The Colts Neck Township Fire Company Number 1 (formerly Atlantic Township Fire Company Number 1) was organized December 8, 1926 with the following elected as officers: President, Louis Snyder; Vice President, Jack Lawrence; Secretary, Frank Hyatt; Financial Secretary, Walter Fields; Treasurer, George Hance; Sgt. at Arms George Hoey, Trustees, Patrick Me Cue, James Higgins and Richard Cladder; Forman (now called Fire Chief) Chriney Conover; 1st Asst. Forman (1st Asst. Chief) Conrad Decher; 2nd Asst. Forman Windsor Heulett (at the following meeting Mr. Conover and Mr. Decher exchanged positions.)

In February 1927 the old blacksmith shop and barn were bought from the Culver's which was to be the fire house for 26 years. The first fire truck was purchased in March 1927 and delivered that summer. In the fall of that year a siren was bought (electric was installed the same year,) tower purchased and installed by January, 1928. This siren was used till a few years ago. Another truck was added in late 1938. The first recorded fire call was in July 29, 1927, a truck fire on county road west of Colts Neck.

As the town grew so did the needs of the firemen - in 1953 the present firehouse was dedicated and other trucks have been added on time to time. There is now a newly formed fire company - Colts Neck Fire Company Number 2. 1970 Colts Neck Township Fire Company 2 dedicates its new firehouse off Conover Road.

The Ladies Auxiliary of Colts Neck Fire Company Number 1 was organized in November, 1938. These women assist the firemen at public affairs and are ever on call to serve hot coffee and sandwiches during a big fire. Their first officers were: President, Mrs. Harold Gunther; Vice President, Mrs. John Weir: Secretary, Mrs. John Sutphin; Treasurer, Mrs. Harry Sagotsky.

Company No. 1 on Route 537 has two separate buildings to house trucks. The building closest to Rt. 537 provides three bays to house two main pumpers and one utility truck. The rear building, which has two bays, houses a tanker and brush truck and is capable of housing an additional pumper.

Company No. 2 on Conover Road has four bays and houses two pumpers, one mini-pumper, two tankers, and one utility van.

In addition to the truck bays, each fire station has washrooms, limited storage area, a meeting room, and a kitchen with a hall which is used by the companies and is rented to the public. There are no sleeping quarters.

All firemen have plectrons or pager alerting units which are dispatched through Monmouth County fire/police radio. A siren is located at Company No. 1. Colts Neck is part of a county-wide mutual aid network.

Because the majority of Colts Neck has no water system, all water for fire fighting must either be carried by the trucks or pumped from local streams, ponds, and swimming pools. Colts Neck is also part of the Monmouth County Mutual Aid Tanker Task Force which allows us to draw water from the surrounding towns via tankers. As noted on Plate 22, Municipal Facilities, there are also ten (10) locations around the periphery of the Township where hydrants in adjoining communities are in close proximity to the Township and can be tapped to fight fires in those limited areas. In addition to the surrounding hydrants, the new development called "The Grande" located in the southwestern part of town has approximately 276 homes having hydrant coverage tied into the Freehold water supply. There are two standpipes located throughout Colts Neck as of April 1996. New water supplies such as ponds, pools, and access to streams need to continue to be considered in the approval of future subdivisions.

The Fire Department has a fire-police unit that assists the regular Police Department in traffic and crowd control and assists the Fire Department in the security of the fire scenes. In 1994 the Fire Department also signed a mutual aid agreement with N.W.S. Earle which can be called upon to assist Colts Neck. Emergency services have joined forces to participate in a yearly open house (open to all residents) as a tool to educate the public on safety and to act as a membership drive. Cross training with the First Aid Squad is now a necessary part of a fireman's duty. The need for additional manpower over the next several years will be an important factor to watch due to the growing number of businesses and residential homes and the lack of volunteers.

The basic recommendations for fire protection are:

Develop new ponds and improve and maintain existing ponds and streams.
Provide hydrants as part of any water system constructed in town.
Maintain strict construction standards to meet fire protection standards.
Keep the Executive Fire Council informed of proposed Township building and planning board ordinances, standards or changes.
Correct and maintain the existing standpipes.
Uphold proper turning radii on cul-de-sacs and other roads to accommodate the 6,000 gallon tractor trailer tanker.
Maintain a schedule for regular replacement of major fire equipment.
Consider a Fire Prevention Bureau to educate and inform the public and provide necessary inspections for potential fire and safety issues.
Enforce all national, state, and local fire and building codes.
Assist the Fire Department in promoting fire safety and volunteerism through yearly open houses.
Add a repeater to the existing radio tower at the police station for additional radio strength and full communication throughout the town.
The potential for a satellite station as a first response team to cover the growing population should also be considered. The building could also house a first aid response vehicle.