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Our History
Tragedy begot the Oakland-Mapleville Fire Department
Woonsocket Call
1958
After a fire that destroyed the convent of Our Lady of Good Help Church in Mapleville in December 1932, Harrisville Fire Chief Clarence Cook exhorted the residents of Oakland and Mapleville to organize their own fire protection. But it wasn’t until several months later when a second home in Mapleville was gutted by fire that a group of residents called for the formation of a fire district.
The district was formed in the summer of 1933 with the promise from local mill owners in Mapleville and Oakland of the full use of all hydrants and pumps of the Stillwater Worsted Mills and the Oakland Worsted Co. The Oakland-Mapleville Fire District received its Charter from the State of Rhode Island in January 1934. In July of that same year, the fire department was organized with Adelbert J. Reynolds as its first Chief and John Maher as President. Chief Cook of Harrisville and Pascoag’s Chief Frank Shaw, Sr. gave their time and effort in training the new department’s personnel and instructing them in the use of the apparatus.
In 1955 a rescue squad was formed under the direction of Deputy Chief Harold W. “Smokey” Potter. The squad had for its use in emergencies, two inhalators, resuscitator, stretchers and the latest, for that time, first aid equipment. In 1963, with Potter now Chief, and through the efforts of department member and Civil Defense Director Ray Cahill, a Navy surplus laundry truck was procured and made into our first Rescue truck. Through the endeavors of Smokey Potter, Ray Lepine, Roger Walker, Ray Balcom and George Pichette, the laundry truck was converted into a very usable and practical rescue truck.
In 1997 the Glendale Fire District voted to merge with other fire districts in the town, and in 2002 the merger with Oakland-Mapleville and a section of Glendale was completed.
On April 14, 1999, at the Annual Meeting of the taxpayers of the District, a motion was made and passed to pursue the feasibility of a new fire station. At that time the US Postal Service expressed interest in purchasing the old fire station which was built in 1934 at 963 Victory Highway, Mapleville. The purchase and sales agreement was signed June 2000. On June 14, 2000 the Operating Committee held a special meeting to discuss the construction of the new fire station. The generous donation of land at School St. in Oakland by brothers Ellsworth and Warren Steere was voted on at this meeting and accepted as the location of the new station. Keyway Corporation was hired as the builder and financing was through USDA Rural Development. In November of 2002 the station was ready for occupancy.
Another milestone for the District happened in November of 2005 when the first Per Diem EMT’s were hired. They were to be on duty ten hours, Monday through Friday. This coverage now includes an 11pm – 7am shift and coverage on weekends.
This was the humble beginnings of what has become an efficient, effective and dedicated group of men and women with an elite fleet of equipment that protect and service the residents of the villages of Oakland, Mapleville and part of Glendale.
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