February 19, 1946
A fire in the Schaouy Building, at 26 Main Street, during the noon hour resulted in damage of $20,000 to the building and $9,100 to contents. Mrs. Lily Clemens died in the blaze. Mrs. Hugh Brodhead and Mrs. Mabel Clark were rescued by firefighters.
August 20, 1949
At 3:08 p.m., a general alarm was transmitted for Morris Coal and Lumber, the present day site of the Madison Public Safety Building. Mr. and Mrs. George Ranson were both injured when they leaped 25 feet from their top floor apartment. Florham Park Fire Chief was injured when he was struck in the head by a falling electric line. The damage as a result of the blaze was estimated at over $60,000. Florham Park assisted at the scene while Chatham Twp. Fire Department stood by during the fire.
January 9, 1950 At 8:12 A.M. A general alarm was signaled for 22 Main Street for a fire. A kerosene stove had apparently exploded and caused significant damage to the Lincoln Auto parts store. Units were on scene for 5 hours.
February 2, 1950
At 8:29 a.m. a general alarm was sounded for a house fire on Spring Valley Road. Fire units were on scene for 6 hours.
February 4, 1950
A Gas Station at 319 Main Street sustained extensive damage from a fire. The alarm was sounded at 7:05 a.m. and units did not clear until 4 hours later.
March 11, 1950 At 6:16 p.m. the large frame dwelling situated on the southwest side of Madison Avenue, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Percy Crane, was reported to be on fire. Firefighters from Madison, Morristown, and Green Village fought the blaze for 9 hours while Florham Park Fire Department covered Fire Headquarters. Many valuable prints and antiques were saved, although some were unfortunately destroyed.
November 25, 1950 The department responded to 26 stills and 2 generals resulting from a hurricane, 10 calls for water emergencies, 13 trees on houses, 3 Medical Calls, and 2 minor house fires.
June 27, 1951 A medical assistance call was called in to fire headquarters from 55 North Street. Upon arrival the 39-year-old male was unconscious. Utilizing the respirator and early day CPR the victim was revived.
December 24, 1951 The Green and Pierson Lumber Yard was again visited by a disastrous and spectacular blaze. The alarm was received at 1:11 p.m. and the firefighters were not dismissed until 6 p.m. the following day. Florham Park, Green Village, Chatham, and Morristown responded. Damage was estimated over $75,000 and 500,000 gallons of water were used. The fire spread so rapidly that a new engine was engulfed in flames before it could be moved. 13 firefighters suffered burns.
April 18, 1952
The Handie Talkie was used for the first time at a brush fire on Rosedale Avenue.
May 7, 1952 St. Vincent's Church was seriously threatened when a fire, originating above the ceiling in the center portion of the church, destroyed the steeple and belfry. Valuable assistance was rendered by the Morris Township Fire Department's ladder truck while Florham Park covered Madison Fire Headquarters.
August 30, 1953
At 10:25 p.m. a barn fire was reported on Chateau Thierry Avenue. This fire was the first response made by Engine 2 (1953 Mack) which pumped for 6 hours.
September 4, 1953 A fire occurred on the second floor at 6 Oak Street, (now Community Place), Units were on scene for 2 and 1/2 hours.
December 21, 1954 One firefighter was injured at a fire on Beverly Road. The fire which broke out just past 6 a.m. was fought with temperatures only 5 degrees above zero.
April 18, 1956 At 12:45 p.m. a general alarm was sounded for 10 Ridgedale Avenue, Apartment 17. Firefighters returned to headquarters 3 hours later.
June 24, 1956 A fire caused by spontaneous combustion in a store room, caused severe damage to a residence at 47 Cook Avenue.
May 19, 1958 Kids playing with matches started a fire in a garage that spread into the walls of 7 Walnut. One of the children suffered second degree burns on his leg.
