History of the Hillside Lake Fire Company #3

In July 1952, a group of civic-minded Hillside Lake citizens, desirous of increasing their fire protection, formed a committee for the purpose of organizing a fire company.  This committee canvassed the Hillside Lake area and signed up a charter membership of forty-one active and social members. Many of the early business meetings were held either in the homes of the members or in the clubhouse belonging to the Hillside Lake Community Club.  Using the Stormville Fire Company “bylaws” as a guide, the members elected officers, organized the company and became incorporated on October 15, 1952.  A parcel of land was given to the company by Mr. William Schultz of Hillside Lake for the purpose of constructing a firehouse.  Putting their diversified talents to work, the members began construction of a concrete block firehouse in June 1953.  The building grew as fast as money became available through donations and through turkey raffles and dances.

Help arrived in June 1954 when the wives of the members formed a Women’s Auxiliary to the fire company and added their efforts to those of the men.  By October 1954, the firehouse was complete enough to hold meetings, although it was necessary on occasion to pass the hat to purchase oil to heat the building.  In 1955, the firehouse was completed.

In January 1956, the fire company was accepted into the East Fishkill Fire District and the members began firematic training.  A 1937 Diamond-T fire truck was the first piece of equipment assigned to Hillside Lake in July 1956.  Other equipment was added to the truck, including a resuscitator, which was purchased by the Woman’s Auxiliary in 1957.  In 1957 the fire company held its first bazaar as a joint effort of both the men’s and woman’s organizations.  Subsequently, the bazaar became the main source of income for the fire company.

In 1958 the “Siren” newspaper was formed as a means of communication between the members for both firematic notices as well as news items about the company area.  In July 1958 the Diamond-T truck was retired from service and replaced with a truck temporarily borrowed from the Wiccopee Fire Company.  This truck remained at Hillside Lake until June 1959, when a new truck was assigned to the company.  Also in 1959, construction began on an addition to the firehouse, to provide a meeting place for members as well as a social center for both firehouse and local community activities.  The addition was completed in 1960, and in the same year the fire company sponsored a “Teen-age” club and Boy Scout Troop No.48.

In 1961 the Fire Police were organized to aid the firefighters in traffic control.  Shortly thereafter, another addition was built.  In 1967 a 1500-gallon tanker arrived at Hillside Lake and in the same year telephone operations were eliminated and a radio alerting system was installed in the homes of the firemen, greatly improving firefighting efficiency.

In 1963 our company received a brush-utility vehicle.  We were the first company to have a vehicle of that type in the East Fishkill Fire District.

In 1968 a Rescue Squad was formed to aid the sick and injured of the community.  In 1969 a Cadillac ambulance was purchased to transport patients to the local hospitals.  Its dedicated and highly trained membership totaled about 100 members, 30 of which were Hillside Lake Company No. 3 members.

In 1971 our 1,500-gallon tanker was transferred to Stormville Fire Company and replaced by Engine 4, thus giving us two engines.  In the summer of 1972, the Company received a brand-new engine.

In 1972 the East Fishkill Fire District purchased two new engines, one for the Wiccopee Fire Company and one for Hillside Lake.  They were Salisbury-Ford Louisville chassis with 750gpm 2-stage front mount pumps and 1,000-gallon tanks.  They paid a total of $54,376 for the two engines.

In 1974 the firehouse again changed its shape.  Two bays and a second meeting room were added.  The kitchen was expanded and new restrooms were added to accommodate the growing Company.

In June 1990 an ambulance bay was added to Hillside Lake for a total of five bays in the firehouse.  Also in the same year, Hillside Lake Fire Company acquired 39-33, a 3,000-gallon tanker.  It was one of three the East Fishkill Fire District purchased that year.

In 1996 the Hillside Lake Fire Company purchased a parcel of land on Hillside Lake Road, across from Jennifer Drive.  This is proposed to be used in the future to build a new Hillside Lake Firehouse.

In 2001 39-18 was purchased by the East Fishkill Fire District.  It was one of four new engines added to the East Fishkill Fire District that year.

In 2001 the Hillside Lake Fire Company purchased a second parcel of land on Hillside Lake Road, adjacent to the parcel purchased in 1996 across from Jennifer Drive.  This is also proposed to be used in the future to build a new Hillside Lake Firehouse.

In 2005 the 1990 tankers went out to be refurbished.

In 2009 engine 39-13 and utility 39-63 were replaced.

In 2009 the Board of Fire Commissioners created leases between the East Fishkill Fire District and the four fire companies that make up the District.

While in the bay area, our equipment waits in expectation to respond to any emergency at a moment’s notice, our social room is boisterous with the noise of little boys and girls involved in joyful Brownies or Cub Scout activities.  Most of all we are proud of our membership, those men and women dedicated in the truest sense of the word, who give their time and effort so the people of our community can sleep restfully in their beds with the knowledge that come fire or flood, illness or injury, trained people will come to aid them.

The Hillside Lake Fire Company currently houses one engine, one pumper tanker, one brush truck, and one rescue/utility vehicle.

We look back over the years with a sense of pride and accomplishment.  We have watched our company grow, both in membership and efficiency.  Our firehouse, which was built with the tenacity and hard work of our original members, has grown to become the center of community activities as well as the home for our modern firefighting and rescue equipment. 

Hillside Lake Company Past Chiefs

Frank Denning:  1956

Sven Nordlund:  1957-62

Edward T. Johnson:  1963-1964

Frederick Jillard:  1965

Michael T. Quinn:  1966-1969

Karl Berghofer:  1970-1971

Ronald Chatlos:  1972-1973

Patrick Salerno:  1974-1976

Larry E. Boes:  1977

Lawrence Patrick:  1978

Howard Travis:  1979-1983

Kevin Geysen:  1984-1989

John Hughes:  1990-1994

Thomas Walker:  1995-1997

Keith Baccomo:  1998-2002

Karl Johnson 2003-2005

Philip Ricotta:  2006-2009

Andy Piechowski:  2009-2015

Philip Ricotta:  2016-2018

Marty Kuhl:  2019-2024

Current Chief

Michael Stallone: 2025-present