Wetherell decided to form a fire department. He collected $1200 with the help of the 18 other Charter Members and the purchased a Lincoln car, which was the department’s first apparatus. It was converted into a fire truck by adding hose, a Ford motor, a pump and putting it all onto a wooden platform. The Muddy Brook Fire Department’s first call was a chimney fire in February of 1935. The first reg
ular fire station was at the Old Advent Church in East Woodstock, and an old garage in North Woodstock. The department’s trucks and equipment were moved back and forth every six months between North and East Woodstock. That is the reason why today Muddy Brook Fire Department protects North AND East Woodstock. The land where the current station sits was originally owned by the state and was given to the Town of Woodstock. In 1934 the Town of Woodstock gave the land to the Muddy Brook Fire Department for “full and free use for fire department, social and educational purposes.” The land was on the state road (now Woodstock Road) half way between North and East Woodstock. It was a perfect spot to protect the two areas from on station. The first calls were sounded by a steel bar and triangle that is still located on the right side of the station today. The bar was used to strike the triangle and sound the alarm that there was a fire. Shortly after, when someone called for help it went to the Putnam dispatcher, who then activated the sirens atop the North and East Woodstock churches and the fire station. These sirens alerted the department members of a call. These sirens are still in use today. When the first member got to the station, they would pick up a phone linked directly to the Putnam dispatcher who would then say where the fire was. The Muddy Brook member would write the address on a chalk board and then get into the truck to drive to the call. In 1940 the department purchased a second hand Ford 1½ ton chassis and built a wooden body to carry the pump, a 200 gallon tank and equipment. A few years later the department’s first fire truck, the Lincoln, was replaced with a Chevrolet. In 1945 the Ford was upgraded to a custom built body with a front mounted pump. In 1947 a new Ford 1½ ton chassis was purchased to replace the Chevrolet. The new Ford had a custom built body, 500 gallon tank, and a pump on it. While the land for a station was given to the department in 1934, it was not until the fall of 1943 that enough money was raised to build the station. The “garage” built was 30’ x 50’ with two bays and a meeting area that had a stove and a coffeepot. At that time a fire station was not a fire station without a coffeepot on the stove. The original part of the station was completed in the spring of 1944. In 1950 the stations 9’x9’ doors were replaced with 11’x9’ doors to accommodate the purchase of a second hand oil tank truck that July. This had a huge (for the day) GMC 140 horsepower cab-over engine with eight-wheel drive and a 2100 gallon tank. The GMC was purchased on a Saturday, ready to go by Monday, and responded to a fire at the town dump on that Friday. Over the years the department purchased, replaced and refurbished many vehicles. The department also expanded the station from two bays to three, to five, then to the eight currently. A meeting room, bathroom and office were also all added. The early 1990’s were a time of training and additions. With the rise of Hazardous materials many members were trained in how to handle them in addition to regular trainings in fire/rescue/EMS functions that fire departments were expected to perform. Important equipment additions to the department were a Gas/Oxygen/CO detector, defibrillator, ArcAir cutting torch and 5” Large Diameter Hose to replace 4” L.D.H. Rescue 475 was placed into service to provide a vehicle for the heavy rescue equipment. Forestry 175 had its first call on August 4, 1993 and three new bays were added to the fire station. The late 1990’s were focused around upgrades. Muddy Brook purchased all new SCBA’s and portable radios, purchased a SCOTT Eagle Thermal Imaging Camera in 1999, two Pro-Pak foam units, a foam nozzle, hydraulic cutter and many technology improvements. The department also built an office within the station, started work on a plan to receive funding from the town and refurbished some of the apparatus. The fiscal year 2000-2001 was the first time that the department received full town funding. No longer was Muddy Brook dependent on donations and fundraising activities to support the department’s mission. The money helped provide funds for operating costs, training, equipment and rising maintenance expenses. In 2003 the department was awarded over $60,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s FIRE ACT Grant program. The award was granted to purchase new PBI turnout gear for the department members. The new turnout gear provided a higher level of safety over previous styles. The department also placed into service three new apparatus: a GMC Savana Pro van for medical emergencies, a Crimson Fire Heavy Rescue truck that replaced two 20 year old rescue trucks, and a Crimson Fire Tanker that replaced a 30 year old tanker. The grant and new apparatus made 2003 a year like no other in the history of the Muddy Brook Fire Department. Since the year 2000 Muddy Brook has worked hard to continue serving the public and it members. The department has continued to serve the public through public education, new and better extrication equipment, a second thermal imager camera, and expanded knowledge and equipment to deal with hazardous materials. It has also been working to improve member safety with better personal protective equipment, more training and better tools to do many of the jobs of today’s fire department.
