This volunteer fire department has a long history. It interestingly enough got its name through a contest. Voters paid five cents to cast their votes, and M.P. Rice, a member of the first Branford Board of Fire Commissioners, won the election, receiving 1,200 votes.
One of the town's two fire trucks was stored at town hall at the turn of the century, and the M.P. Rice station was built shortly after to house the vehicle.
Today Captain Brain Mazzarella leads the department. He and 27 volunteers work to serve the people of Branford.