Swanton, VT 05488
802.868.7200
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Swanton Emergency Services |
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DEPARTMENT HISTORY A fire department was formed in Swanton Vermont just after the village was incorporated in 1888. Captain F. J. Hawley was the first chief engineer as the fire chief was called at the time. By 1893 the village had grown and it was necessary to have two fire departments. The Swanton Hose Company was formed to protect the east side of the river with Fred Moore as the chief. The Star Hose Company was formed and housed on the west side of the river at the Webster Lumber Company with H. H. Greff as chief engineer and James McNally as chief. These chiefs were later called foremen. There was keen rivalry and competition between the two companies. In those days the equipment had to be hauled by hand. The early hose house was made of canvas and it was located on the south east corner of First and York Streets. In the early years a "bucket brigade" was the only means to supply water to a burning structure. In 1928 a chemical cart was moved to the Webster Lumber Company, close to the building that is now Swanton Lumber Company. An electric siren was installed on the top of the Batchelder building. This replaced the use of the bell on the Methodist church. In 1929 the fire station was remodeled and a new hose trailer was purchased for the fire truck. The fire house at Swanton Lumber was rebuilt after a tornado blew it down. About 1932 Swanton decided to modernize their fire department and a new combination truck and booster pump, along with the latest fire fighting equipment was purchased. The west side station was discontinued as an independent unit. A new Pierce Arrow fire truck with a 500 gallon pump and a 100 gallon tank was purchased. Personnel was cut to twenty men, two of which were assigned to the station on the west side of the river (at the Swanton Lumber Company). The name was changed to the Swanton Village Fire Department under J. Leo Loiselle. A Ford V8 was added next as an auxiliary hose truck. The old faithful 1917 Model T Ford, which had been the department's only truck, was retired from active service. In 1937 the firemen were: C. D. Hatch, A. W. Penall, H. Cassavoy, G. Laselle, H. N. Moreau, J. Leo Loiselle, F. A. Bell, J. Leavitt, Jr., A. Moreau, W. Anderson, D. Unwin, C. Reynolds, A. Colomb, W. Cline, H. Stearns, E. Clark, S. Prouty Sr., E. Mulheron, and F. H. Brown. In 1939 a Model T Ford hose wagon with a windshield was purchased. In 1945 a new Peter Pirsch 500 gallons per minute pump with a 100 gallon tank fire truck was purchased along with a Maxim ladder truck. In 1975, the village office, the electrical department and the fire station burned. The village office and the fire station moved to Grand Ave. In 1979 the department moved to a new village complex on First St. where it now has a new and modern six bay station with an office and kitchen. In 1981 portable scanners were purchased. They would notify firemen of a fire if they were within 10 miles of the station. In 1984 radios were updated to four channel units with capabilities to transmit and receive from the Missisquoi Rescue Squad, the Highgate-Franklin, and Franklin County mutual aid groups, and the Town of Swanton. Today, in 1997, the fire department now has a class "A" 500 gallons per minute pumper/tanker with 1800 gallon capacity, a 100 foot aerial ladder truck, an equipment carrying van, and a sixteen foot emergency fire-rescue boat with a 20 hp motor. The department is continually updating its equipment and training its men in order to give the best possible fire fighting assistance to the citizens of Swanton. To insure that all emergency phone calls were answered by the fire department, eleven red phones were installed in selected firemen's homes in 1973. This system served Swanton well until 1996 when central dispatching from St. Albans City was utilized in anticipation of the upcoming 911 statewide answering system. FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL The Swanton Village Fire Department's personnel currently consists of a chief, six officers, and many devoted firemen. The Fire Department Roster as of January 15, 2005 is: Chief Peter Prouty, 1st Asst. Chief Reginald Beliveau Jr, 2nd Asst. Chief Rick King., Captain Travis Greeno, Lieutenant Randy Dame, Lieutenant Alex Bourdeau, Carl Barlow, Jon Barrette, Daniel Billado, Derek Billado, Micheal Bourdeau, Chad Bruyette, Jason Butler , Jason Corbiere, Mark Chaplin, Jason Cross, Michael Farrar, Greg Gaudette, Donald Gilbert, Timothy Girard, William Girard, David Godin, Ronald Greeno, John Greer, James Hull, Jason Jutras, Albert Kinzinger, Jason Marchand, Justin Rushlow, Brian Savage, Sean Savage, Nick Schuster, Jon Skinnerup, Robert Smith, Neal Speer, Robert Sweeney, Scott Valley, Andrew Vincent, Bruce Whalen, Nate Willey Ronald Young Jr., Ronald Young Sr.
[ return to top ] DEPARTMENT HISTORY 1888 through the 1960's police officers were called Watchmen. C.L. Ward appointed to Chief in 1898 and the officers received $12.00 a month. A cruiser was purchased in 1944, Swanton Electric used it during the day. The chief worked 8:00PM to 4:00AM and was on call at all times. In 1951 two way communication with Immigration Border Patrol was in place. For years there was a red light attached to a building on Merchant's Row to inform the officer if he had a complaint waiting. Mr. Chevalier would take calls and turn on the red light and give the officer the information. 1952, Truman Bosworth attended the State Police Adcademy at Montpelier. He was the first Village Police Officer to attend Police training. In 1955 the cruiser was painted bright red to make it easily recognized. In 1961 a cruiser was purchased for sole use by the Police Department. In 1962 a revolver was purchased for use by on duty officers and remained in the police department when no officers were on duty. In 1969 a second full time officer was hired. In 1977 the Police Dept. consisted of three full time and two part time officers. In 1998 a fourth full time officer was appointed to the Police Department.
[ return to top ] MISSION STATEMENT Missisquoi Valley Rescue, Inc., (the corporation) is established to provide 24 hour emergency ambulance, search and rescue, emergency patient transfer, vehicle extraction, cold water rescue, and related services within the towns of Highgate and Swanton, Vermont, and outside such towns when requested by responsible authorities. MVR will provide public education in accident prevention, CPR, and emergency first-aid. The corporation is organized exclusively for charity and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Revenue Law).
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