dedicated to the purchase of a fire safety trailer. The trailer is used to teach home evacuation techniques to local residents as part of National Fire Prevention Week each October. In 1972, five interested residents established the Junior Firemen’s Auxiliary. The organization, now known as the Ho-Ho- First motorized fire truck, 1912 Kus Junior Firefighters Auxiliary, welcomes members who are 16 and 17 years of age. The auxiliary allows the department to train prospective new members, who are eligible to become “regular” department members at age 18. The Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Department has always been staffed by volunteers. Today, the department’s members undergo training at the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah. The 150-hour training process includes time spent in the classroom and hands-on exercises. The program includes fire fighting methods and search and rescue techniques. Several Ho-Ho-Kus firefighters have also completed the institute’s course that highlights decision-making and leadership in emergency situations, and the advanced course that covers topics such as construction principles and vehicular fires. Annual training exercises allow firefighters to keep their skills updated as they practice firefighting techniques in controlled conditions. The Ladies Auxiliary, which was organized in 2001, includes a host of dedicated volunteers who serve food and refreshments to the firefighters during fires and to visitors to the annual safety Open House in the fall. The group also sponsors fundraisers, including the Beefsteak Dinner, which has become an annual affair. Over the past 100 years, about 250 HoHo-Kus residents have served as borough firefighters. As the department celebrates its centennial, its officers include Chief Christopher Raimondi, Assistant Chief Mark Zatorski, Captain Matthew Menzel, First Lieutenant Edmund Iannelli, Second Lieutenant Brian Dench, President Waldemar Kuenzel, Vice President Christopher Joy Sr., Secretary Walter Peterson, and Treasurer Richard Keely. J. CRUSCO