MATTYDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT INC.  

The Mattydale Volunteer Fire Department was organized June 10, 1929 as a fire district, within a short time, two other neighboring districts were combined to form the current Consolidated Fire District No. 2. Incorporation papers were obtained on August 4, 1930 and the Mattydale Volunteer Fire Department Inc. was established.

Frank Mattys barn located two miles north of Crouse Hinds factory on route #11 housed one fire truck to fight fires in Mattydale. It was a Model "T" Ford with(2) 30 gallon Soda & Acid tanks. A limited amount of 2½" hose was carried because the hydrants in those days were few and far between.

The department numbered (30) men including the first fire chief, Fred Root.

In 1932 a 1913 Mack truck was purchased for $500.00 to improve and strengthen the fire fighting capabilities of the Mattydale Fire Dept. In 1939 a new (500 GPM) pumper was purchased from the Buffalo Fire Apparatus Co. to replace the Model "T" Ford. The Buffalo was painted yellow and the yellow paint was a first in Onondaga County. Another first was the idea of having 1½" pre-connected hose to be fed from either side of the apparatus. This method became known as the "Mattydale Lay" and many Fire Departments throughout the United States have adopted the method for their use.

In 1940 the Mattydale Firemen and their apparatus moved to the present location on East Molloy Road and Mitchell Ave. A modern (2) bay Fire Station and meeting room. A full time. dispatcher was then hired to answer the phone and alert firemen whenever the need arose.

His duties besides answering the fire phone included checking the apparatus and maintaining the building and grounds in a specified manner.

Within a few years, radio communications became a useful tool of the fire service. At that time the county Board of Supervisors took advantage of the full time dispatcher employed by the Mattydale Fire Commissioners and asked them if the Fire Control Center could be housed in Mattydale. A financial arrangement was reached where upon the County Fire Control Center was then housed in the Mattydale Fire Station.

After World War II, additional apparatus were purchased to replace worn out apparatus and to modermize and increase the fire fighting capabilities of the department. In 1946 we purchased a 1942 pumper which was listed as surplus government property. In 1950 a 500 GPM pumper was purchased from Young Fire Equipment Co. to replace the 1942 pumper. In 1951 an Emergency Truck was purchased. In 1954 the Buffalo pumper was replaced by a (750 GPM) Quad built by Sanford Fire Apparatus Corp.

1960 saw the arrival of another Sanford built pumper capable of pumping (1000 GPM). Mattydale purchased a larger heavy duty Rescue and First Aid vehicle in 1964 as additional protection for the district.

In 1971 a diesel driven pumper capable of delivering (1250) gallons of water per minute again built by Sanford replaced the 1950 Young Fire Truck.

1975 saw the addition of a Squad Truck to replace the 1954 vehicle used to transport men & hose to Fires and Emergencies.

In 1930 Mattydale received all calls by phone and the firemen were then alerted by siren located on the roof of the fire station. In order to improve the alarm system to summon firemen to the fire station the Fire Commissioners borrowed money in 1959 to purchase (60) alert monitors to be placed in the firemen's homes. Additional monitors have been purchased annually to replace worn out units. Mattydale at one time had more than (80) units in service which includes spares, used as replacements for units needing repairs. Mattydale was one of the first Depts. in the county to purchase alert monitors.

Presently, we no longer use a siren to alert our members, instead we are alerted through the use special apps on our cell phones, and to this day continue to use alert monitors.

The Mattydale Firemen have sponsored Little League baseball teams, girls softball teams, midget hockey and our own Drum & Bugle Corp. In addition we have an active Junior Fire Department under the supervision of Mattydale Firemen.

Mattydale Fire Department, as have other departments, suffered some large loss fires. One that was both unusual and costly in property damage was the Meloon Fire in 1952. Unusual, because the foundry was using Magnesium metal for much of it's production. It appeared that, as water was applied,the fire burned better. When we were informed of the contents of the building, our method of attack was changed to protect exposures, etc. We asked for, and received, Mutual Aid in order to help extinguish the fire. The structural damage was severe, necessitating the tearing down of the remains. Foundry employees were put out of work until the owners rebuilt the plant.

In 2007 the Mattydale Fire Department underwent a capital improvement project, resulting in a complete renovation of the firehouse, this renovation included a (3) bay expansion to the truck bays, resulting in the current (5) bay set up.

Today, the Mattydale Fire Department consist of several men and women. There are currently (6) pieces of apparatus housed in the Mattydale Fire Station and (3) Fire Chief SUV's.

The Mattydale Fire Department is a member of the Onondaga County Fire Chiefs Association, and the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Onondaga County Volunteer Firemens Association.