Original Fire Department.

The department started in a very modest way. The first fire fight- ing equipment consisted of two forty-gallon chemical tanks. These heavy tanks were usually hauled to a fire on a cart or sleigh, but were often carried when no other means of transportation were available.

At the onset of World War 11, an Air Raid Precaution Committee (A.R.P.) was established in O’Leary, as in other communities across Prince Edward Island. Through this committee the village was able to obtain financial support from the provincial government. O’Leary decided to use its funding to upgrade its fire fighting equipment. New equipment was bought and new methods of fighting fires were introduced. O’Leary’s first fire truck and two new pumpers were pur- chased - one a powerful motor driven device, the other a portable one often hauled to fires on a truck usually supplied and driven by Fred Champion. According to reliable reports, a trip to a fire with Fred driving his small truck, travelling at break neck speed, rounding corners on two wheels was an unforgettable experience.

Sirens were installed to alert citizens of a possible air raid, or sim- ply a practice “black out”. These sirens were activated at the tele- phone office. Buckets of sand were kept on hand to douse possible incendiary bombs.

Under the foremanship of Daniel Ramsay, local citizens con- structed seven underground water reservoirs at the following loca- tions: near the corner of the Barclay Road and Maple Street, at north

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