The Keremeos Volunteer Fire Department was started in 1940 after the 13 Members received civil defense equipment consisting of a bickle pump unit, coats and other miscellaneous items. Previous to that a community volunteer bucket brigade fought all fires in Keremeos.  The new department was located in a shack on the present IGA site.  A siren was made in Copper Mountain for the department. The first chief of the Department was David Innis.

In 1942, a Bickle Seagrave pump and hoses plus chemicals were donated by the government because of the threat of Japanese invasion.  At that time, the pump was pulled by hand with the men carrying the suction hoses.

In 1944, the Bickle pump was put on a Bennett buggy and pulled by car and stored in a small garage nearby.

The first truck, a 1932 Ford was bought in 1945. The truck carried 150 gallons of water and was put under pressure by a pump made & donated by W. H. Pearce. That same year Fred Kickbush donated oxygen equipment to the department.

In 1946,  E. (Dutchie) Vanderlinde was Chief of the department.

The Super Valu (presently IGA) was built in 1952 and the department moved to Dutchie's. The trucks & meetings where held in Dutchie's buildings. This is the year that the packing house burnt and a new extension ladder was purchased.

The Village of Keremeos was incorporated in 1956

In 1958 the first ambulance was bought and the firemen purchased and converted a 1950 panel truck into a ambulance.

In 1962, Barney Haughian was Chief of the department. The fire department joined the Keremeos Irrigation District and extended its boundaries to include those of the K.I.D. A 1944 Ford fire truck was purchased (it now sits on display at the fire hall and used for parades).

January 1963, Cliff Schneider was appointed Chief by Mayor Minshull. A 1947 Ford was purchased to be equipped as a fire truck.

7 fire hydrants where installed in the village in 1964

1966 the old B/A gas station was purchased and minor renovations where done to convert it into a fire hall. Two trucks and ambulance where housed in the building plus it provided the firemen with meeting & social room.

1967 Charlie Luxon was made Chief and the packing house burnt for a second time. A second ambulance was purchased as well that year.

June of 1970 a new ambulance, Ford Econoline was bought and a third fire truck a 1969 GMC Pumper was purchased.

1973 Walter Despot was elected Chief .

Emergency Health Services took over the operation of the ambulances in 1974 and Stan Abbott was Chief.

1975 Walter was elected Chief again and during that year Walter, Stan Abbott, Stan Porter and Dutchie were instrumental in getting a new 1975 Superior Tanker.

The fire department joined the Regional District of  Okanagan/Similkameen on January 1, 1976. Dutchie (T. Vanderlinde) was elected Chief and the second ambulance was used as a fire department car and used as an ambulance when needed.

1977 Walter was elected Chief again and served one more year in 1980.

1978 and 1979 Stan Porter was Chief.

This is a 1909 Hose Reel. There is currently 3 in the area, one at the Hedley Museum, One at the Hedley fire Department and the one we currently have. It was used to fight a major fire in 1912.