Jan. 29, 1929: The department's first By-Laws were approved.

Feb. 2, 1929: The West Street Firehouse was dedicated.

March, 1942: Control of the sirens used to alert the firefighters was transferred from the phone company to the firehouse.

Feb., 1943: Chief Blomberg requested a second, used pumper to fight grass fires.

Oct., 1943: The Cromwell Fire District accepted the amendment to the Charter, as passed by the State Legislature, expanding the limits of the Fire District to cover the entire town of Cromwell. Prior to this point the District only covered the parts of town served by water mains.

Nov., 1945: Chief Blomberg requested $35,000 for two new pumpers, a new chassis for the skid pump, a new alarm system and an addition to the firehouse. The Chief was advised to return at a later time with a revised proposal not to exceed $10,000.

April, 1946: Contracts were signed with Maxim Motors for a full-size pumper (Engine 1) and for mounting the skid pump on a new Ford chassis (Truck 2, now owned by Ed Deming) for approximately $11,000.

Feb., 1947: Both new trucks were received and placed into service.

Apr. 7, 1949: First recorded call of the newly instituted ambulance service, operated free to all by the firemen. The first ambulance was a 1936 Oldsmobile.

Oct., 1949: A new 3-bay addition to the West Street Firehouse was approved for $9,200. The addition was completed in March, 1950.

Mar. 1, 1953: The town's largest fire occurred at St. John's Church. Mutual aid was provided by Middletown, East Berlin, and Portland. The entire structure was consumed.

May, 1955: Engine 3, Maxim model 1417S, (serial #1983) was delivered and placed into service.

1956: The Cromwell Lions Club presented the CFD with a new Pontiac ambulance.

Oct., 1961: $2,000 was approved to purchase the 0.8 acres of land at Court & Geer for a second firehouse.

Oct., 1962: Christopher Rose was appointed the 4th Chief of the CFD.

Jan., 1965: Town Discount Store, next to Sav-Mor on Main Street (then Star Foods) burned to the ground. Large amounts of mutual aid were required to prevent the loss of Star Foods.

May, 1965: Radio-activated home alert units for each firefighter replaced the need to call the firehouse to find out the location of the fire.

Nov., 1965: Cromwell's first diesel pumper, Engine 5, was delivered. It was the 3rd Mack diesel in the state.

May, 1966: The 5-bay Court Street firehouse was dedicated.

June 11, 1968: Richard A. Watrous was appointed the 5th Chief of the CFD.

Dec., 1968: A 6,500-gallon tank trailer was purchased and converted for fire department use. Also, a new 1968 Cadillac ambulance was purchased.

Nov., 1969: Truck 6 was purchased, a 1-ton International 4x4 equipped with a skid tank and pump.

Aug., 1970: Minimum age for membership was lowered from 21 to 18.

Sept., 1970: Sav-Mor Market is destroyed by fire.

July, 1972: Cromwell's second Mack pumper, Engine 8, is delivered and Engine 1 is retired.

Aug., 1974: The air horn alarm system, implemented 22 years previously, is removed. A radio dispatch room is constructed at the West Street Firehouse.

Jan., 1975: A 1968 Chevrolet step van is purchased for storage and carrying various small equipment.

Oct., 1975: Donald Swanson is appointed the 6th Chief of the CFD.

Oct. 7, 1976: Delivery of Cromwell's 3rd Mack pumper, Engine 9, completing the department's conversion to all full-size Mack pumpers.

Nov., 1976: Increasing regulation and rising numbers of calls prompt the formation of an Ambulance Division within the department, staffed by firefighters and interested citizens. Every member of the Ambulance Division was required to become a certified Emergency Medical Technician.

Feb., 1978: Members of the department voted to purchase the new Hurst "Jaws of Life" rescue tool, a dramatic improvement in rescue and extrication technology.

April, 1979: A large portion of the Lord Cromwell Inn is destroyed by fire. Mutual aid was provided by Middletown, Westfield, and East Berlin.

April, 1982: Purchase is approved for a Mack 75-foot Aerialscope with a 1500 gallon-per-minute pump, at a cost of approximately $375,000.

May, 1982: Equipment 1 was purchased to replace the 1968 utility van. The new step van was a 1982 GMC C3500 Chassis with a Gruman Olson body.

Jan., 1983: The Ambulance Division purchased a new ambulance to replace the aging Cadillac, with assistance from the Fire District and the Fire Department.

Dec., 1983: A Truck Company was formed prior to delivery of the Aerial. State training courses were given at the firehouse, and also at Middletown, Rocky Hill, Glastonbury, and Manchester 8th Utilities Fire Departments.

Oct., 1984: William C. Lee is appointed 7th Chief of the CFD. A Deputy Chief, David Logan, was appointed for the first time.

Nov., 1984: Aerial 1 is placed into service.

March, 1985: The Lord Cromwell Inn suffers its second fire, in the rear of the old wing.

Oct., 1985: William Dilk succeeds David Logan, becoming the 2nd Deputy Chief of the CFD.

1985: Engine 5 is refurbished.

1987: Attack 1 is purchased to replace Truck 6. The new mini-pumper was on a F-350 chassis with 200 gallons of water and a 400 gpm pump.

Oct., 1987: Russell Johnson succeeds William Dilk, becoming the 3rd Deputy Chief of the CFD.

1987: A 2-man inflatable Zodiac boat was purchased with department donations, for rescues on rivers and small ponds.

1988: Following the national trend, 5-inch large diameter hose is purchased to be used as water supply lines at fires.

Oct., 1988: The Fire District changes process, now appointing a Chief, a Deputy Chief and an Assistant Chief. David Colligan was appointed the first Assistant Chief of the CFD. Also, a 1988 modular ambulance (10-11-4-A) was purchased.

