Eden Fire Department is very proud and grateful for the large number of members who put their lives on the line in helping to serve and protect others.

On the south corner of Main and Green Streets was a shop which made office equipment,owned by William Gulnerich. In 1922, his baking enamel oven exploded, causing a serious fire. Bucket brigades were pitifully inadequate and wells quickly ran dry. After the fire, many people started agitating for a fire department. When Henry Bley also lost a large barn, animals, and other buildings in a big fire, he, too, tried to interest the townspeople in a fire department.

It hardly seems possible, but there were some who were set against it, apparently thinking of the added expense to the town. However, it was said that the reduction of insurance rates soon paid for the equipment. The Eden Volunteer Fire Company was organized in July 1923. It consisted of Departments 1 and 2, located at Eden and East Eden. They operate independently on one another but cooperate in their service to the community.

Tom Babinger was elected the first chief of Dept. 1, and Albert Castle, chief of Department 2. The equipment at the time of organizing consisted of two pieces of chemical apparatus. Through all the early years there was no water system in Eden, and water was available only from ponds and wells. A tank truck and pumper was purchased in 1947, which added greatly to the department's efficiency.

The firemen immediately became members of the Southwestern Volunteer Firemen's Association.

In 1924, Eden held a joint fire department Inspection and Carnival, something unheard of at that time but now common practice. Much time and effort was spent in training the members in fire fighting, drilling, and first aid.

Fire Chief Ernest Rice wrote as follows for the first history of Eden: "The appearance of the Eden Volunteer Fire Company caused much comment at the convention of the S.V.F.A. in 1924. Their orderly arrangement and well formed lines, together with evidence of being well drilled, promised much competition to the veteran organizations who had attended for years. The efforts of the officers continued and faithfulness to duty of the entire organization promised reward.

In 1928, at the convention in Gowanda, Eden Fire Departments won first prized for the most men in line of march. In 1930 they were outfitted with new uniforms, purple trousers, cream colored shirts, caps and white gloves. This striking outfit, combined with the background of drilling and the spirit within the organization, was out ahead. For three consecutive years, they won first prize for best appearance, in Bolivar, 1930, Lancaster, 1931, and Salamanca, 1932. At the Erie County Fair they have done credit to the town. For three consecutive years, 1934, '35, and '36, and again in 1939, first prize was captured by Eden. Many prizes have been awarded to Eden at Inspections at neighboring towns. Much of the credit for this record was due to the old Eden Band and the Eden Volunteer Firemen's Auxiliary Band.

The First Aid Team, sponsored by the firemen, has been awarded prizes in three competitive demonstrations. A resuscitator was purchased in 1945.

In 1944 the firemen helped Henry Bley get 20 loads of hay into his barn. Hired help was scarce during the war and Mr. Bley's son Jimmy had been stricken with polio that summer, just when he was needed.

From 1923 to 1950 East Eden Fire Department used a concrete block building next to Wittmeyer's Hotel for their equipment. It was owned by Albert Castle who leased it to them for a dollar a year. In 1950 Hoelscher and Eichler built a new fire hall and sold it to the town. In 1962 it was enlarged and remodeled. In 1975, new doors were put on the front.

In 1953 a tank truck was purchased by Dept. 2 at the bargain price of $43.10. It was used 17 years, until 1970.

A new lime green fire truck was bought by East Eden Fire Department in 1973, the first in the area.