PHOTOS: The Jane Lew Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated May 9, 1941, with the charter filed by Harry McWhorter and C.S. Mitchell, though plans to form a department began with an organizational meeting Jan. 15 of that year. According to handwritten notes the department still has, the first chief was Clair Mitchell, who was appointed by the mayor and served as chief until 1957.
On Feb. 10, 1941, a motion was made to go before the town council to request a small donation to buy a used car. Bylaws were adopted April 14, 1941, and it was also voted on at that meeting to incorporate the department. While some meeting minutes have been lost to time, by 1943, the department had obtained equipment, including two smoke masks, a first aid kit and crow bar.
In October 1943, Walter Neely Jr. donated an automobile trunk to be placed on the fire truck to carry supplies. It was at this time, with 17 active members, that the department voted to join the National Firefighters Association.