The company rolled to their first fire on April 29, 1889. A notation in the fire record reads as follows: “barn shed, carriage house and corn crib, property of Mrs. Caroline L. Smith of Mineola, with entire contents except carriages, consisting of six good horses, three cows, about seven tons of hay, one ton straw, four sets double and two sets single harness, two sleighs, lot potatoes and three barrels vinegar consumed by fire discovered about 1:30 a.m. Insurance in the Home Insurance Company of New York for $2,350, estimated loss $4,000”.
On April 19, 1907, the Mineola Village Board, pursuant to Chapter 315 of the Laws of 1887 of the State of New York, unanimously passed the resolution for the incorporation of the Jericho Turnpike Engine and Hose Company #1 of Mineola (or Company #2 today). The very next day, the first official meeting of the Company was held in Krause’s Florist Shop. Two separate and independent fire companies now protect the Village of Mineola.
Hose Company #3 of the Mineola Fire Department was formally organized on August 22, 1922. Before Company #3’s Firehouse was built, the Firemen held their meetings either in their own homes, in Company #1’s Firehouse on Main Street, or in Company #2’s Firehouse on Jericho Turnpike.
Company #3’s Firehouse was erected by the original members of the Company in their spare time and opened in 1923. The ownership of the Firehouse was transferred from the members of Company #3 to the Village of Mineola on November 30, 1923.
In 1927, the entire Firehouse on Jericho Turnpike was renovated with the Truck room facing Washington Avenue on the rear of the building. The existing Firehouse was converted into the new Village Hall. Both fire Companies were then housed in the new quarters. The new building was dedicated in 1928 and is known as Headquarters.
At the beginning of the new millennium, Headquarters on Washington Avenue is completely renovated adding on two new bays for a total of six bays to house the newer and larger equipment that is needed in today’s firefighting.