News & Information

The 99th Annual Sussex County Firemen's Association Inspection Day & Parade will be hosted by Franklin Fire Department on Saturday, October 5, 2019 with step-off promptly at 1 p.m.

The Franklin Fire Department was organized in the old store room of the New Jersey Zinc Company's store on March 9, 1911 (in what at the time was called 'Franklin Furnace'.) The Department was known as the New Jersey Zinc Company Fire Department of Franklin, NJ for a number of years. During that time, they used the store room as a meeting place for the department meetings. The original equipment consisted of three hand-drawn hose carts and one hand-drawn ladder cart. This equipment was furnished by the New Jersey Zinc Company as was the hose up to the time Franklin was incorporated as a Borough. After the formation of the Borough, the Fire Department was then under the control of the Mayor and Council in 1913. The equipment was turned over to the Borough, and the Fire Department came under Municipal control. The organization became a member of the New Jersey Firemen's Association in 1915. Due to the growth of the town, in 1916 it became necessary to have more efficient apparatus and an American LaFrance pumper was purchased. The first chauffers were: Frank Straulina, Andrew Salvas, Daniel Van Auken, and Francis X. Hyde.

Franklin Fire Department has hosted the annual Firemen's Parade a total of sixteen times in the years 1922, 1929, 1938, 1950, 1958, 1963, 1969, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1994, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2013 and 2019. This is more than any other department in the County! Franklin Fire Department enjoys hosting the parade and takes pride in the fact that they don't impact traffic on any major roads. They have a great parade route and it's always nice to end at their Firemen's Park and Pavilion where the Hose Laying is also held.

Trophies will be awarded afterwards for Marching, Apparatus and Hose Laying competitions. Both in-county and out-of-county guest departments and EMS squads are eligible for trophies. The parade will also include invited dignitaries and guests.

Hose Laying Competition will be held immediately after completion of the parade.

2019 Parade Line-up is as follows:

1. Franklin
2. Ogdensburg
3. Sandyston
4. Sparta
5. Lafayette
6. McAfee
7. Branchville
8. Wantage
9. Green
10. Vernon
11. Byram
12. Pochuck Valley
13. Hardyston
14. Stillwater
15. Hamburg
16. Fredon Township
17. Stanhope
18. Newton
19. Highland Lakes
20. Montague
21. Andover Borough
22. Andover Township
23. Frankford
24. Sussex
25. Hampton Township
26. Hopatcong

Invited Guest Companies include:

Netcong FD, Caldwell FD, Allamuch FD, Jefferson Twp Co. 2 FD, Roxbury Co. 2 FD, Delaware Twp PA FD, Greeley PA FD, Sparrowbush NY FD, Port Jervis Neversink Co. 1 FD, Maybrook NY FD, NJ Forest Fire Service and the Sussex County Public Safety Training Academy.

The Parade Route is: Buckwheat Road, Evans Street, Main Street, Rutherford Avenue, High Street, Buckwheat Road, Parker Street and ending at the Franklin Firemen's Memorial Park. The Reviewing Stand will be on Buckwheat Road in front of Franklin Firehouse.