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In 1948, a group of residents from Newfane and Brookline combined their energies and resources, and with the names of both towns to form the NewBrook Volunteer Fire Dept. For two years, they had no firehouse or trucks, their only equipment consisted of a single trailer loaded with a portable pump and some hose. In 1950, however, a new firehouse financed by selling debenture bonds and through old-fashioned fund raising, was built by volunteers from both towns.
The first truck to be housed there was an ancient, second-hand pumper of unknown vintage with a moody behavior, but since there weren't too many fires to begin with, it allowed the firefighters ample time to practice their pumping skills. Shortly thereafter, a 1942 Army surplus four-wheel drive truck was acquired, and converted into a 500 gallon pumper-tanker, a role it fulfills to this day as the Department's official, and venererable brush truck. In June of 1993, the Department moved into a magnificent new Firehouse north of Newfane village. There are four bays, which can hold a total of eight trucks. The fleet now consists of a 1996 Pierce Saber Pumper with a 1000 gpm pump and a 1000 gallon booster tank, a 2003 Ford four-wheel drive Rescue truck, a 1987 Ford pumper with a 1,000 gpm pump and a 1,000 gallon booster tank, a 1981 International surplus Air Force five-man cab utility truck, a rescue sled and trailer for deep woods rescues both in winter and summer and of course the original Army brush truck
The Department, which presently has a roster of 35 active firefighters and emergency medical people and about 100 sustaining members. Newbrook is a member of Southwestern New Hampshire Mutual Aid system and is dispatched from Keene N.H.
None of the above, of course, could have been done without the constant and generous support of the residents of Newfane and Brookline, and the efforts of the Ladies Auxiliary, especially when it came to raising money for the new firehouse. Being a fully independent, self-supporting organization has meant not only being able to afford the best trucks and equipment and training necessary, but it has also called upon the enthusiastic, never-ending backing of everyone served by the Department. They and many others contribute to the Department and we THANK YOU ALL
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