Compiled History | Ocean View Volunteer

History of Ocean View Volunteer Fire Company

The Ocean View Volunteer Fire Company was officially formed in the community where “Ocean Breezes Rest” on April 25, 1927. A subscription was offered to local residents who quickly raised over $3,028 to support the new organization. The first meeting was open to the public and was called to order by President Rolla Hewitt on April 26, 1927. Anthony Canuso was elected as the first fire chief and the by-laws and constitution were read by trustee Joseph Donahue.

The letters of incorporation were presented and the Ocean View Volunteer Fire Company, Inc became the first incorporated fire company in South Jersey and possibly the entire state. The original subscription was only set to include lower Dennis Township, however residents to the north and south also asked to be included. The original fire coverage area became all of Dennis Township, Upper Township to PR&SL Railroad (now Butter Road in Palermo) and Middle Township to Avalon Road.

At the following meeting, a 1927 Dodge Graham 1½ ton chassis was purchased from Wildwood Motors Inc for $1,161. Buffalo Fire Appliance Corporation was awarded the contract for $2,250 to mount a 40 gallon chemical pumper onto the chassis. The new apparatus was delivered on August 6th 1927 and housed in the Ocean View Garage owned by Chief Canuso. Fire company meetings were to be held in the Ocean View School House on Seashore Road (Now US-9 and current Ocean View Station property). The fire company also featured a successful baseball team, the Ocean View Fire Eaters and defeated Sea Isle City, Tuckahoe and Wildwood fire companies among others in the 1927 league. By October 1927, the new fire company had saved two houses and responded 14 miles to Ocean City for a large fire, which lasted two days.

1947 - The fire company purchased its second truck, a 1947 Ford pumper, for $ 4,248.17. The surrounding communities of Marmora and Dennisville establish volunteer fire companies of their own which proves to provide relief for fire equipment as the company only operates a single fire engine.

1956 - Ira Bushay elected as fire chief; Anthony Canuso was made honorary chief for life.

1957 - The fire company purchased the Ocean View Elementary School on Route 9 for use as a firehouse. The school was purchased from Dennis Township Board of Education for $2,223. On May 10, 1957, members of the Ladies Auxiliary were designated honorary members of the fire company.

1959 - Construction begun on the old Ocean View School House which included a 33x32 concrete block garage and a 20 foot kitchen. The basement was also renovated to provide a recreation area. At the present time the fire company serves Ocean View, South Seaville, Clermont, Seaville and Greenfield.

1960 - A housing ceremony for the new fire station was attended by 600 people. All guests were served sandwiches and coffee by the Ladies Auxiliary. At the present time the company owns a 1947 Ford Pumper, three fire sirens, three emergency telephones and the new fire station. The fire companies of Dennis Township are given $500 each to operate and the rest is raised through contributions. The new hall will allow for dances, card parties and suppers organized by the Ladies Auxiliary to raise money. Plans to purchase a new pumper tanker are announced at the ceremony.

1961 - Ocean View Fire Company faces its only line of duty death. On February 24 Chief Engineer and Charter Member Nicholas Canuso suffers a heart attack after driving the company’s Ford Pumper to the scene of a fire. He was transported to Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital by Sea Isle Ambulance but was pronounced deceased upon arrival.

1962 - The Great March Storm of 1962 strikes the area and devastates the coast. Sea Isle City suffered considerable damage from this storm which also wiped out Sea Isle Boulevard in Dennis Township. Ocean View Fire Company aided Sea Isle and evacuated 1,600 residents. They also cleared out Sea Isle Boulevard to allow emergency travel and responded to Sea Isle City for fire calls. The members were presented an award from the Sea Isle Rotary Club for their efforts. A 1937 home built International pumper-tanker, with a 750 GPM front mounted pump was purchased from the Laurelton Fire Company.

1965 - A 1965 GMC 5000 chassis was purchased from Edgewood Motors for $4,971.10. The chassis was driven to Sanford Fire Apparatus of New York and converted into a pumper tanker for $4,437. This truck featured a 2,000 gallon tanker, 250 GPM pump and would serve the fire company until 1997. George H. Robinson is also elected as the third fire chief.

1971 - Fire protection is greatly increased for Ocean View, Sea Isle City and Strathmere with the purchase of a new dispatching system. Through the fundraising efforts of the Ocean View Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary, the $3,500 system was purchased. In the agreement, the system was installed in Sea Isle City Police Headquarters and they provided the dispatcher. Each station can be individually dispatched over the County Fire band through 2tones and Federal ten-ten receivers are issued to some firefighters. All three fire company’s share a common dispatching tone (794.3Hz) which is still in use today.

1972 - A 1972 Ford C-8000 pumper was purchased from Welch Fire Equipment Corp. and featured a 1,000 gallon tank, a 250GPM pump and two booster reels. This pumper was originally identified as F-1711, later becoming F-1721 and was retired from service in 1999.

1972 - The present coverage area of the fire company including the communities of Clermont, Ocean View, and South Seaville, was established by vote of the residents as a fire district. The first fire commissioners were elected and a fire tax was instituted.

1974 The fire company purchased a 1974 Ford van for use as an equipment truck. The fire company now carries new Hurst hydraulic rescue tools and responds to accidents requiring vehicle extrications.

