Prince Frederick
Maryland
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Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department
In 1926, a group of concerned citizens consisting mainly of business and professional men saw the need for a fire department in Prince Frederick, the seat of Calvert County. On May 6, 1926, a charter was issued in the name of Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Company. Acting officers of the company were John B. Gray, Jr., Rutherford B. Smoot, George D. Turner, Albert B. Gibson, and Isaac N. King. In 1927, a Ford Model A chemical fire engine was purchased and housed in a shed next to the Calvert Motor Company, known today as Prince Frederick Ford. The Company disbanded in 1931 for reasons unknown leaving the town again without any fire protection.
In 1940, a group of townspeople, including some of the previously involved, began meeting in an effort to reorganize a fire department in Prince Frederick. After many meetings with citizens from all areas of the county and a serious fire in Prince Frederick, progress began to take place. As the department would be providing fire protection to all areas of the county, it was decided that the name of the organization would be the Calvert County Volunteer Fire Department. In 1941 a charter was issued to the CCVFD. On September 9, 1941, Mr. Will Duke was appointed temporary chairman and the following Administrative Officers were elected: President - Harry Hughes, Vice Presidents - Warren Denton, J. Wilmer Gott, Allen Bowen, and Reginald Bowen, Secretary - Louis L. Goldstein, and Treasurer - Reginald Bowen. The Suppression Officers were: Chief - Shemwell Parran, Assistant Chief's - Robert Harkness, Austin Bowen and Berbard Lankford, Captain - Millard Fowler, Lieutenant - Maurice T. Lusby, Jr., Sergeant - Ray Shipley, Engineer - Halston Young and Fire Marshall- Robert King.
A 1928 Studebaker was borrowed from the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department and was housed in the shed next to Calvert Motor Company. Soon after this, a committee was formed to purchase the department's first fire engine. The committee ordered a 1941 American LaFrance with a 500 gpm pump and a 300 gallon tank that would be known as Engine 21. As the new fire engine was being built, construction on a new firehouse was started. In 1942, the CCVFD constructed a 1000 gallon Tanker with a 500 gpm pump on a 1935 International chassis. In 1943, the department moved into the new two bay firehouse next to the courthouse on Main Street. In 1947, an International fire engine was purchased from American Fire Apparatus with a 500 gpm front mounted pump and a 750 gallon tank known as Engine 22.
In 1955, another International fire engine was purchased. It featured a 500 gpm front mounted pump and a 1000 gallon tank. Due to other fire departments emerging and mutual aid with other counties, the county decided to change the numbers on the engines from two digits to three digits, making the new 55' Engine 201. 1956 started a 29 year era when Vernon D. Horsmon, Sr. became Chief. By 1959, the two bay firehouse was full with three engines and a tanker, and talk was started of building a new firehouse.
In 1960, a new one story, four bay firehouse was constructed. It also featured an extension on the front providing a kitchen and meeting room. In 1964, an International Scout was purchased due to many large brush fires in the county. In 1967, Engine 21 was replaced with an American Fire Apparatus International that featured a 750 gpm front mounted pump and a 1000 gallon tank which was known as Engine 202. In 1968, a Rambler Chief's Car was purchased from the Prince Frederick Motor Company.
In 1970, an International 1-ton brush truck was constructed by the CCVFD. In 1973, Engine 203 was replaced with the department's first closed cab fire engine, an International Custom. In 1978, the Tanker was replaced with an International 750 gpm front mounted pump and a 1500 gallon tank. The Tanker was purchased from Oren Fire Apparatus in Virginia. With the county growing at a fast rate, the department decided to purchase the county's first ladder truck. In 1979, a 100' Maxim rear mount ladder truck was purchased.
On January 12, 1980, while responding to a fire in the Broomes Island area, Truck 2 got out of control and flipped over several times. The accident injured firefighter Mike Moore and killed Assistant Chief Donald Bowen. This marked the first Line of Duty Death (LODD) for the department. The ladder truck was replaced with a 1980 100' Maxim rear mount. In 1983, an E-One/International 4x4 was purchased. It was known as Rescue 2 and featured a 750 gpm pump and a 500 gallon tank. In 1984, an addition was made to the firehouse, building two more stories above the kitchen and meeting room. The addition made a training room, a lounge, a bunkroom, and the Chief's office on the second floor, and a gym and storage on the third floor. Also in 1984, Engine 202 was totaled while responding to a fire in the Plum Point area injuring three firefighters. A 1984 Henrickson Custom/Pierce with a 1000 gpm pump and 750 gallon tank replaced Engine 202.
