WELCOME TO COLUMBIA HOOK & LADDER CO. NO.1

Our Background

How We Got Our Start

On May 7th, 1876 a group of twenty citizens gathered in front of a little red school house at the corner of Main and Tremont Streets in what was then the village of North Tonawanda to form themselves into a company for the protection of property against the ravages of fire. The newly formed company petitioned itself to the village board and on May 15th, 1876 the board appointed them Fireman of The Village of North Tonawanda.  This made them the first fire company north of the Erie Canal.   Since the Company was formed on the Countries centennial year the Patriotic Name “Columbia” was used to identify the company.  To this day Columbia Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 still the oldest company in the city, remains feet from its original starting location at 85 Columbia Dr. on the brick road between Tremont and Goundry streets.  The mission of the Columbia Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 Members toady is to provide high quality emergency medical, fire suppression and rescue services through the skill, commitment, and cooperative team effort of one unified department.