History

A community meeting was held on Monday April 27th 1942 in the Johnson Union Church for the purpose of organizing a Fire Department, the Rutgers Engine Company #1. On that day a company was organized as a Volunteer Fire Company and chartered on August 28th of that year. Contracts were then awarded for the Town on Minisink and Greenville and in 1947 for the Town of Wawayanda.

On May 4th 1942 the members approved the purchase of its first fire truck and equipment from the Port Jervis Fire Company at the cost of three hundred and twelve dollars.  Thorkild Hansen of Johnson furnishes the money for the purchase. A Financial Soliciting committee was formed to raise monies to repay Mr. Hansen. In 1952 members were appointed to meet with the Minisink Town Board to propose the purchase of a new Fire truck for the company. This was approved and on May 17th 1954 the Rutgers Engine Company received a 1953 Ward La France Truck with a 500 gallon Booster tank and a 500 gallon pump. This Truck is still with the company today.