July 4, 1958
At approximately 7:40 P.M. on July, 4th 1958, a fire occurred at 193 Main St. The fire started after an exhaust fan in the kitchen ignited a spilled flammable liquid on the stairs. Witnesses say they heard two explosions at the start of the fire. Units were on scene for 2 hours. Damage was roughly $7000
November 25, 1958 A fire destroyed a large trestle and adjoining structures at Morris Coal and Lumber located west of Stewart Morris.
January 21, 1959 A fire of undetermined origin broke out in the Goumas Diner (now the Nautilus Diner) at 95 Main Street. The alarm was received at 11:50 p.m. 5 firefighters and 1 police officer were overcome by heavy smoke.
1960 Complete requirement puts the Madison Fire Department at the highest rating in the state for insurance ratings.
April 9, 1961 A spectacular fire destroyed the quarters of Frank Patterson Post No.43 American Legion, located at 76-78 Main Street. The building was completely destroyed and now is the site of a parking lot.
January 11, 1962
Another building located on the Morris Coal and Lumber property was badly damaged by fire and later demolished. The building was an auto painting shop.
February 11, 1962
A 4 p.m. alarm was received from 76 Prospect Street. As firefighter H. Holly rounded the corner of Kings and Prospect the column of smoke in the sky indicated a general alarm. In spite of every effort on the part of the Madison Fire Department with the assistance of Florham Park Fire Department, the structure was damaged beyond repair and had to be demolished.
June 18, 1962 Children playing with matches caused a garage to be completely destroyed at 6 Grove Street.
January 11, 1963
A fire was reported at 22 Woodcliff Drive at 7 p.m. The fire destroyed the residence.
February 14, 1963
At 4:04 a.m. Engine 2 responded on a still alarm received from the Madison Police reporting smoke in the area of Chapel Street. At 4:09 a.m. Chief Daniher pulled box 2-1-1 sounding a general alarm bringing Engines 3 and 1 and Truck 4 to the scene of a house fire at 7 Central Avenue.
April 25, 1964
In the 1950s the aging Gamewell system which was installed in 1907 was replaced with more modern Gamewell call boxes. In 1964 the boxes were once again upgraded to include a telephone to be used for direct communication with police headquarters. Police Chief Jennings and Chief Daniher are shown with a new call box at the corner of Park Avenue and Ridgedale Avenue. A false alarm would result in a $1,000 fine.
April 25, 1964 At 11:34 p.m., a column of smoke was seen 8 blocks away from 14 Noe Avenue indicating a general alarm. A 2nd alarm was ordered to be transmitted by Chief Daniher bringing Engine 3 to the scene along with the Florham Park Fire Department.
July 1, 1965 A fire was reported on Belleau Avenue at 4:52 p.m. A 2nd alarm was transmitted bringing Engine 3 to the scene and Florham Park to stand by at Fire Headquarters. Roll call was taken later that night.
October 31, 1965 A fire was reported at 69 Barnsdale at 01:32 A.M. A 2nd alarm was called at 1:48 A.M. A general alarm was call the next day to finish with overhall and salvage.
June 14, 1966 A fire was reported at 151 Garfield Avenue at 11:34 a.m. Roll call was taken at 4:04 p.m.
July 8, 1968
An alarm was received at 8:31 p.m. reporting a fire at Paul's Steak House, 258 Main Street. Upon arrival the rear kitchen was fully involved.
September 22, 1968
At 12:43 a.m., a fire was reported at the Madison Coat Shop, 133 Kings Road. Upon arrival the building was fully involved.
October 18, 1968
Just past 2 a.m. a fire was reported at T&P Auto Parts on Main Street. The fire caused $20,000 worth of damage.
December 27, 1968
2 people, including a 14-year-old boy, were seriously burned in a fire at 75 Shadylawn Drive. The fire started when gasoline was accidentally spilled and was ignited by the furnace.
April 1, 1969 A raging gas-fed fire threatened the whole block of Central Avenue just north of Elmer Steeet. The blaze destroyed the Sam Gordon's Warehouse on Central Avenue. Assistance was provided by the Florham Park Fire Department.
