Twenty-one citizens from the Idle Park voting district of Ligonier Township met on July 18, 1954 at the Long Beach Hotel (currently the Road Toad).

Because of an influx of residents, the citizens decided the area was in need of fire protection services.  By August, the Idle Park Volunteer Fire Company was founded and in service. 

The new organization was run by: President Lloyd Johnson, Vice President Thomas Swaney, Treasurer James Wadsworth, Secretary James Corna and Chief Engineer George Tomlinson.  

In August 1954, the new company purchased a 1930 American LaFrance for $500 from North Bethel Township.  With the purchase of the LaFrance, North Bethel also included various firefighting equipment to help the young company.

The truck was housed in the Quarry Barn near Longbridge courtesy of local businessman, Bruno Ferrari.

 Idle Park VFD operated out of the Quarry Barn before moving to its permanent residence at 1280 Darlington Rd. in 1969.  The company purchased a plot of land and a new fire hall was built with an expanded truck bay/social area and kitchen facility.  The Company then took the name as the Darlington Volunteer fire company but did not make the name change official until t mid 2000's.  One thing the company did was to preserve the Idle Park name for the Relief Association. 

In the late 1980's, the company added a two-bay garage onto the rear of the hall.  With the addition of the garage, the company had more room for larger, better equipped trucks.

Below are some of the company’s previous trucks.