The first Seaside Volunteer Fire Department meeting was held back in February 1979. Today, fifteen years later the fire department is still fighting fires, saving lives, and thousands of dollars in property.

The weekly meetings were first held at the Blue Whale Lounge in South Dildo until 1982; with the help of a grant given by Mr. Andrew Smith (the chairman at the time) a fire hall was built. The name "seaside" was given by Mr. Alfred Cooper, because all the houses in the area were built near water.

In 1983 through the aid of federal funds from Co-op manager Mr. Charlie Reid and Mr. Nygard of Carino, the firemen purchased a fire truck. The community Five Lions Club gave the firemen a ten horsepower pump and a hose. Other funding has been done door-to- door collections. Now with the help of the firettes many other fund-raisers are carried out, such as: car washes, card games, and sales.

Over the years the firemen have fought many serious fires, dealt with tragedy, even the loss of a firemen.

"Besides knowing how to use the equipment, you also have to know how to handle different types of fires. Also you are on call 24 hours a day, because a fire could happen anytime, anywhere and in any type of weather. Fires don't wait for ideal conditions."

Today there are four firemen still in the fire department who were there in the beginning: Don Bishop (the first chief), Melvin Newhook, Alonzo Reid, and Rex Hollett. To date there are 27 members in the fire department and there is also room for more members. Congratulations Seaside Volunteer Fire Dept. on fifteen years of service.