Yarker Fire Department History

The Yarker Fire Department was organized in 1937, by a group of local citizens who raised money to buy a used fire truck. A 1921 National fire truck (pumper) was purchased from Longbranch Fire Dept. This truck roared to fires - maximum speed 28 m.p.h. or 45 km.p.h. - in the area until 1963 when the truck was sold to purchase a 1948 tanker truck. The National, once our Number 1 fire vehicle, became and antique owned by Kingston Township Fire Dept. All money needed to operate Yarker Fire depart was raised by local fund raising projects. In 1967, the Yarker Fire depart was incorporated by the township and was renamed Camden East Twp Fire Dept Station # 1. Since 1967, Camden East Twp has funded the operation of it's two stations. Station #2 is located in Enterprise. Fund raising, however, has continued and has aided the fire dept by purchasing items such as a four wheel drive fire vehicle (grassfire), a training projector and rescue equipment.

Yarker Station boasted a 1960 fire truck, a 1975 tanker truck carrying two thousand gallons of water and a 4X4 grass fire truck with plans this year (1978) for a new pumper truck. 23 volunteer fire fighters in each Station to respond to all emergency within our Township. Out of these 23 a Fire Chief was elected from one of the 2 Stations with the Deputy Fire Chief being elected from the other station. Each Station elected 4 Captains and 2 Lieutenant to assist with the operation of department. Between 1978 and 1997 Camden East Twp Fire Depart Station # 1 fleet of trucks grew to included a Pumper, 2 Tankers, a Rescue van and a Grass fire 4X4 for a total of 5 vehicles and responding to approx 50 calls per year..

On 1st Jan 1998 Camden Twp amalgamated with the village of Newburgh and Sheffield Twp to form the new Township of Stone Mills. Yarker was designated as Stone Mills Twp Fire Depart Station # 1. Yarker Station was allowed to strengthen the force by 2 members bringing it to a total of 25 fire fighters, also receiving a new GMC 1998 Pumper truck. Camden East Twp Fire Depart Station # 1 Deputy Chief Carl Jaynes became District Chief Carl Jaynes.(1 Jan 98- 1 May 98). In 2002 Yarker also received a new GMC Tanker truck with 2675gal of water.