Belvidere, NJ — January 17 — Members of Mountain Lake Fire Company-72 Fire, located at 99 Tamarack Road, acknowledged January 17 as a significant date in the history of the fire service associated with Benjamin Franklin. Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. In 1736, he assisted in founding the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia, which is regarded as the first volunteer fire department in the American colonies.

Franklin's strategy, which included safer building techniques and shared accountability within the community, was centered on organization, mutual help, and fire prevention. These ideas are still essential to contemporary fire and emergency medical services operations. Members of the department observed that thinking back on the service's beginnings demonstrates how cooperation, readiness, and community involvement still facilitate efficient emergency response in the modern era.