Hogansburg Akwesasne Volutunteer Fire Department (HAVFD)

Mission Statement
The primary goal of the HAVFD is to extinguish fire and protect life to the best of our ability. We will strive to be role models for our children. We will provide fire safety and fire prevention information to our community. We will prepare ourselves by training, using proven methods. We will acquire and maintain the best equipment and apparatus available. We will be the firefighters all others attempt to become. We are the members of the Hogansburg Akwesasne Vounteer Fire Department.
 

                                     

HAVFD History

HAVFD is a volunteer firefighting organization protecting the residents of Hogansburg, a section of Bombay and the St. Regis MohawkReservation, known as Akwesasne in New York state; also Cornwall Island(Kawehnoke) and other islands in Ontario, including St. Regis (Kawehnoke), Chenail (Tsi Snaihne), and islands in Quebec considered territory of the Mohawks of Akwesasne.

A Brief History of the Hogansburg Fire Stations
Now Station #1, Hogansburg, NY of the Hogansburg/Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department

The department was organized in March, 1954 following a fire in which seven children died when a home owned by the Cree family was completely destroyed. This tragic fire was considered to be the beginning of the Hogansburg Volunteer Fire Department. Due to the Cree Family's loss and courage to go on, people from the community began to organize a fire department.

Charter Members were: Edgar Reyome, Paul Heffelfinger, Clarence Thomspon, Stanley Conners, Hubert Lantry, Abe White, John Kish, Louis Jacobs Sr., Carl Wiggar, James Rouselle, Eli Lazore, Harry White, Harry Pyke, Sly Morin, Ray Aldrich Jr., Walter Herne, Peter Bero and Paul Jock.

Edgar Reyome, owner of a local grocery store, was the leader of the group and became the first chief operating with a used fire engine which was parked in Reyome's backyard. Another local storekeeper, Hubert Lantry, donated an old garage to be used as a fire station. The garage's loft was used to hold meetings.

In 1960 the Hogansburg Volunteer Fire Dept. build a new station of cinder block construction, 100 by 60 feet. The company had three pieces of apparatus and was equipped for mutual aid assistance. James Rouselle was chief in 1960 succeeding Edgar Reyome, who held that post for six years. Other officers included Hurbert Lantry, President; Francis Donahue, Secretary; and Syl Morin, Treasurer.

Fires of the past: Hogansburg had a severe fire in 1915, which resulted in the burning of a hotel, all but two stores, a factory which manufactured baskets and toys, and several dwellings were destroyed. Again in 1937, the village was scourged by fire. The old Bombay high school, a three story building, was burned to ashes on Sunday, November 27 1960, despite the best efforts of 52 firefighters called in under county mutual aid system. The fire threatened to spread to neighbouring buildings,,, but only one other was actually involved.