After the turn of the 20th century, fire plagued the Mahopac communities whereby forcing the concerned residents action to fight this menacing force. On October 6th, 1914, Forty men assembled at the Old Town Hall in Mahopac, when under the leadership of George "Shorty" Long and Jerome Peck they organized the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department. The purpose of the new organization was "to provide efficient apparatus and manpower to save the village and surroundings from the menace of disastrous fires,"assuming the responsibility of protecting the lives and properties in the Mahopac and Mahopac Falls communities.

              In January 1915, the department leased the second floor of the railroad station and converted a donated Ford automobile into a fire-fighting vehicle. The success of the fundraising efforts enabled the Department to purchase their first fire engine in September 1916, a Mack chemical fire engine. In October 1918 they approved the acquisition of the old schoolhouse on Croton Falls Road at Miller Avenue.

             In 1921, the department acquired the advanced Stewart Buffalo pumper. A GMC Buffalo pumper and an American LaFrance fire engine were acquired in the mid-twenties to replace older apparatus and the members started rendering emergency medical services through the generosity of Michael Meehan who donated a Buick ambulance to the department in 1928 after a near drowning on Lake Mahopac.

            Although the depression in the 1930's caused financial difficulties, the department continued to grow and expand services. The generosity of summer tourists and residents enabled the department to purchase a Mack pumper in 1937. This was also the year that the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department organized to protect western farmland sections of Mahopac. As a gesture of good will, the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department donated the Stewart Buffalo Pumper for one dollar to help start the new fire department.

           World War II took its toll on the department as members  left to join the armed services.  Rationing and equipment shortages hindered the growth of the department. after the war the department acquired land at the intersection of Route 6 and Croton Falls Road and built a 4 bay colonial style firehouse. The community purchased promissory notes of $100 some of which have never been redeemed. The fire department is still on this property today.

          The community  changed from a tourist area to a bedroom community in the 60's. The department fought many blazes that destroyed all the old hotels. The sixties will always be remembered for the great heroics of the volunteers' life saving incidents, and for the recognition attained by the department winning several New York Daily News Vamps's awards. The department continued to grow in the 70's and built the first substation on Crane Road at the intersection of Dixon Road.

          In 1989 the department celebrated its 75th anniversary with a yearlong celebration. We added a 2nd substation in 1991 and continued to replace older apparatus with new modern firefighting rigs. 

In 2007 we built our new modern firehouse on our property and dedicated it to all members, past, present and future who dedicated their lives to protect the residents of the Town of Carmel