Westwood resident George T. Brickell donated a parcel of land on Center Avenue for the construction of a firetruck house. Long before water hydrants were in use, Gary Cronk, whose stable was located across from the first firehouse, used his horses to pull the firewagon, (as seen in one of the great photographs in Westwood's archives).

In years to follow, Westwood was to see the addition of a water system through which water mains with hydrants were installed on the principal streets of the community. With the advent of the new water system, the call for new equipment was met with the purchase of a two-wheel hose reel and 500 feet of hose.

By 1910, the Continental Hook and Ladder Company had seen the addition of two companies, whose members were transfers from the Hook and Ladder itself. On April 24, 1909, the Borough Council approved the transfer of twenty eight members of Continental Hook and Ladder to a newly formed fire company, Westwood Hose Company No. 1. Following the passage of a new fire ordinance in March, 1910, a second hose company, Continental Hose Company No. 1, was formed on April 6, 1910. The twenty two members of this new company were also Hook and Ladder transfers. As a provision of the ordinance, Westwood Hose Company was ordered to reorganize under the name of Westwood Hose Company No. 2. The reorganization gave the Westwood Fire Department the configuration that has lasted to this day. The spring of that year also saw the addition of "Prince and Belle" - a new team of black fire horses (no record of a wetdown exists).

The original firehouse was torn down in 1928 and the land turned over to the borough. At the site the town erected the Municipal Building which housed the Police Department, Municipal Court, and Fire Department.

On July 19, 1935, the Westwood Fireman's Ambulance Service went into operation with 20 members covering the entire Pascack Valley (another Westwood first). The ambulance was owned and operated solely by the firemen. This tradition was to continue until 1973, at which time membership was opened to all Westwood residents forming the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which to this day provides exemplary emergency medical care to the residents of the borough.

In praise and memory of its deceased members, the Westwood Fire Department in 1953 dedicated the Firemen's Memorial Park using the first fire bell as its centerpiece. The name of each deceased member from 1894 to date, is inscribed on the monument. Annually, the Memorial Committee visits the graves of each deceased member to place department and exempt flags. This tribute is only a partial reminder of the proud tradition of the Westwood Fire Department and its members both past and present.