The Danielson Fire Department originated around 1829. The first company formed was “The Enterprise Fire Engine Company”, four years later eight men were added from the factory village in Brooklyn. In 1854 a charter for the Borough of Danielson was issued, primarily to establish a fire department organized later that year, Danielson Fire Department. On March 19, 1855 it was voted that a Hand tub was to be purchased for the cost of $990, it was named the “Quinnebaug.” From April to August of 1855 a total of 700 feet of leather hose was purchased at $.80 a foot and the first company was formed; “The Minnetexit Company”, who then renamed the “Quinnebaug” to “The Minnetexit Company”. Later, in 1873 the first ladder truck (horse drawn) was purchased at a cost of $550. Following this a Steam Fire Engine was purchased from the Silsby Manufacturing Company of Seneca Falls, NY for $350 delivering 400 GPM. Three hose reals were purchased from 1878 to 1890, each with a capacity of 450’ of 2” hose, hand drawn by a crew of 10 men.
Before the construction of the new fire house in 1905 each company was located in a different building. “Minnetexit Hose No.1” on center street, “Pioneer Hose No.2” on water street, “Rough and Ready Hose No.3” on Broad Street, “Rattler Hook and Ladder Co.” in the Borough Hall, and “General Putnam Steamer No.1” also in the Borough Hall. At this point in the departments history water was supplied through a water main to 50 hydrants.
In 1905 the Borough voted to build a fire house on the corner of Academy St. and School St along with a box alarm system in the Borough. The station was completed in 1908; all of the fire apparatus with the exception of the Rough & Ready Hose Co. were moved into the new station. In 1910 a hose supply wagon was purchased and took the place of the two hose reels, updating all the equipment in the new station to be horse drawn. In 1912 a second new ladder truck was purchased for $850 replacing the previous Hook and Ladder. In 1919 a Seagrave pumper was purchased for $10,575 and given a name of “The Capt. Put”, pumping 750 GPM. This replaced the steamer on the front line, putting the steamer into the reserve. Then in 1922 the ladder truck was motorized and drawn by a Cadillac Tractor. In 1934 a Maxim 650 GPM was purchased taking the place of the hose supply wagon, completing the motorization of the department. A third new ladder truck was purchased in May of 1946; a Maxim 65 foot aerial ladder which would cost $15,550, the truck was delivered on March 30, 1949. A Ward La France 500 gallon pumper was purchased in 1954 at a cost of $17,500 followed by a second Ward La France in 1965 costing $23,325. In 1978 a Ford service truck was purchased expanding the department’s abilities in the field with more specialized tools. In 1980 a Duplex 1,000 gallon ET was purchased for $89,000. In 1984, what is currently known as Engine 1 was purchased for $96,000. Tower 1, currently serving as the department’s aerial, was purchased in 1989 for a price of $450,000. From 1998 to present day three additional pieces of apparatus were purchased completing the line of apparatus currently used. In 1998, the Ford service truck was replaced with a Chevy Tahoe LS to serve the purpose of the “Rescue” or medical truck. Two years later, in 2000 a new HME Engine was added expanding the technical rescue abilities of the department; even though it is referred to as an Engine it is classified as a Heavy Rescue. In 2005, a Pierce Contender Engine Tank; this was purchased in the 2005 when the previous ET blew its transmission en-route to an oil change. Finally, a 2015 GMC 2500 Pickup was purchased to replace the Chevy Tahoe as the Rescue.