On March 9th 1959 the organization was formed with 8 members and meetings being held at the clubhouse

On July 13th 1959 the fire company incorporated with the following charter members

In 1969 the president was John. N. Kovach, Jr. and Mike Tamn served again as the Fire Chief.  The Company had 38 members and answered 28 calls.  In January Country Lakes had nearly 1000 homes and in February Browns Mills Emergency Squad automatically responded to night time calls.  In June the company celebrated it's 10th anniversary, had 4 members serving in Vietnam and still could not obtain a loan for the new building.  The company also established a First Aid Squad in March and purchased an ambulance for $601.00 from Americia Squad in Mount Holly assigning it  all sign 1862 in April.  John J. O'Brien was elected the first Squad Captain.  On the 26th the company responded to a call about a lost aircraft in Chatsworth and searched Country Lakes Fire Company in 1969                                                                            for 11 hours with no trace of the plane or the 4

souls onboard.  In June the first squad members (firemen) completed first aid training.

In 1970 the president was Alphonse and the fire chief was Raymond C. Place.  The company had 47 members and answered 68 calls.  One of those calls was in July in Whitesbogs Village.  Fire did $200,000 worth of damage to a 3 story, 60'x200' historic packing shed.   The fund drive for September netted more than $1000 for the first time.  The first regular Tuesday night bingo was held on October 27th and in November the company purchased the property adjacent to the firehouse in which the deed includes lake rights.  A representative from the New Jersey State Firemen's Relief Association attended the meeting to explain about the Association.  In December the company received a donation from Acme Markets, a Mack B-60 tractor to mate with the trailer obtained from Cookstown Fire Company.

In 1971 James E. Rikeman was the president and Louis Nobles was the chief from January to March and Raymond C. Place was the chief from April to December.  The company had 45 members and answered 72 calls.  The percentages requirement were changed, in February, to 61% to conform with the New Jersey Firemen's Relief Association in the event the company joins.  In April the Dodge truck caught fire while returning from a call.  The fire was quickly extinguished resulting in little damage.  Bingo is six months old and has turned over $775 to the general account with the soda machine turning over $50.00, selling at 10 cents a can.  In May the Chevy pumper is sold to a Monmouth County nursery to make way for the 1952 Mack 405A pumper purchased from America Fire Company in Mount Holly.  The Pemberton Township Police followed the truck to the firehouse wondering why Mount Holly was responding to Country Lakes.  The firehouse was painted and the members got confused on the colors and the front of the building wound up yellow, the next day it was repainted white and the next week it was brown.  On July 15th the Emergency Squad incorporated and separated from the fire company.  The ambulance was turned over to the Country Lakes Emergency Squad.  The Ladies Auxiliary was deactivated and the New Ladies Auxiliary was activated in August.  In September, the tractor trailer responded to several calls before blowing the engine and being retired  A concrete apron was put in the firehouse in November and the state amended the blue light law to allow flashing blue lights as long as they did not exceed the height of the headlights.

In 1972 the president was James E. Rikeman and the fire chief was Carl M. Sickle.  The company had 48 members and answered 49 calls.  In January it was reported that bingo in 1971 had an income of $5119.90, debits of $1550.68 and turned over $3460 to the general account.  In February a 5 year planning committee was appointed with the duties of planning a new pumper.  The report of the planning committee in March was for a Hahn pumper on a Ford chassis.  The company took the recommendation of the planning committee and approved to purchase the Hahn pumper with a 750GPM pump and a 1000 gallon tank. In August fire hydrants were installed in parts of Country Lakes and the company patch was designed by William Hosbach and approved by the company.  The Reo was the first to receive the first company insignia and it was hand painted on the truck.

In 1973 James E. Rikeman served as the president and Raymond C. Place was the fire chief.  The company had 40 members and answered 78 calls.  In March the Dodge is designated to be put up for sale upon the arrival of the Hahn and company members who are injured at a fire are required to receive a physicians certificate ascertaining their fitness for duty.  In April the company purchased uniform shirts hats and ties for the men and the company patches arrived for the shirts.  In May the new Hahn arrived and was placed in service as 1862 and the planning committee was task with planning a new fire station.  The Hahn was taken to the New Gretna parade in June where it won the "Newest Apparatus"  trophy, the first company trophy.  Guidelines for reimbursements to members who complete fire training schools are set in September.

