By JACQUELINE DURETT
Correspondent
SAYREVILLE — The chrome of each fire truck — one blue, but most of them the trademark red — glistened in the sun as the vehicles made their way up Main Street to the stage in front of Borough Hall.
People cheered for the various departments, including South Amboy, Marlboro and Wharton — and of course, for Sayreville, the reason for the occasion.
On Saturday, the borough celebrated 100 years of its fire department, an organization with just about as many members as years of service. The department is comprised of four stations, but it all started with Sayreville Engine Company No. 1 in 1916, explained Ron Connors, vice president of the department.
Morgan Hose & Chemical Company No. 1 and Melrose Hose Company No. 1 joined in 1926. President Park operated as a private house from its 1947 opening until it joined the rest of the borough’s fire department in 2002.
Connors said fire service has changed quite a bit since 1916, when his own great-grandfather helped start the borough department. Fire departments like Sayreville’s take on emergencies in larger buildings and have to protect many more residents in their municipalities. However, he said, newer types of construction have gone a long way toward firefighters’ efforts to preserve life and property.
Connors said the idea to celebrate this historic milestone for the department came about three years ago, as did the accompanying fundraising to make it a reality. He said the firefighters needed to raise at least $50,000 for the parade, which they did.
As far as setting up the actual event, he said, “It took about a little over a year to plan everything.”
Not only was there a parade, he said, there was also a party behind Borough Hall that followed. Awards were presented at the end of the event.
Connors said in all, nearly 20 departments participated; the farthest was from Wharton, which also took home the top award for best overall, a category that represents everything a department features at a parade, including its band, marching and number of participants.
As for those spectators flanking Washington and Main streets — the parade used the same route the borough uses for its Memorial Day parade — Connors said turnout was between 600 and 700 spectators, a little more than the department expected. It didn’t hurt, he said, that the weather was fantastic.
“I couldn’t ask for a better day,” he said.
Connors said the department is always looking for more volunteers to be part of its next 100 years.