1985 ended a 29 year era for Chief Horsmon as he was forced to resign due to conflict of interest with his county job. Before Chief Horsmon's resignation, he renamed the department, Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department which allowed us a more positive identity to the area that we have a prime responsibility for. In 1988, the Tanker was replaced with a Mack/4Guys Tanker that featured a 1000gpm front mounted pump and a 3000 gallon tank. December 9, 1988 marked the second LODD for the department when President/Captain David Gott was returning home from running a call at the firehouse. A car pulled out in front of Capt. Gott at Hallowing Point Road and Barstow Road. In 1989, the county went back to two digit numbers and Engine 201 was replaced with Engine 21, a Pierce Lance that features a 1250 gpm pump and a 750 gallon tank. Engine 21 is still in service today running as a first line piece, making it the oldest Engine in the county.
In 1991, another Pierce Lance Engine was purchased to replace Engine 203. The new Engine 22 features a 1250 gpm pump and a 1000 gallon tank. E-22 is also equipped with Holmatro Rescue Tools and a 30 gallon foam tank. The 1980 Maxim Ladder Truck was rehabbed in 1993 by Pierce. The truck received a new Pierce Arrow closed cab and new compartments. While the Truck was being rehabbed, the department made another addition the firehouse. Three more bays were added to the end of the firehouse to house the newly rehabbed truck, the tanker, the brush units, and the safety house. In 1994, a new Rescue was purchased from E-One. The new E-One Cyclone replaced the 1983 International and was renamed Squad 2.
In 2000, a used 1994 Jeep Wrangler was purchased and built into Jeep 2 by PFVFD. In 2002, a new F350 Brush truck was purchased featuring a 250 gpm pump and 250 gallon tank. In 2003, a GMC Yukon was purchased as the new Command. A new Pierce 95' Mid-mount Tower Ladder was also purchased this year to replace the old Truck. In 2004, meetings started being held to discuss whether to rehab the old firehouse or construct a new one. This brings us up to date with the 8 bay firehouse and 12 apparatus.
In 1940, a group of townspeople, including some of the previously involved, began meeting in an effort to reorganize a fire department in Prince Frederick. After many meetings with citizens from all areas of the county and a serious fire in Prince Frederick, progress began to take place. As the department would be providing fire protection to all areas of the county, it was decided that the name of the organization would be the Calvert County Volunteer Fire Department. In 1941 a charter was issued to the CCVFD. On September 9, 1941, Mr. Will Duke was appointed temporary chairman and the following Administrative Officers were elected: President - Harry Hughes, Vice Presidents - Warren Denton, J. Wilmer Gott, Allen Bowen, and Reginald Bowen, Secretary - Louis L. Goldstein, and Treasurer - Reginald Bowen. The Suppression Officers were: Chief - Shemwell Parran, Assistant Chief's - Robert Harkness, Austin Bowen and Berbard Lankford, Captain - Millard Fowler, Lieutenant - Maurice T. Lusby, Jr., Sergeant - Ray Shipley, Engineer - Halston Young and Fire Marshall- Robert King.
A 1928 Studebaker was borrowed from the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department and was housed in the shed next to Calvert Motor Company. Soon after this, a committee was formed to purchase the department's first fire engine. The committee ordered a 1941 American LaFrance with a 500 gpm pump and a 300 gallon tank that would be known as Engine 21. As the new fire engine was being built, construction on a new firehouse was started. In 1942, the CCVFD constructed a 1000 gallon Tanker with a 500 gpm pump on a 1935 International chassis. In 1943, the department moved into the new two bay firehouse next to the courthouse on Main Street. In 1947, an International fire engine was purchased from American Fire Apparatus with a 500 gpm front mounted pump and a 750 gallon tank known as Engine 22.