December 24, 1969
A call was received at 11:58 p.m. for a house fire at 38 Lorraine Road. The resident was pulled out of the house by Madison Police only to lose her life later at Morristown Memorial.
December 31, 1970 A fire was reported at the Western Electric Building on Park Avenue just past 1:30 p.m. A 2nd alarm was transmitted at 2:01 p.m. bringing Florham Park Fire Department to the scene.
January 3, 1971
Just before midnight an alarm was transmitted for a working fire at the Burnett Building at the corner of Central and Main. A raging fire of unknown origin had fully involved an annex in the rear of the store. After a hard fight, the fire was held to the liquor store and the rear portion of the building.
March 19, 1972 A fire in a garage was called in by a tenant on the Dodge's Estate off Treadwell Avenue. While enroute, Engine 1 broke down on Madison Avenue so Engine 2 was called and a General alarm was called. Engine 2 pumped for over an hour to extinguish the fire caused by a blocked chimney.
March 28, 1972 A house fire occurred at 210 Main Street at 4:45 P.M. The cause remained undetermined and units were on scene for two hours. In June of 1962 an A&P truck crashed into this house that damaged the porch. Leaves caught fire outside this location on April 7, 1979 causing siding damage. A doctor office is now on the site of this.
August 26, 1972
A call was received at 5:29 p.m. reporting a house being struck by lightening at 280 Kings Road. Upon arrival, the 2nd floor was fully involved.
June 30, 1973
A house at 183 Green Village Road was destroyed after a late evening fire.
January 14, 1974
A call was received at 3:06 a.m. for smoke in the area of Fairview Avenue. When Engine 3 reached Central Avenue, a column of smoke could be seen in the sky. The fire was at the Stanley Estate, 141 Ridgedale Avenue. A neighbor reported seeing 3 kids run from the house just before the alarm was transmitted.
April 3, 1974
4 students and a professor were seriously burned at a lab explosion at Madison High School.
December 17, 1974 A suspicious fire broke out at the Madison Meat Market located at 36-38 Main Street. Florham Park Fire Department came to assist. 12 police officers were on duty and the New Jersey State Police Arson Squad was called to investigate.
April 1, 1975 A call was received from the Florham Park Police reporting a house fire at 215 Greenwood Avenue. Gasoline being used to clean the floors was the cause of the fire.
May 25, 1975 At 9:01 a.m., a fire was reported at 5 East Lane. Firefighters T. Kiernan and L. Clark rescued a 69-year-old female from the 2nd floor. She was transported to Morristown Memorial where she later passed away. A dog was also rescued which survived.
August 26, 1975 At 1:07 a.m., the bells sounded at Fire Headquarters box 4-1-1. The box pulled yielded a fire which destroyed a large garage on Ridgedale Avenue. The fire was caused by lightening.
February 29, 1976 A house fire was reported at 1:48 a.m. at 9 Leigh Avenue. The fire claimed the life of a 66-year-old female.
October 27, 1976 A fire destroyed a house slated for demolition at 12 Crescent Road. Morris Township and Florham Park provided assistance.
January 18, 1977 A fire was reported at 17 Prospect Place at 4:46 p.m. The 3rd floor was fully involved upon arrival.
December 18, 1977 3 firefighter were injured battling a large house fire at 76 Loantaka Way. The alarm was received at 2:11 a.m. Roll call was taken 18 hours later.
March 16, 1978 Just before midnight, the bells sounded Box 3-5-1. Upon arrival the 1st floor of 176 Main Street was fully involved.
July 1, 1978 A fire destroyed a condemned house at 70 Park Avenue. F.F. Jerry Holmes fell through the staircase to the basement. He suffered only minor injuries. No cause was found for the fire.
January 11, 1979 A gentleman was rescued at 111 Madison Ave after his couch caught fire and caused significant damage to the house.
February 8, 1979
A fire at the Getty service center resulted in the destruction of 3 vehicles.
February 14, 1979
A late night fire was discovered at the Park Avenue Cleaners on Waverly Place.
