This Day in History: 1928-03-09

After Chief Scherer reported on the five brush fires to which the Mahwah Fire Department responded during February attention at the monthly department meeting turned to why one of the members failed to attend the Fardale fire.  The culprit, identified in the report in the Ramsey Journal only as “Bill”, the Secretary of the Relief Association, explained that he had been following the fire truck in his powerful new car at 60 miles per hour when he observed another brush fire.  He stopped to assist an elderly lady and her grandson who were attempting to put the fire out with a rug beater and a potato masher.  When he had put the fire out it was to late to attend the Fardale Fire.  The matter was turned over to the “New Fires Committee” consisting of President Dator, Secretary Dunning, Chief Scherer and Foreman Hagerman.  After consulting various maps the Committee discovered that the fire had taken place in Ramsey, not in Mahwah.  “Bill” was fined two dollars for going to and assisting in putting out a fire not in his district.  It was decided to buy more bonds with the fine money, if he ever paid it.

(Bristow)