In 1955, another International fire engine was purchased. It featured a 500 gpm front mounted pump and a 1000 gallon tank. Due to other fire departments emerging and mutual aid with other counties, the county decided to change the numbers on the engines from two digits to three digits, making the new 55' Engine 201. 1956 started a 29 year era when Vernon D. Horsmon, Sr. became Chief. By 1959, the two bay firehouse was full with three engines and a tanker, and talk was started of building a new firehouse.
In 1960, a new one story, four bay firehouse was constructed. It also featured an extension on the front providing a kitchen and meeting room. In 1964, an International Scout was purchased due to many large brush fires in the county. In 1967, Engine 21 was replaced with an American Fire Apparatus International that featured a 750 gpm front mounted pump and a 1000 gallon tank which was known as Engine 202. In 1968, a Rambler Chief's Car was purchased from the Prince Frederick Motor Company.
In 1970, an International 1-ton brush truck was constructed by the CCVFD. In 1973, Engine 203 was replaced with the department's first closed cab fire engine, an International Custom. In 1978, the Tanker was replaced with an International 750 gpm front mounted pump and a 1500 gallon tank. The Tanker was purchased from Oren Fire Apparatus in Virginia. With the county growing at a fast rate, the department decided to purchase the county's first ladder truck. In 1979, a 100' Maxim rear mount ladder truck was purchased.
On January 12, 1980, while responding to a fire in the Broomes Island area, Truck 2 got out of control and flipped over several times. The accident injured firefighter Mike Moore and killed Assistant Chief Donald Bowen. This marked the first Line of Duty Death (LODD) for the department. The ladder truck was replaced with a 1980 100' Maxim rear mount. In 1983, an E-One/International 4x4 was purchased. It was known as Rescue 2 and featured a 750 gpm pump and a 500 gallon tank. In 1984, an addition was made to the firehouse, building two more stories above the kitchen and meeting room. The addition made a training room, a lounge, a bunkroom, and the Chief's office on the second floor, and a gym and storage on the third floor. Also in 1984, Engine 202 was totaled while responding to a fire in the Plum Point area injuring three firefighters. A 1984 Henrickson Custom/Pierce with a 1000 gpm pump and 750 gallon tank replaced Engine 202.
1985 ended a 29 year era for Chief Horsmon as he was forced to resign due to conflict of interest with his county job. Before Chief Horsmon's resignation, he renamed the department, Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department which allowed us a more positive identity to the area that we have a prime responsibility for. In 1988, the Tanker was replaced with a Mack/4Guys Tanker that featured a 1000gpm front mounted pump and a 3000 gallon tank. December 9, 1988 marked the second LODD for the department when President/Captain David Gott was returning home from running a call at the firehouse. A car pulled out in front of Capt. Gott at Hallowing Point Road and Barstow Road. In 1989, the county went back to two digit numbers and Engine 201 was replaced with Engine 21, a Pierce Lance that features a 1250 gpm pump and a 750 gallon tank. Engine 21 is still in service today running as a first line piece, making it the oldest Engine in the county.
In 1991, another Pierce Lance Engine was purchased to replace Engine 203. The new Engine 22 features a 1250 gpm pump and a 1000 gallon tank. E-22 is also equipped with Holmatro Rescue Tools and a 30 gallon foam tank. The 1980 Maxim Ladder Truck was rehabbed in 1993 by Pierce. The truck received a new Pierce Arrow closed cab and new compartments. While the Truck was being rehabbed, the department made another addition the firehouse. Three more bays were added to the end of the firehouse to house the newly rehabbed truck, the tanker, the brush units, and the safety house. In 1994, a new Rescue was purchased from E-One. The new E-One Cyclone replaced the 1983 International and was renamed Squad 2.
In 2000, a used 1994 Jeep Wrangler was purchased and built into Jeep 2 by PFVFD. In 2002, a new F350 Brush truck was purchased featuring a 250 gpm pump and 250 gallon tank. In 2003, a GMC Yukon was purchased as the new Command. A new Pierce 95' Mid-mount Tower Ladder was also purchased this year to replace the old Truck. In 2004, meetings started being held to discuss whether to rehab the old firehouse or construct a new one. This brings us up to date with the 8 bay firehouse and 12 apparatus.