Bel Air was laid out in 1780 by Aquilla Scott on a portion of his inheritance named Scott’s Old Fields. Each of the 42 lots consisted of one-half acre.

            In 1782 this area was chosen as the County Seat and henceforth became known as "Belle Aire".

            On February 19, 1859, many invaluable papers were lost when the Courthouse was destroyed by fire. At that time, "Bucket Brigades" were utilized during fires, mainly to protect the buildings that were not burning. With no hydrants or organized fire department, most buildings burned to the ground.

            By 1890 the population of the village of Bel Air was 1,416 and growing. There were already five hotels, three blacksmith shops, two banks, seven physicians, one undertaker, three tanners, 34 lawyers and many independent businesses. Architects were hired to design not only public buildings but also houses for the increasingly sophisticated and wealthy residents. These buildings needed protection from disastrous fires. And so begins the history of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

           The earliest record of any organizational effort toward fire protection in Bel Air comes from the August 29, 1890, issue of The Aegis Intellenger, which contains an account of a public meeting held in the "Grand Room," concerning the formation of volunteer fire departments for small towns. The guest speaker was Mr. Charles Seckleman, former Chief of the Bethlehem Fire Department and a representative of the Eureka Fire Hose Company. At this meeting, Mr. Seckleman suggested that Bel Air form one or two companies of 20-30 members each and that each company should have a foreman and assistant foreman to take charge during emergencies. These leaders, he noted, "should be sober and clear-headed men, whom the fireman will respect and obey."

           Recognizing a need for organized fire protection, the Articles of Incorporation were recorded in the Office of the Harford County Clerk on September 13, 1890.

           It should be noted here that the Municipal Water Company was formed earlier in the year in Bel Air and that mains and hydrants were in the process of being installed.

           On October 8, 1890, the Bel Air Fire and Salvage Company was formally organized into two companies with Mr. J. T. C. Hopkins as President. Mr. H. B. Burns was appointed Foreman of Company 1 and Mr. David Hanaway Foreman of Company 2.

           Division No. 1 consisted of the members living northwest of Howard (Lee) Street, with the fire house probably located on the Gordon Street property of the School Board.

           Division No. 2 consisted of the members living southeast of Howard (Lee) Street. The fire house was located at the jail.

           All members were issued a rubber coat, metal hat, and a few pairs of boots. The apparatus during this period consisted of a hand-drawn hose reel and hand-drawn ladder truck. This was the only fire equipment owned until 1920.

           The first alarm answered by the Bel Air Fire and Salvage Company occurred on Sunday, November 23, 1890 and involved the estate of Mrs. Effie Fulton at Hickory and Pennsylvania Avenues. The fire was discovered by Mr. P. F. Bauer, who notified Mr. Edward Street, a clerk in a nearby drug store. Mr. Street ran to the Fire House at the jail and sounded the alarm. Within a period of two minutes after arriving, a stream of water was playing on the fire and it was extinguished.

           The fire company had its start, and the tradition and excellence of service set down by the founding fathers would continue through the next century.

        In 1903, The Bel Air Fire and Salvage Company ordered a bell from the McShane Bell Foundry Company of Baltimore. It weighed 1,826 pounds, and was hung in the cupola of the Courthouse. With its loud clang, it could be heard for miles across the cornfields and pastures that then surrounded the County Seat. This bell was rung six times for out of town fires and twelve times for in-town fires. The bell was rung by the telephone operators from the exchange, which was located on Dallam Place, now Hickory Avenue and Courtland Street.

         The bell summoned fireman for years until the advent of modern electronics, two-way radio communications and high powered sirens eventually made the bell obsolete.It continued to hang in the age-weakened old Courthouse until 1967 when it was taken down and placed on a concrete pedestal in front of the Courthouse. A time capsule was placed under the bell to stay for 200 years; sixteen years later, in 1983, the bell was moved to be refurbished and was eventually put back in the cupola. At that time the capsule was opened. Among the contents was a report from the McShane Bell Foundry Company on the age and estimated 1967 value of the bell ($3,000), a small color photo of a teenager (John Scotten, Jr.) and a poem by Charles V. Spalding detailing the saga of the bell.

         The second chief to be elected in the Bel Air Fire and Salvage Company was T. Frank MacLean (1904-1924). Mr. MacLean owned and operated a blacksmith shop on Courtland Street. The first consolidated fire house was built in 1907 on Courtland Street, across from Mr. MacLean’s shop.

        The reorganization of the Bel Air Fire and Salvage Company into the present Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. took place in 1924 after the disastrous Worthington Fire. The large house located on Conowingo Road near town was enveloped in flames, and in a matter of seconds the ten occupants had been aroused and rushed outside in their night clothes, The fire company arrived in a very short time, and after turning on the hose the blaze seemed to be under control. Then the fire hose burst, and repeated hose failure eventually resulted in the loss of the house and most of its contents.

        This fire brought to the attention of the town that its present equipment was no longer adequate even though it now owned a 1918 Model T Ford Chemical engine, bought in 1920 and delivered by the Ma and Pa Railroad. At a meeting called for the purpose of looking into the purchase of additional fire equipment, it was decided to reorganize. The result was the incorporation of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. its new chief was Mr. Malcom Stewart. Mr. W. Wylie Hopkins was President, and Mr. Frank L. Hiser was Vice President.

