Chief History
- Chief David DeStefano 2021-Present
- Chief David L Frizzell 2004-2020
- Chief William H Osterhaus 1997-2004
- Chief James B Murphy 1979-1997
- Chief John T Kerrigan 1970-1979
- Chief Edward F Crowley 1954-1970
- Chief William Hill 1923-1954
The Belmont Fire Department was established in March of 1859 when the Town of Belmont was incorporated with portions of land from, at the time, the Town of Watertown and West Cambridge. Howard Engine 2 from the West Cambridge Fire Department, near the corner of Brighton Street and Pleasant Street, and Protector 3 from the Watertown Fire Department, at Common Street and Trapelo Road, were inherited as the first two hand, engine companies of the newly created Belmont Fire Department. The name of Watertown Protector 3 was changed to
Belmont Protector 1. Protector 1, was stationed with Cushing 4, a hand tub still owned by the Belmont Fire Department today, that was once privately owned by John P. Cushing.
In 1873, a horse drawn Babcock Chemical Extinguisher was purchased. The Department was organized under the Board of Engineers at this time. This equipment was housed on Pleasant Street between Concord Avenue and Leonard Street until it was moved to a room in the basement of town hall following completion of that building in 1882. A water system came to town in 1887, with thirty-seven hydrants placed throughout the community. By 1888, two hose
wagons were purchased. Waverley Hose 1 was kept in Waverly Hall on Church Street and Belmont Hose 2 was located in the basement of Town Hall. By 1893, Protector 1 and the Babcock Chemical Extinguisher were disbanded. On July 18, 1898, the Howard Engine House and the Howard Engine were destroyed by a two-alarm fire.
The former engine house located at Trapelo Road and Common Street had moved to the farm of Charles H Slade on Common Street following the abolishment of Protector 1. The bell from this station was ultimately hung at the new central fire station when it was built on Leonard Street in 1899. The new Leonard Street station housed Hose Company 2 and Hook and Ladder Company 1, with a new, two horse city service truck. Hose Reel 3 was also organized in 1899 in the Harvard Lawn section of Town on Dartmouth Street on the land of Edward F Skahan. In 1906,
accommodations were made for Hose Company 1 at the old Waverly School House at WaverleymStreet and Trapelo Road. Shortly after in 1908 a hose house was added on Fairview Avenue for Hose Company 3.
Motorized equipment began in 1910 when a combination fire truck was purchased for Harvard Lawn, Combination Hose 3, a 1910 Seagrave combination chemical hose car. In 1912, an American LaFrance a triple combination pumper, chemical, hose truck was purchased for the Waverley engine, Engine 1. A Ford combination chemical hose car was bought for Combination Hose 2 in 1917. In 1918, the horse drawn apparatus ended with the purchase of a 1918 Maxim Motor Company hook and ladder truck. A new station was built for Engine 3 at 87 Fairview Avenue in 1928.
On February 1, 1981, the Belmont Fire Department took over the ambulance from the Belmont Police Department. Engine 3 was disbanded in 1995 and Ladder 1 was relocated from fire headquarters on Leonard Street to Harvard Lawn. In 2006 construction was completed on two new fire houses. At the time Engine 1 was operating out of a temporary station at the Department of Public Works yard. Engine 2, Rescue 1, and C-3 were on Leonard Street, and Ladder 1 was located on Fairview Avenue. Stations at 87 Fairview Avenue, 54 Leonard Street, and 445 Trapelo Road were closed. The last day at Waverley Station was Monday October 27 th , 2003. The last incident for Engine 1 out of that station was Box 122 struck for a car fire against the building on Alexander Avenue. The first response from the temporary station for Engine 1 was Box 741, struck for oven fire at Fieldmont Road.
The last night at Leonard Street for Rescue 1 and C-3 was Wednesday September 6, 2006. The last incident for C-3 out of Leonard Street was an odor of natural gas. Thursday September 7, 2006 was the last day for Rescue 1 and C-3 on Leonard Street. This was also the last day for Engine 1 at the trailer. The final response out of Leonard Street for Rescue 1 was a bicycle accident on Washington Street. At 1300 hours on September 7, 2006, Engine 1, Rescue 1, and C-3 were operating out of the new fire headquarters at 299 Trapelo Road, with Engine 2 remainin on Leonard Street.
Wednesday September 27, 2006 was the final day at Harvard Lawn and Leonard Street. The last call out of Harvard Lawn for Ladder 1 was Box 412 transmitted for a building fire at 55 Berwick Street. The final incident out of 54 Leonard Street was a medical aid on Harvard Road. At 1730 hours on September 27, 2006 Engine 2 and Ladder 1 began operating out of 99 Leonard Street. The first response out of 299 Trapelo Road was Box 1713 for 51 Hill Road and the first incident response out of 99 Leonard Street was a central station alarm at the Verizon Building next door. In 2014, fire headquarters was dedicated as the Roland A Weatherbee Headquarters, honoring Firefighter Roland A Weatherbee who passed away in the line of duty on March 4, 1985.