[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 35 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE RIVERDALE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Riverdale 
Volunteer Fire Department in the borough of Riverdale, Morris County, 
New Jersey, a vibrant community I am proud to represent. On February 
25, 2007, the good citizens of Riverdale will celebrate the Fire 
Department's 100th anniversary.
  The Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department officially began as the 
Pompton Volunteer Fire Department on February 25, 1907. Twenty-three 
men from the village of Pompton, New Jersey, and vicinity met at Post's 
Mercantile Shop on the Hamburg-Paterson Turnpike on January 2, 1907, to 
begin organizing a local fire department. By the end of February, 
officers had been elected and the name Pompton Fire Department had been 
selected.
  The Apparatus Committee first purchased three dozen pails and painted 
them red. Later in 1907, the department approved ``no more than $10'' 
to build a two-wheeled truck to carry ladders. Located on the Hamburg-
Paterson Turnpike, the first firehouse was on land now occupied by the 
Hale-DuBow Agency building. The village of Pompton became the borough 
of Riverdale in 1923, but the fire department retained its original 
name until 1958, when it was changed to the Riverdale Volunteer Fire 
Department. In the early 1960's the department united with most other 
borough organizations and moved to the town municipal building. The 
fire department moved to Post Lane in 1980 and has remained at that 
site.
  The borough of Riverdale joined with nine other Morris County towns 
in September 1993 to form the Northeastern Morris Mutual Aid 
Association, NEMMA. NEMMA meets monthly to discuss firematic issues, 
trade information, and conduct training sessions. Every year one of the 
towns hosts a large-scale simulated disaster drill.
  The borough of Riverdale has grown over the years and since 2000 has 
seen new multistory condominiums, senior housing, and the completion of 
a large retail complex, all of which has strained the volunteer fire 
department. In addition to building and vehicle fires, the firefighters 
respond to medivac landings, flood evacuations, motor vehicle 
extrications, and hazmat incidents. Town government and citizen support 
has enabled the fire department to make necessary equipment purchases, 
complete additions and renovations to the firehouse, and development a 
length of service program to help recruit and retain members. For the 
first time in decades, membership is over 30 firefighters.
  Madam Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating the borough of Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department and 
all its firefighters, past and present, on the 100th anniversary of 
protecting one of New Jersey's finest municipalities.

                          ____________________