Monsey Fire District ends 149-year tie with Brewer Engine Co.

Monsey Fire District is spending $1.6 million to create a new paid fire company, a budget line that marks the end of a 149-year partnership with the volunteer Brewer Fire Engine Company. The new unit will operate under the district's direct management rather than as an independent volunteer organization.

Brewer Engine Company has served Monsey since 1877. Yossi Gestetner, the district's public affairs officer, stated that the shift is necessary to handle the approximately 1,400 emergency calls the district receives annually. The goal is to maintain a full crew on site 24 hours a day by hiring contracted personnel, with volunteers providing backup support.

This change will introduce the first paid firefighters to Rockland County. Gestetner noted that the $1.6 million allocation for the initiative represents an increase of about $80,000 to the district's overall budget compared to the current year. He invited all active members of Brewer to apply to the new company, saying, "They are supported. They are loved. They are welcome to apply to the new company."

Community reaction has been mixed. An online petition supporting the continuation of Brewer Engine Company has gathered a few hundred signatures. One Brewer member, speaking off camera, said that most of the company's firefighters do not plan to join the new unit. Some have already left for other fire departments in Rockland County.

The district will hold a public comment session on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8 a.m. The meeting is scheduled for their location at 381 Route 306 in Wesley Hills. The session will focus on the proposal to bring in an outside provider for the new paid positions.

The transition effectively closes the chapter on Brewer's independent existence in Monsey. The district's 2027 budget now reflects the financial commitment to this new operational model.