FIRE DEPARTMENT
In the early 1960's prior to our community becoming incorporated, it became apparent to some citizens of the community, that a fire department was a necessity to ensure the safety of citizens and protection of property.
A group of interested citizens undertook to accomplish this task and through their valiant efforts a volunteer fire brigade was formed. In a very short time, it had proven its worth.
Many men have offered their services over the years and the firemen have worked diligently to improve and replace outdated equipment.  A new truck was purchased in 1969 and new suits, a pump and hose, etc., have been purchased with funds raised locally and through government grants.
In 1992 Freshwater donated  a good used truck to Fox Harbour and in was given to Branch for the sum of one dollar.  The volunteer firemen deserve our heartfelt thanks - it gives us a feeling of security to know they are there to answer a call when the need arises.
For a first hand account of how the fire brigade got started, read the following account by the first fire chief, Alphonsus Whiffen:
Jack Healey Jr., Paddy Duke, and Thomas Foley and myself started the Volunteer Fire Department in Fox Harbour.  We acquired a loan from the Royal Bank in Argentia, from Regina Lannon.  All four signed the loan.  I went to the bank to pick up the papers and I had to go after the bank closed in the evening and Ms. Lannon had told me to go to the window and knock on it and she would let me in.  I did just that and two cops came along and thought I was trying to break in and Ms. Lannon came out and said to them "No, No, the man is on business" but we had a little bit of trouble convincing them different.
At the time, it would have cost each householder in Fox Harbour 83 cents per month to make payment on the loan.  From the loan, we bought a truck from Tom Stevenson and repaired the motor, a garage from Jack Kelly and towed it up beside the church with two jeeps.  Then we went to a Jack Cardoulis to order the pump and hose.  We had to get the same thread as in Argentia so we could use the same pumps.  The hose was made of snake skin, you didn't have to dry it, just roll up and put back on the truck.
Paddy Duke met Richard Cashin shortly after, who was campaigning for Federal Government at the time, and he went to Emergency Measures Organization, who bought the second pump and paid off the loan for the first.
When Tom Spurvey's house burnt down and the four volunteers fought the fire, the wind was east that day and if it had not been for the pump the whole "Cove" would have burnt.  It was after this incident that these four volunteers started to get support from the community.
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