In 1974 the president was Michael G. Tamn and Raymond C. Place was the fire chief.  The company had 41 members and answered 76 calls.  In February the company made $700.00 from bingo the largest to date and they approved reimbursing gasoline to members in schools.  In March the first TOT-FINDERS were bought for the residents and in April the application was submitted to Farmers Home Administration for the new building.  The company hires an architect in May to design the new firehouse.  Marilyn Rikeman and Catherine Tamn become the first female firefighters in August and in December the Pemberton Township Firematic Council in formed. 

In 1975 the president was Wilmur McDowell and the fire chief was Michael G. Tamn.  The company had 39 members and answered 88 calls.  The bids for the new firehouse were opened and rejected in April.  In May the Dodge was decommissioned and sold to a  nursery in Newtown Pa. and again bids for the new firehouse were opened and a contract was awarded.  Farmers Home Administration approved the building loan for $195,000 the first one in their history in July.  John J. O'Brien succeeded Wilmur McDowell as president.  Construction began on the new building on Firehouse Rd in July and in December the company moved into the new building.

In 1976 The president was Michael Tamn and the fire chief was Raymond C. Place.  The company had 54 members and answered 168 calls.  The company sponsored a circus in April as a fundraiser and in June the new firehouse was used for township elections.  Soda increased to 30 cents a can.  In July the company approves the establishment of a township fore code and in August the old firehouse is put up for sale with an asking price of $28,000.  In November the company acquired a Kaiser-Jeep 6x6 cargo truck from the State Forest Fire Service give the company a total of 4 trucks.  The company also received it's Citizen Band Radio License as KADZ-3600

In 1977 the president was Michael Tamn and the fire chief was Raymond C. Place.  The company had 73 members and answered 186 calls.  In January the company decided to bestow life membership on the members who signed the Certificate of Incorporation in 1959. In February the fund raiser was Pro Wrestlers at the firehouse.  In April the Fire Police adopted their uniform code and the men had to purchase their own uniforms.  The small office building next to the old fire station was razed and in May the addition of sheds behind the new station began.  In July the company insignia was applied to all trucks and in December the Ladies Auxiliary began Saturday Night Bingo.  The Philadelphia Fire Department loaned the company Engine 231 to use while the company's fleet is out of service.

In 1978 the president was William Hosbach and the chief was John R. Warrick.  The company had 68 members and answered 203 calls.  In January the county issued new calls signs and Country Lakes Fire Company went from Station 186 to Station 183.  The new designations include Chief 1830, Mack 1831, Hahn 1832, Assistant Chief 1835, Kaiser 1836, Reo 1837 and Fire Police 1838 and 1839.  Dimension phones (red phone) are installed in the firehouse and the State amended the blue light law to include rotating lights on cars.  In February the company joined the NJ State Police Statewide Arson Network and in March the state issues the Firefighter license plate.  In April the company is designated to receive the first new truck purchased by the township through the efforts so the fire council and an International Pumper is purchased from Mantua Fire Company until the Firecat arrives, it is designated 1833.  In May the company supports the township wide fire tax and district and in June it made application to join the State Firemen's relief Association.  The State enacts legislation to designate the 2nd Sunday in January as Volunteer Firemen's Day and in November the company switched from Pemberton Township dispatch to Burlington County Central dispatch.  In December the company is accepted in the New Jersey Firemen's Relief Association and is given 6 quotas for Active members.

In 1979 the president was Carl M. Sickle and the fire chief was James F. McColligan.  The company had 70 members and answered 193 calls.  In January the community of Country Lakes had grown to nearly 1200 homes and the company held it's first Installation Dinner.  In March the new Philly helmets arrived to replace the older MSA helmets.  The company returned the Kaiser-Jeep to the State Forest Fire Service in June and received a 1954 Dodge Brush truck in October from the State Forest Fire Service.

In 1980 the president was Carl M. Sickle and the fire chief was John R. Warrick.  The company had 65 members and answered 223 calls.  In January the company went out for the Annual Installation Dinner and in May a 1980 Firecat with a 1000 gpm pump and a 1000 gallon tank was placed in service as 1833.  In November the men take over the kitchen on Saturday night bingo while the Auxiliary works the floor.  In December the company decides on two new awards, Turkey of the Year and Firefighter of the Year.

