Benedict Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad,
and Ladies Auxiliary Inc. 1950-2000

The Benedict Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad was officially organized and incorporated in 1950.  A few years earlier, after a fire in the community, several citizens banded together and purchased a used fire engine; a 1929 open cab International.  It was equipped with a minimum quantity of hose and little else.  Running gear and safety equipment, as we know, was not used.  The engine was stored in a small shed behind the Hotel across from the ferry slip, and the battery  from the ferry was used to run the engine when an emergency was called. Mr. Joseph Higdon donated a small piece of land, on which our first station was erected, augmented by a second engine a 1934 international.  Between 1952 and 1956, several vintage engines were used for various periods of time. On May 1, 1956, the department purchased its first piece of new apparatus, a Four Wheel Drive Motor Co. 750 gpm pumper. In 1961 the first improvements were made to the station by the adding of three new bays.  Now, we currently have 6 bays, 2 Class A Pumpers, 1 Tanker, 2 Brush units, 1 Ambulance, 1 Chief's car, 1 Command unit, 1 Ems utility, 1 Boat, 1 Marine Support Unit, and 1 Zodiac.