In 1842, an organization known as The Fame Fire Company of Flemington was incorporated by an act of assembly. Made up of the leading citizens of that time, there is not much information available, however, it was related to have performed meritorious service to the Village of Flemington in protecting life and property.

The persons who incorporated this charter were:

Samuel Hill

William P. Emery

Abraham Fulper

Mahlon Fisher

John Capner

Charles Miller

Tunis Sargent

Joseph Boss

Wilson Forker

Early equipment, at first, consisted of a few leather buckets manned by a bucket brigade.

Later, a hand engine of the "tub" variety known as the “Fame” was acquired.

It was a simple wooden box, on low wheels, with a hand pump on the front and the water was hand carried to the machine in buckets.

Leather hose was used, but due to the high cost, very little of it was owned.

The Fame served the citizens of Flemington until 1862, when the following citizens subscribed $4,000 and purchased a Chapman Steam Fire Engine, with a hose carriage, from Philadelphia and organized a volunteer fire company called the Hopewell Engine Company:

The Flemington Water Company

Albert G. Smith

Edward Perry

William P. Emery

George F. Crater

Alexander Wurts

Bennett Van Syckle

Anderson and Nevius

Hugh Capner

Joseph H. Higgins

The Flemington Railroad Company

John G. Hopewell

Charles Bartles

John L. Janeway

John G. Reading

Robert Thatcher

John H. Capner

Thomas G. Howard

Alexander V. Bonnell

Charles Tomlinson

Also in 1862, the above subscribers and citizens of the Village of Flemington donated monies to build a two-story Engine House, with a meeting room on the second floor.

This building was located directly behind the County Courthouse with entry onto Capner Street.

After a few years of service the Hopewell Engine Company disbanded.

For a short time after that, the Village of Flemington had a paid fire department.  Each member received two dollars for every day of actual service; including drills and cleaning.

Around 1874, the purchasers of the Champman Steam Engine donated it to the town.  At the same time the town purchased 800 feet of rubber hose with joiner couplings at a cost of $1,200.

In 1878 the company disbanded, but later that same year a volunteer company was founded calling itself the Flemington Fire Company.  This company was organized with the following 25 men:

C.D. Anderson                                  Arthur Hughes

John A. Burdock                               John B. Hunt
C.D. Burk                                       Samuel B. Hill
William H. Bellis                               Y.B. Higgins
Theodore B. Bellis                             Jacob H. Johnson
W.S. Buchanan                                James A. Kline
A.T. Connet                                   William McLeau
H.K. Case                                      John C. Pyatt
G.W. Fulper                                   L.F. Reillert
C.D. Fulper                                    F.A. Rice
George T. Gray                                John H. Stockton
Frank Gray                                     Baltus P. Stout
J.Q. Thompson

And the following officers were elected:

First President:  A.T. Connet

First Secretary:  John C. Pyatt

First Foreman:  John H. Stockton

A Constitution and By-Laws for the regulation of the Company were adopted and a committee was appointed to gain the Street Commissioners consent to have the engine and equipment turned over to the Flemington Fire Company.  Regular monthly drills were held under the direction of the new Foreman and a hose carriage committee was appointed on a monthly basis to give a full report at each meeting on the condition and availability of hose for the apparatus.

By 1881 membership has swelled to over forty-five active members.

On August 27, 1883, a large number of citzens assembled at the court house interested in the formation of a Hook and Ladder Company in Flemington.  Mr. W.A. Cotter was made temporary chariman and J.D. Farrand became temporary secretary.  Initial membership swelled to over 40 men and William F. Chamberlin headed a committee to solicit funds for the purchase of a ladder and truck house.  In September, a building committee reported that Mrs. Wurts had given her consent to the erection of a truck house on her land adjoining the engine house; upon the condition that the Company would agree to remove the building within a month's notice from her.  A one-story addition was added to the firehouse on Court Street to house the new hook and ladder truck.  Rent of one dollar per year was paid.

Election of officers took place and the following were elected:

President:  W.A. Cotter

Secretary:  John D. Ferrand

Foreman:  W.F. Chamberlin

Assistant Foreman:  J.S. Higgins

At a Hook and Ladder Company meeting held later in October of 1833, it was decided to send three delegates to the next meeting of Fire Company #1 to confer with them regarding the establishment of a regular, united Fire Department of Flemington.

A used hook and ladder truck was acquired from the Princeton Fire Department with the promise of delivery when Princeton's new truck arrived.  The hook and ladder truck arrived on October 18, 1883 and was escorted into town by Fire Comany #1 and the Flemington Band.

In April of 1884, it was decided that although Fire Company #1 and the Hook and Ladder Co. were two distinct organizations put together, the Fire Department of Flemington needed a Chief.  Joint meetings were held to conduct the business of electing a Chief and Assistant Chief.

Chief John H Stockton

1884-1886

John H Stockton of Fire Company #1 was elected Chief and J.S. Higgins of the Hook and Ladder Co was elected Assistant Chief.

July of 1884 saw the first joint drill between the two companies and was held by order of Chief Stockton.

In September 1899, the first electric fire system was installed in the Borough at the cost of $12.00 per box.

May 1917 saw the purchase of a Republic 1 1/2 ton motorized truck with an electric starting device and the Gleason Baily Hook and Ladder was mounted on it; along with two 35 gallon Champion Babcock copper chemical tanks.

In May of 1918 a new fire alarm system was installed.  The steam whistles at the Electric Light Plant, Flemington Steam Mill and the Fulper Pottery Plant were to be used and after the alarm was sounded denoting fire; the following signal code was used to transmit the location of the fire:

District 1: One blast - South Main Street (including east and west, south of

Mine Street.

District 2: Two blasts - Main Street (from Mine Street to Lehigh Valley R.R.

and Branch Street (East Main Street) to Old Gas House)

District 3: Three blasts - West of Main Street (Mine Street and north to North

Main Street)

District 4: Four blasts - East of Main Street (from Central RR to and including

Bloomfield Avenue)

District 5: Five blasts - East of Main Street (from Bloomfield Avenue to Hopewell

Avenue and including Pennsylvania Avenue)

May, 1919 all the hose couplings were changed to National Standard threads at a cost of $300.00.  In August of the same year, at the request of the state insurance inspectors, and in order to obtain a more desirable insurance classification, the Borough purchased a used American Fire Engine Company Metropolitan Model Steam Engine from the Bayonne Fire Department for $500.00 and Fire Company #1 was split into two squads.

A building and fire code ordinance was adopted by the Borough Council in September, 1921.

May 1925 an International Harvester chassis (model #63) was purchased for $3,900.00 and the 1900 Gleason-Baily Hook and Ladder mounted to it.

May 1934, a used, rebuilt 1921 American LaFrance six cylinder, 750 GPM pumper with an 80 gallon water tank was purchased from the American LaFrance Company for $4,750.00

May, 1938, a Chevrolet chassis was purchased and an emergency service truck body was installed at a toltal cost of $1,725.00

December 1946 saw the delivery of a Ward LaFrance 750 GPM pumper at a cost of $7,792.00

In September, 1950 a GMC emergency service truck with a portable pump and electric generator was delivered.

In February of 1951, the deaprtment purchased and installed the first fire band radios in Hunterdon County.  The radios were used in the trucks and a base was installed in the firehouse.

October, 1978 a two bay addition to the firehouse was completed and dedicated.