History

The first Deerfield Fire Department was formed by resident volunteers of the Town of Deerfield in 1932. The original Deerfield Fire Department personnel of January 19, 1932 is listed below.

The Deerfield Fire Department has only had four fire chiefs since the departments formation. Leon W. Harvey - Deerfield's first chief was killed in the line of duty on December 10, 1947.

When the department was formed, Harvey was given authority to choose his own firemen. The original roster consisted of 35 firemen. The town was divided into 11 districts. Each district had a lieutenant and three or four men. These districts were:

District 1 - Griffin Road
District 2 - Pleasant Lake
District 3 - James City
District 4 - Nottingham Road
District 5 - Raymond Road (near intersection of Cole Road)
District 6 - Fairgrounds area (then the Civilian Conservation Corps barracks)
District 7 - Ridge Road
District 8 - Old Centre Road
District 9 - South Road
District 10 - Leavitts Hill (Middle Road)
District 11 - Deerfield Parade

The department's only equipment, when Harvey became chief, were two chemical tanks. According to the early minutes of the association, early in 1933 the association traded the two tanks and spent $2,500 cash for a 1931 International, the town's first fire truck.

That truck, with its 85-gallon water tank, is still with the department today and is still capable of fighting fires. The firehouse was built a short time later in the place where it still stands today.

Members of the First Deerfield Fire Department

Leon W. Harvey (Chief)

Past Fire Chiefs

• Leon W. Harvey, February 1932 to December 10, 1947
• Willis T. Rollins, December 10, 1947 to December 1959
• George F. Clark, February 1960 to January 7, 1997
• Mark Tibbets 1997-2017
• Matt Fisher 2018-Present