1975 - A ceremony was held for the completion of the Anthony Canuso Memorial Addition to the Ocean View Station. This addition added an additional engine bay, an office and additional storage to the original fire station. Plans are also announced for a new fire station which will be located in South Seaville on land donated from local businessman Douglass Collins of Collins’ Lumberyard. Rumors are also dispelled that this would be a new fire company but instead an additional fire station to the existing Ocean View Fire Company. This station would allow for a better response time to that area especially due to excessive summer traffic on Route 9. In part of the ceremony a large plaque dedicated to Canuso was installed in the station and his helmet officially retired. The plaque is presently in the Ocean View station and his helmet is hung in the South Seaville Station. Anthony “Tony” Canuso was one of the original founders of the fire company and it was strictly through his efforts that the fire company was born. It was announced that a new fire station would be constructed in South Seaville. This was not to be a new fire company, but a sub station for the current fire company to improve response times to the community.

1976 - At its 50-year mark, the fire company had never gone into debt except to its own members. In the early years, trucks were purchased by “subscription” by the community. Several times during the early years, the company borrowed money from its own members in order to stay in operation; the money was always repaid. In 1976, the fire company owned all its land and equipment outright. Expansion of the Ocean View station and work on the South Seaville station were financed by donations and by fundraising activities by the membership and Ladies Auxiliary. In 1974 and 1975, the fire company reorganized its operation plans to approach firefighting on a more organized and effective basis. Extensive training plans were developed and plans to upgrade equipment was begun. Work is completed on the new South Seaville station.

1978 - A Great Eastern pumper tanker is purchased from the New Jersey Fire Equipment Corporation.

1990 - A Pemfab pumper is purchased and placed into service at the South Seaville station. (1732)

1997 - Fire District # 1 purchases its first truck for the OVFC. A 1997 Freightliner/3D (3 man cab) Pumper Tanker 2000 gpm/ 4000 gallons (1745 later known as Tanker 17-1).

1999 - Fire District # 1 purchases a 1999 freightliner/ 3D (3 man cab) pumper 1500 gpm/ 1000 gallons (1739). Chief G. Hade Robinson Retires as the 3rd Fire Chief after 31 Years.

2000 - Fire District #1 purchases a 2000 Freightliner/EVI (6 man cab) Dry Rescue/Cascade truck (1776 later known as Recue 17) unit assigned to the South Seaville station. Joseph Gurdgiel Jr. is elected as the 4th Fire Chief.

2001- A triple housing of the 1997, 1999 and 2000 apparatus is held along with a 75th anniversary celebration.

2002 - Fire District #1 purchases a new Ford F-250 Crew cab pick-up truck (1712) unit assigned to the Ocean View Station. Until this time most members would respond directly to incident scenes. However with changing laws members are now to report to the assigned fire station and this unit was needed for manpower response and transport.

2001- The OVFC owned 1978 Ford Pumper Tanker (1744) sent out to be refurbished.

2004 – The OVFC puts an addition on the South Seaville station. This addition would add 1 drive through engine bay as well as a sitting area and offices.

2005 - Fire District #1 purchases a 2005 Peirce Enforcer (8 man cab) Pumper 1500 gpm/ 1500 gallons (1732 later known as Engine 17) unit assigned to the South Seaville station and replaces the 1990 Pemfab pumper.

2007 - The OVFC hosts a housing of the 2002 pick-up and the 2005 pumper.

2010 - The OVFC hosts its first annual Halloween haunted walk.

2011-Fire District #1 purchases a 2011 pierce Impel (6 man cab) Rescue Pumper 1500 gpm / 750 gallons/ CAF system (1739 later known as Squad 17 then Engine 17) unit assigned to the Ocean View station and replaces the 1999 Freightliner/3D.

2012 - Due to the hard impact of Super Storm Sandy on New Jersey in late October a task force of Fire Companies from Cape May County deployed to Seaside Height NJ. Engine 1739 deployed with a crew of 4 (D/C Robert Clayton (OIC), Capt. William Neely (Driver), Lt. Wayne Matthews, and FF Greg Frank) for approximately 36 hours.

2013 - Chief Joseph Gurdgiel Jr. Retires as the fourth Fire Chief after 14 years.

2014 - A. Michael Deluca Elected as the fifth Fire Chief. The 2002 Ford F-250 totaled in a MVA while members were returning from Training. OVFC begins responding on Unconscious/unresponsive and cardiac arrests to provide a higher level of service on severe Medical Emergencies.

2015 - The OVFC Purchases a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria as a Manpower vehicle since the Current Fire Commissioners would not replace the totaled Pick-up truck (1711 later known as Car 17) unit has been assigned to both stations.

2017 - Fire District #1 purchases a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado (1712 later known as Utility 17) for manpower transport to replace the 2002 F-250 that was totaled in 2014. Unit has been assigned to both stations.

2018 - Chief A. Michael Deluca decides in May that he will retire as the 5th Fire Chief after 4 years and 5 months at the May meeting. The membership decided that Deputy Chief William Neely would be appointed as Chief for the remainder of the year.

Fire District # 1 sends the 1997 Freightliner / 3D out in November for a tank replacement at Fire and Safety services truck returns in July 2019.

2019- William Neely II Elected as the sixth Fire Chief. Fire District #1 Purchases a 2019 Peterbuilt/Pierce (2 man cab) Pumper Tanker 1500 gpm / 3000 gallons (Tanker 17) unit assigned to the South Seaville station after a brief stay at Ocean View station an replaces the 1978 Ford tanker. The OVFC Purchases a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe as a Command unit. This unit goes into service in February 2020 (Car 17-1).

2021 - Fire District #1 Purchases a 2021 Pierce Enforcer Heavy duty Rescue Pumper 1500gpm / 750 gallons / CAF system. (Squad 17) unit assigned to the South Seaville station and replaces the 2005 pierce pumper and the 2000 Freightliner/ EVI Rescue.

The fire company breaks ground on another addition to the South Seaville Fire Station.

2022 - Construction is completed on the South Seaville Fire Station.