The month we feature the Southport Volunteer Fire Department. A 100% Volunteer Department founded through discussions between men at the Southport Corners around 1944. A group went to the Town and leased an old voting booth, on Laurel Street, which became the first station.
In 1948, the Department purchased its first engine which was a 1923 American Lafrance. In 1951, members built a facility at 1000 Laurel Street, and in May 1964, a final move to the current location at 1001 Carl Street was made. The station currently houses a fleet of Pierce apparatus.
Their first contract as a fire protection district was signed in July of 1952. Currently the Department contracts with the Town of Southport every 3 years.
The Southport Volunteer Fire Department Fleet consists of:
· #1433 - 1997 Pierce Saber Engine
· #1441 - 2012 Pierce Velocity Ladder truck 105’ foot.
· #1431 - 2008 Pierce Saber Engine
· #1432 - 2017 Pierce Impel Rescue/Pumper
· The Department also has a boat and ice rescue equipment, a brush truck and 2 utility trucks.
The Southport Volunteer Fire Department has approximately 40 active members, with a total of 78 members on their rolls, (including inactive life members). A Chief and two Assistant Chiefs are elected every year. The elected Chiefs run the fire aspect of the department, which is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. The current Chief is James Allington, along with Frank Cicora, Assistant Chief nights, and Christopher Baldwin, Assistant Chief Days.
The Department runs around 200 fire calls a year and has Automatic mutual aid agreements with the Elmira City Fire Department for structure fires. Monday is Drill Night, with around 48 drills a year, plus other special trainings. Southport VFD covers approximately 8 square miles, with a population of nine thousand residents.
Fundraisers are held throughout the year, with the main fundraiser being their Famous Chicken BBQ. Money raised is shared with local Charities throughout the area, including the Arctic League, Children’s Miracle Network, Local Sports programs for kids and more.
New Members are always welcome. If you are interested and live on the southside of the city of Elmira, stop by the station to learn more and see if it something you would like to do.
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