Cornwall & District Fire Department
Record #:
MDL0152
Last Modified:
22 Nov 2016
Last Full Update:
23 Mar 2015
Location
| Located In | Mahone Bay |
| Where To Find Us | 2588 Cornwall Road Rd, RR 3 Mahone Bay, NS B0J 2E0 |
| Areas Served | New Cornwall |
Contact
| Website | www.cdfd.ca |
| steve.cdfd@eastlink.ca | |
| Phone | 902-624-9373 |
| Contact | Steve Patterson, Fire Chief; Phone: 902-624-8636 |
| Alternate Contact | Stephen Frank, Deputy Chief; Phone: 902-521-9454 |
Description & Services
| Information |  The fire department would not exist today if it hadn't been for the generous donation of approximately 1.5 to 2 acres of land from Stewart and Ruth Joudry in 1976. The department was then officially founded following the construction of the hall in 1977. Lawrence Veinotte, and family, further donated another 0.5 to 1 acre of land for the parking lot. In 1984 a second story was added to the fire hall to accommodate the growth of the department and its many fundraising events such as pie sales, dances, breakfasts, chicken barbeques, garden parties and many more socials and events. In 2013 the fire station underwent and extensive renovation, including new windows, doors, siding, and stone façade.  The first truck the department acquired was an old Dodge, then an International. Then the department added an old fuel truck from the airport which was converted into a fire truck by the talented hands of Ira Barkhouse (Currently the only original member of the department still serving today). "We were lucky to get 90 psi of water out of her", said Ira when asked about the truck. He added that the trucks "were not road worthy by today's standards". The department also acquire a 1993 Ford truck with a new chassis that was then outfitted with a 20 year old milk truck's tank turning her into a functional tanker that shuttled water to the scene of a fire. Truck #3 is another milestone for the department. It was the first in Nova Scotia to be equipped with compressed air foam and is still in use today, and it also carries the department's medical equipment. In 2005 the department was one of the first in Lunenburg County to respond to medical emergencies. In the old days, department personnel were dispatched using a "phone fan-out" system. The current chief's wife was called by the 911 service who then she called four other ladies who then called specific personnel to alert them of the emergency. It was all word of mouth. No civic numbers in those days either, "Fred's house is on fire". John Yates remembers the old heavy overall coats that came down below the knees. "I used to trip over mine", he says. John Yates is a highly decorated member, receiving Queen Elizabeth's "Diamond Jubilee Medal" for years of dedicated service to the community, awarded in Ottawa by the Governor General of Canada.  |
| Eligibility | Ages: 18 year(s) and up |
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