History

For more than 50 years, the Lee Fire Department has stood ready to assist the citizens of Lee. Ours is a tradition that began in the late 1940s with a group of men dedicated to helping their neighbors in times of need. Those were tumultuous years for a fledgling department beset by enough intrigue to fill a dime store novel. After a while, it became apparent to the members that a new method of operation was essential if the Department was to properly serve the townsfolk. Tired of constantly worrying about resources, they decided to approach the town and ask for help.

Since its inception, the primary mission of the Department has been fighting fires. Hundreds of acres of undeveloped land made the town susceptible to forest and wild-land fires, and this - combined with residential and commercial building fires - was of principal concern to the early volunteers. As the town grew and surrounding communities developed, an increase in motor vehicle traffic meant the Department was responding to rising numbers of motor vehicle accidents. For years, these accidents dominated the Department's call volume. Over time, the Department’s mission has expanded further to include hazardous materials mitigation, water rescue, ice rescue, and medical aid.

Although recognized as an all-volunteer department, today’s Lee Fire & Rescue is technically referred to as a "Call Department." Members are paid annually for the number of calls they respond to over the course of the year. But if you were to ask any member of the Department why he or she is willing to stand in harm's way, the answer would have nothing to do with financial gain - it would center on the desire to help others in their times of greatest need.

As the challenges facing the fire service continue to increase in number and complexity, and as our town continues to grow, members of the Lee Fire & Rescue Department will build upon the foundation of service set down so many years ago by a group of men and women dedicated to helping their community. Going into the second half of a century of service, it is our mission to maintain the commitment of those who served before us by continuing to help our neighbors in times of hardship.