Fire Department History
Fire Department History
The East River Volunteer Fire Department was originally organized in April, 1963 under the name "Lilly Grove Fire Department" with a charter of 13 members. The department changed its name to East River Volunteer fire Department on April 16, 1964.
The Departments first piece of apparatus was a 1956 Darley, 750 GPM engine, bought from a department in Pennsylvania. In order to secure funds for the truck, six of the departments charter members each signed a $1000 bank note to purchase the truck.
The first fire station was located in the Lilly Grove community in Mercer County, on property donated by the Norfolk and Southern Railway. The first station was a single bay building built by members out of drain tile donated by R. H. Booth, owner of Virginia Brick and Tile. In 1964 a new station was built on the same property and housed the department until 1992, when the department moved to a larger facility on Princeton Ave in Princeton. In 2000, to provide faster response time and distribution of services to the communities we serve, the department moved to its new and current facility on 317a Oakvale Road.
The current membership consists of 30 firefighters that provide fire and rescue services to the East River Fire Protection District, along with mutual aid to other county departments. The department currently operates 2 Engine Companies, 1 Rescue Company, 1 Ladder Company, and 1 Service Unit. With dedication and hard work we have achieved an ISO class 4 rating and will strive to continue to lower that rating.
