The Whiting Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was incorporated in 1937 and served as the sole fire company in Manchester Township until 1955. The department’s first fire engine was originally housed in the garage of Allegrinia's Bar, located at the end of Lakewood Avenue.
The company’s first dedicated fire station was constructed on Central Avenue, between Manchester Boulevard and Cherry Street. This station accommodated the department’s first new fire truck, a 1947 Ward LaFrance. The building itself was a simple two-bay garage with no additional rooms, requiring the fire trucks to be pulled out for any other use of the space. Heat was provided by a wood-burning stove located at the rear of one bay.
To alert firefighters to an emergency, a large metal ring was struck with a sledgehammer, serving as the department’s first alarm system.
The Ladies Auxiliary held fundraisers, including dinners and other events, at the Town Hall located at the corner of Lacey Road and Manchester Boulevard. Today, a cell phone tower stands on the Central Avenue site, which remains owned by the fire company. The revenue generated from the tower continues to support the department.
In 1957, the fire company purchased property at Lacey Road and Cherry Street, where members constructed the original three-bay garage, complete with a meeting room and kitchen. This new facility allowed the department to host fundraisers in its own building and expand its equipment inventory.
At that time, fires were reported by calling one of three designated firefighters who lived near the station. These individuals would then go to the firehouse and activate the siren to alert members of an emergency.
In 1960, the department acquired a GMC Pumper Tanker, which was one of the largest fire trucks on the East Coast at the time.
In the 1970s, the fire company acquired additional adjoining property, allowing for further expansion. In 1976, a new bay was added, along with a drive-through that incorporated both the new bay and the existing kitchen. This expansion also included the construction of our current hall, kitchen, upstairs administrative offices, and members' meeting room.
The addition also enabled the department to launch a weekly bingo fundraiser, which generated enough revenue to fully pay off the mortgage on the building within four years.
As the department’s needs evolved, new equipment was acquired. In 1990, we added three new apparatus to our fleet: a pumper tanker with a 2,500-gallon water capacity, a brush truck, and a heavy extrication truck. That same year, our Pumper Tanker Truck #3341 was entered into the Annual Fireman’s Convention Parade, where it consistently won top trophies year after year.
In 1995, the department introduced another award-winning pumper, designated 3311. In 2002, we further upgraded our fleet by replacing the heavy extrication truck, ensuring our continued ability to serve the community with the most effective firefighting and rescue equipment.
In 2002 we also built a separate new building to house our fire trucks, this building has three drive thru bays, and will hold six trucks. In this new building we also added a cascade System, which will fill our self contained breathing apparatus in house. As the community grows and so does the department the need for additional equipment, and training is always there. In 2009 our ladies Aux. restarted the weekly bingo which is held every Wednesday night to try to help to defray the growing cost of daily operations .
The year 2010 brought a new piece of apparatus: Tanker 3318, a 4,000-gallon water supply unit built by Rosenbauer, replacing Pumper Tanker 3341. This unit remains an essential part of our fleet, providing water supply in both our response area and surrounding communities where hydrants are not available.
As our community grew, so did the need for specialized equipment and training. In 2015, the demand for a department dive team became evident. Several members completed the necessary training, forming a team that continues to expand. Since its inception, the dive team has been activated multiple times throughout the year, responding to water rescue emergencies. In 2016, our water rescue division further expanded with the creation of an ice and surface water rescue team, ensuring year-round readiness for water-related incidents.
In 2019, we received Engine 3301, a Sutphen 2,000 GPM pumper with a 1,000-gallon tank, replacing our 1982 Mack.
Today, our company primarily operates with the following front-line apparatus:
Engine 3301 – Primary engine
Tanker 3318 – Water supply unit
Rescue 3303 – Specialized rescue response
Brush 3339 & Brush 3319 – Wildland and brush fire response
Engine 3311 – Backup engine
Special Response Unit 3317 & Marine 3316 – Water rescue operations
Utility Units 3337 & 3327 – Fire police and special response calls, including water-related emergencies
Today, we remain 100% volunteer, providing 24/7 fire protection and rescue services to our primary response area and surrounding communities. We have truly become a “jack of all trades” emergency service, prepared for any challenge that comes our way.