A fire department's greatest resource is its members but without the needed tools, it can not operate. It requires large capital equipment such as a firehouse and trucks. The following list covers mobile equipment plus one piece of important stationary equipment located at the fire hall.

The original equipment available to the Fire Brigade consisted of an army reserve pump donated by Mr A.N. Mack for Brigade use. This pump had a Willis motor on a trailer, three outlets and could produce 500 gals./min. The only other equipment were two Wajax pumps; one from Department of Lands and Forests and one from James Donly (both still in use).

A 1935 open cab Chevrolet pumper was purchased from the Liverpool Fire department on July 7, 1962. A 1969 Dodge converted oil truck was purchased in March, 1974 with a capacity of 1500 gallons.

A 1964 panel truck was purchased in 1979 to be used as an ambulance. The 1935 Chev. open cab was loaned to the Yarmouth Fire Museum in the same year. 

1982 saw the purchase of a 1981 International pumper, capacity 1200 gallons, still in use by the department.

A 1963 Chevrolet cab-over was purchased from the Liverpool Fire Department and was on-line in November 1986. The converted Dodge was subsequently up for disposal. 

A 1989 Ford cube van was purchased for use as a utility vehicle and on-scene command post.

The original Fire Brigade held meetings in the Mill Village community hall. All responses were from sirens placed on several buildings in the area and manually

operated by the occupants in response to alerts from the Mill Village Telephone Office located across from the General Store and later in the Carmen Anthony residence. 

Mr. James Donly, in the early 1950s, purchased a building from the wartime communications site at Happy Landing just east of Brooklyn. This was transported to the property across from the present hall and was to be the home of the department until the year 1971.

Mr. Gordon Hubley, long affiliated with Mill Village, purchased the abandoned school house and donated it to the fire deparmtment. This building became the permanent department building to this day. Many renovations have been made over the years, including a garage for the three response vehicles. The original classroom is now commonly used as a community facility, accommodating Department bingos.

PRESENT CAPITAL EQUIPMENT MVDFD

Truck 1 is a 1989 Ford Econoline 350, known as a Utility Unit which carries the members' Turn-out gear, (BA) , Air Packs, Communication Center, Generator, Air Pack Refill Station with spare air bottle, First Aid supplies and Traffic Control Signs.  The truck is equipped with four high intensity light systems for scene lighting and two large portable floodlight systems with several long extension cords for use with the generator.  The generator can also be used to supply back-up power to key portions of the fire hall circuitry.  Truck 1 also carries two Wjax portable pumps with hose.

Truck 2 is a 1999 Ford F550 4X which is equipped with a Compressed Air Foam (CAFI) System Which uses 450 imp gal water to furnish 3600 gallon dry foam. This type of system has the advantage of attacking all sides of the fire triangle (fuel, oxygen and heat) and quickly attacks and snuffs out fires. It can, if the need arises be operated by a single fire fighter. The foam literally snuffs out the fire by coating it with a layer of foam which smoothers the fire while cooling the area and insulating it from further heat and oxygen. The system can throw the foam a considerable distance and when out a fine dry powder is left with minimal or even no water damage. It can also be used for protecting neighboring building or oil or gas storage tanks from fire and can be used for creating temporary fire breaks. The Lancia Jaws of Life will be carried in this truck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_Air_Foam_System

Truck 3 is a 1981 International equipped with hoses and ladders and a pump which can deliver 280 gallons/minute from a 1200 gallon tank. It also can dump its load almost instantaneously into a portable tank carried on the truck and easily set up on the scene. There is an auxiliary portable pump capable of delivering 540 gallons per minute, 1500 ft 2 ½ inch hose and 400 ft of 1 ¾ inch hose as well as several backpack portable extinguishers.

The Jordair Compressed Air Filling Station for filling breathing apparatus tanks is located in the fire hall. 

Truck 3 has need of extensive work on the tank, which may require replacement. Getting spare parts for repairs of the truck is difficult because of the age of the vehicle. When it was necessary to replace tie rood ends several years back, they had to be made by a machine shop in California.

The fire hall is described elsewhere.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

Every fire fighter is issued with personal turnout gear if they are going to be actively engaged in fighting fires.  On an average, new turnout gear costs about $2000.  The gear includes gloves, safety boots, pants, jacket , helmet, flash protector and coverall.

Every member is furnished with a pager and charger.  These are not inexpensive and with time they become useless.  Presently a pager system costs $350.

A goodly number of hand held radios (VHF) are required.  A minimum of four are needed for traffic control and another four for hose handlers (one each at the wet end of the hose so they can call for water and know in advance that the supply may be interrupted).   These also have limited life times and are expensive ($450 each).

Rechargeable flash lights.

Signage for Motor Vehicle Accidents ($400 each).  Minimum of 2 required.  At a four way intersection four signs are required.

Traffic cones with self contained flashing lights ($45 each).  Minimum of 12 is required.

Self contained breathing apparatus are needed for everyone operating close to the fire or entering the building with smoke present, and on occassion, when working against a chimney fire.  Cost is $3500 each.

This is where some of the money goes.