HAWLEY — The Hawley Volunteer Fire Department is turning 40 years old, and to celebrate, members are inviting everyone to a party on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 2 p.m.

The event will be held at the Hawley Grove, located at 327 East Hawley Road.

The department was founded in 1984 by a vote at Annual Town Meeting. After residents agreed a fire department was needed, they quickly got to work and built a fire station with just $6,000 and plenty of volunteer labor, according to firefighter Hussain Hamdan, who also serves on the Selectboard. Their first fire truck was purchased from Conway at a price of $1.

Sept. 15 is not the exact date of the anniversary, but as 2024 dwindles to its last few months, the department wanted to honor all the volunteers who have served the department over the years, and those who continue to do so.

The event will begin at 2 p.m. Attendees will be able to peruse artifacts, exhibits, historic trucks and apparatuses while enjoying light refreshments. At 3 p.m., there will be a presentation on the department’s history and a ceremony honoring longtime members. Then at 4 p.m., attendees can take a tour of the East Hawley Fire Station.

Hamdan said the displays will include photos of the station and department members over the years, a timeline of the department and old equipment. Though the original fire truck is “long gone” and will not be on display, Hamdan said, other department vehicles will be showcased, including a 1986 Chevrolet brush truck, and newer fire engines acquired in 2014 and 2020. Exhibits will also include protective gear from the department’s early days.

“There’s been a real evolution in equipment and protective clothing over the years,” Hamdan noted.

The event will end with dinner. Berkshire Pizzeria in Charlemont is donating pizza.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.