June, 1989: A high angle rescue team was created, in cooperation with fire departments from Cromwell, Middlefield, Westfield, Durham and Rocky Hill.

1989: Engine 8 is refurbished.

July, 1989: The Fire District implements a pension program for members of the CFD.

Fall, 1990: The CFD adopts the Incident Command System, and trains all members.

Sept., 1990: A joint venture between the CFD and the Cromwell Police Department combined the location of radio antennas on one transmission tower, atop the hill on Shunpike Road, improving communications for both agencies.

June, 1991: An 18-foot Pro-Line boat is donated to the CFD by Edward and Barbara Clapp.

1991: New OSHA regulations require training for all members of the department.

Nov., 1991: Purchase of Rescue 1, a heavy rescue/command center on a Simon Duplex chassis, for $450,000. Radio repeaters are installed in all apparatus, enhancing fireground communications.

Dec., 1991: A secretary is hired to assist the Chief with administration.

April, 1992: A duty officer's vehicle, Car 20, is purchased from State surplus using department donations.

Fall, 1992: Proposal for site acquisition for a 3rd firehouse.

May, 1993: Willowbrook Plaza suffers a major fire, lasting all night. Mutual aid is provided by fire departments from Westfield, East Berlin, Middletown, and Rocky Hill.

Sept., 1994: Ambualance 10-11-4-B is purchased, on a Navistar large capacity chassis. The new ambulance offers greatly improved storage capacity, and is outfitted for multi-casualty incidents.

Oct., 1994: David Colligan succeeds Russell Johnson, becoming the 4th Deputy Chief in the history of the CFD. Frank Seidl succeeds David Colligan, becoming the 2nd Assistant Chief in the CFD. Explorer Post 46 is formed to involve young people in the fire service.

April, 1995: Formation of the CFD Auxiliary as a support unit. Also a regional Dive Team is formed, including members of the Cromwell, South District, Haddam, Portland, and East Hampton fire departments.

Nov., 1995: A radio repeater is installed at the antenna tower to improve use of high-band portable radios.

Oct., 1996: The Fire District changes the term of office for the Chief's position, making 2-year terms and a maximum of 8 continuous years in the office. David Colligan succeeds Bill Lee, becoming the 8th Chief of the CFD; Frank Seidl succeeds David Colligan, becoming the 4th Deputy Chief; and Doug Logan succeeds Frank Seidl, becoming the 3rd Assistant Chief.

Dec., 1996: The Coles Road fire station becomes operational. The 6-bay station was built at a cost of $2.3 million, and is situated on 54 acres of land.

Dec., 1997: The Ambulance Division is incorporated into the Fire Department. Engine 1, a KME Rescue Pumper with a 1,500 gpm pump, is purchased for $285,000. Engine 5 is assigned to reserve status.

Feb., 1998: A new Zodiac boat replaces the first one.

May, 1998: Renovations to the Court Street station include larger Chiefs offices and room for members who stand-by at the station. Dispatch becomes totally computerized.

June, 1998: Engine 2, another KME Rescue Pumper twin to Engine 1, goes into service. Engine 5 is retired, and Engine 9 is moved to reserve.

September 1998: Cromwell holds it first Connecticut State Firefighters Association Convention and parade in town.

October 1998: David Colligan returns as Chief.  Frank Seidl remains Deputy Chief and Douglas Logan remains Assistant Chief.

November 2, 1998: 70 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF CROMWELL

Summer 1999: Automatic External Defibrillators placed on the ambulances.

Spring 2000: Automatic External Defibrillators placed on all fire apparatus.           

Summer 2000: A new utility vehicle (Staff 1) is purchased to replace the current utility vehicle.  The old Car 20 sold, the old Utility vehicle becomes Car 20. 

Fall 2000: Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) is first implemented by the dispatchers.

October 2000: David Colligan returns as Chief.  Frank Seidl remains Deputy Chief and Douglas Logan remains Assistant Chief.

Summer 2000: AT&T puts up a new tower next to the town water tank and gives us space for our antennas.

October 2002: David Colligan returns as Chief.  Frank Seidl remains Deputy Chief and Douglas Logan remains Assistant Chief.

Fall 2003: The Cromwell Fire Department make a generous donation of 3 AED )Automatic External Defibrillators) in the Cromwell Public Schools.

July 1, 2004: The dispatch center complies with state statues.

September 2004: Cromwell holds its second Connecticut State Firefighters Association Convention and parade.

October 2004: Chief Frank Seidl succeeds David Colligan and becomes the 9th Chief of the Cromwell Fire Department.  Douglas Logan becomes the 5th Deputy Chief, and James Bellamo becomes the 4th Assistant Chief.

August 2005:  The New Lane temporary station is officially open until the West St. station is torn down and rebuilt.

September 2005: West St station, the oldest fire station in Cromwell is officially closed to give way for a new fire house and district offices.

October 2005: Ground breaking ceremony for the new West St. station held.

October 2006: Chief Stephen Pendl succeeds Frank Seidl and becomes the 10th Chief of the Cromwell Fire Department.  James Bellamo becomes the 6th Deputy Chief, and Donald Quick becomes the 5th Assistant Chief.

Feburary 2007: Cromwell takes delivery of a 2006 100' E-One Bronto aerial named Truck 1.

February 2007: New Lane fire station closed and the new West St fire house officially opens.

April, 2007: Cromwell take delivery of a 2007 KME custom pumper named Engine 3.

May 2007: Aerial 1 Sold to Pine Bush, NY FD.

July 2007: Engine 3 & Truck 1 christened.

.