Seaford’s first firehouse was a small, converted barn on Southard Avenue. Our first fire alarm was made from the drive wheel of a locomotive which was suspended from a railroad cross tie and two large iron pipes. Citizens in need of our service would either race to the firehouse and SOUND THE ALARM by striking the wheel with a large hammer, summoning the volunteer firefighters to the firehouse. Residents with telephones used a decidedly more “high-tech” approach; they would telephone a firefighter’s home to report the emergency, and the firefighter would sound the alarm upon arrival at the firehouse.

In 1928, our department purchased Dodge pumper truck. We also moved to our second firehouse – a school house on Jackson Avenue that we acquired from the Seaford School District. Our fire company moved the building to the property across the street from our present Seaford Fire District building, and constructed fire apparatus bays.

As our community grew, the Seaford Fire District installed fire wells, alarm sirens, fire alarm boxes and purchased new fire apparatus. Fire wells were deep water wells driven at various locations in the community, based on the protection needs of the area. Water from these wells was “drafted” or lifted and pumped back to the fire through two and one half inch heavy cotton hose. A stretch of as much as 1000 feet of hose was not uncommon.

During the early years of our fire department, fire alarms were few. Historical records reveal as little as 12 alarms per year. As of this writing, we respond to approximately 500 fire and rescue alarms per year in Seaford, as well as providing mutual aid to our neighboring fire departments.