In 1981 the president and the fire chief was Alexander H. Duhnoski, Jr. The company had 64 members and answered 196 calls.  In March the company had a fire detection system installed in the firehouse and in May the quotas for the Firemen's relief is increased to 11.  The company obtains signatures from residents for the Fire District.  In September the parking lot is paved and sod is laid around the building.  A company banner is made by the Duhnoski girls and presented to the company and trucks are sent to the New Jersey Firemen's Relief Association's Annual Convention Parade in Wildwood NJ for the first time.  In October the company agreed to give all past chiefs a Certificate of Honor and a gold Past Chiefs badge at the annual dinners and in December the County erected a sign on Lakehurst Rd warning motorists of fire trucks exiting Firehouse Rd.  The company donated the International to the County Fire Academy and purchased rescue orientated equipment

In 1982 the president was Raymond C. Place and the fire chief was  Alexander H. Duhnoski, Jr.  The company had 77 members and answered 180 calls.  In January the company inventory exceeded $1,000,000 in assets and received the Federal Excise Tax exemption.  The Auxiliary was presented with their first badges at the annual dinner.  In February plans were presented to complete the members room and in March the company approves to reimburse members for Emergency Medical Technician training.  The township rejects the Fire District in May and the issue died and a local doctor provided free physicals for prospective firefighters.  In June, United States Senator Bill Bradly presented a Letter of Commendation to the company for participation in the major forest fire in the Pine Barrens and in August the company won three trophies in Township Competition.  In October the position of Company Chaplain is established and Richard Stevens in the first one elected.

In 1983 the president was Joseph Marold, Jr. and the fire chief was Alexander H. Duhnoski, Jr.  The company had 73 members and answered 76 calls. 

The history up to this point was compiled by then Secretary John R. Warrick and presented to the membership at the annual Installation Dinner January 7th 1983 held at the Cookstown VFW with the following dedication "Dedicated to all members, past and present who have given their lives to better exemplify the dedication and professionalism of the Fire Service Volunteers." and the following forward in the document "The following pages have been compiled from the official records and reports of the Corporation.  The countless man-hours spent in conducting the business of the company, training, planning, fighting fires and answering calls for help bring no reward to us, the volunteers.  But, our thanks is in knowing we have assisted someone in their time of need and continue to make the community a safer place for all to live.  The dream of our Charter Members was to protect our loved ones and neighbors.  By their beginnings, we have helped build the fine and proud company in which we belong.  Let no one stand in the way, in that we shall strive to better the firefighting unit which we are.  The Company insignia in the front was designed by William Hosbach, former President.  The letterheads shown on the following pages depict all styles used since 1959.  JRW". 

I am unable to show the insignia or letterheads at this time but will try to get them online.  Thanks go out to John Warrick for his hard work in compiling the company history up to this point.  The daunting task lies ahead to compile the company history from 1983 up to the present as it is done it will be presented here to you.  If anyone has any old pictures or historic information please send them to me at the following address webmaster@countrylakesfirecompany.org

In 1983 the president was Joseph Marold, Jr. and the fire chief was Alexander H. Duhnoski, Jr.  The company had 73 members and answered 76 calls.  In January the company established the history committee and is consisted of Cathy Tamn and John Warrick.  In March the old building was tentatively sold to a church.  The company approved a new company patch as presented by Mr. Willits.  In April the company joined the National Fire Protection Administration.  In May the company approved a uniform on which to display their new patch.  It was discovered in August the roof on the new firehouse was leaking and will have to be repaired also the $1.00 a month.  In November the company purchased a 1954 Army model M49C tanker from a company in Massachusetts for the amount of $7,000 and sent 4 members to bring it back to New Jersey.

In 1984 the president was Joseph Marold and the fire chief was Alexander H. Duhnoski, Jr.  The company answered 233 calls.  In April the company had four new bay doors installed in the firehouse and in June the chief read a Letter of Appreciation form Major General Thomas Kelly Cmdr USATC and Ft Dix for assistance at  Walson Army Community Hospital drill held in May.  In July the company celebrated it's 25th Anniversary with a parade and party.  The company attended a parade in Morrisville P.A. in Sept and a parade in Neptune N.J. in Nov and received the awards for the furthest distance.