Founding and Early Years
Chartered on October 6, 1955, Pearce’s Mill Fire Department was established to address a critical need for fire protection in Cumberland County. Prior to this, fire protection services had been discontinued, prompting local residents to form Pearce’s Mill Township and establish the fire department. 

In its early days, the department operated from a modest shed in Massey Hill, equipped with a 1946 American LaFrance Ford fire engine donated for its use. The fire engine was stored at a local service station. Under the leadership of Fire Chief Perlie A. Reeves, volunteers were alerted by phones or a horn mounted on a pole and responded promptly to calls for help. 

Growth and Development 
By 1956, thanks to successful fundraising efforts, the department constructed a new two-story, three-bay fire station at 1722 Gillespie Street, built by the firefighters themselves. The community’s continued support allowed for the acquisition of additional equipment, including a new Dodge D500 Howe Fire Engine in 1961, purchased for ten thousand dollars. During this period, a fire tax was introduced to further support the department’s operations.