        Under the capable leadership of Mr. Hopkins, the Company purchased a 1924 Seagrave combination chemical engine and 1,000 gallon pumper. It had solid disk wheels, was light cream colored, and for several years was the largest and most powerful pumper in Harford and Cecil Counties. The Susquehanna Power and Light Company paid an annual fee to the fire company so that they could be assured of the services of the "mighty" pumper if needed at the Conowingo Hydroelectric Dam. According to old records, the power company had numerous occasions to call upon the assistance of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

        The first recorded alarm answered by the new company was March 3, 1924, for a chimney fire. In its first year of incorporation, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. answered a total of 53 alarms.

        Frank L. Hiser was elected Chief in 1929 and served until 1934. From 1934-1937 Mr. Albert Diamond was Chief.

        In 1929 the Model T Ford was sold to the Jarrettsville Fire Company.

        The need for additional firefighting equipment necessitated the purchase of a new GMC Truck in 1930 and in 1940, the town of Bel Air purchased and presented the company with a fully equipped Mack truck; model 75.

       In 1938, the company shouldered the responsibility of providing ambulance service. Fireman were trained in First Aid, and a converted hearse was purchased as the first ambulance. Funds to purchase the ambulance were raised through the efforts of the Ladies Auxiliary that functioned from 1938 into the early 1940’s. Unfortunately no records were kept and this chapter in our history is very sketchy. In 1940, a Henney-Packard ambulance was bought to replace the hearse. A third replacement ambulance (Henney-Packard) was purchased in 1950. Many times the Henney was used on sick calls with only the driver responding, praying that a doctor or someone would be at the residence to help. Originally, all automobile accidents were handled by the State Police ambulance. The engine responded on auto accidents but the only tools to be had were a jack, crow bar, sledge hammer and ax!

         In the early years, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company was covering a very large percentage of Harford County: Route 1 South to Kingsville; Route 1 North to Conowingo Dam; Route 22 to Level and Churchville; Route 924 to Route 7 on the south side of Joppa Magnolia, the Big Gunpowder River in Baltimore County, and Rocks Road to Route 165.

        An extra burden was placed on the available volunteers during the war years from 1940 - 1945 due to many members volunteering or being drafted into the services. Since manpower was scarce, a few ladies responded to drive the ambulance although they were never actually members. The fire service at this time was restricted to all male membership! The company paid some engine drivers during the day to "get the equipment out." Among these were Joe Gray, H. Amig, and F.E. Hiser. 

         On October 20, 1941, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, located across the street from the National Guard Armory, purchased the Newman’s Ice Cream Plant on Bond Street to become the new firehouse.

         It was during this time that the fire company received four all-service masks from the Conowingo Power Company. This was a filter type mask which could only be used when 15% or more oxygen was present. So began the era when fireman could enter burning buildings. Prior to this all firefighting was accomplished from the outside.

         During these turbulent years, the fire company was used as a "black out" shelter and for personal first aid drills for the public. A guard was also posted at each fire company in the county to prevent sabotage. In Bel Air each fireman would take his turn as "guard" at night. Everyone was excepted to help, and they did with few excuses.

         On February 13, 1942, the Sun Feed Store, located on Rock Spring Road, caught fire. It was not totaled, but the feed shed to the rear of the building and chicken incubator had to be watched all night. A watchman from the fire company was left with a hose, and since the temperature was below freezing, he had to turn the hose on and off so it wouldn’t freeze. The watchman eventually found a warm stove nearby and fell asleep. The chief found him the next morning, snoring, and the 2 1/2 inch hose was frozen solid. The hose was tied to the rear of a truck and dragged back to the fire house where it was thawed, a little at a time. Fortunately, the hose was still usable.

          There were no election of officers during the war years and the slate stayed the same.

          Even though the fire company was short of help they still responded to grass and field fires. Sometimes, only one or two members went. They would pick up the Indian tanks and rakes at the fire house and respond in their cars to the incident. These men would travel as far away as Towson or Middle River to assist the State Forestry. The state paid the fire company 90 cents for the first three hours and 20 cents for each additional hour. In return, the fire company paid the fireman.

          In November 1947, part of the fire house was sold to Hollanders. The old fire house was renovated with this money so that each piece of equipment had its own separate bay and an exit was made off Bond Street.

         In March of 1948, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company purchased a Model 75 Mack pumper.

        On April 16, 1948, the Korner Restaurant burned, along with Getz Drug Store, Getz Dry Goods Store, a medicine shop, Finks Cutrate Store, and a taxi business.

        In August 1948 the first two-way radio system, on the Harford County Sheriff’s frequency, was installed in the engines and ambulances. All operators of communications equipment had to have a special operator’s license.  

         In January 1949, at approximately 7:30 p.m., a fire destroyed a garage and five tank trucks from the Corbin Coal and Ice Company.

         It should be noted that until the Ladies Auxiliary was reinstituted in 1949, the men returned from afire, cleaned up, and then ate at a nearby restaurant. The Ladies Auxiliary has since provided these services and participated in many fund raising activities.

         In 1952 Robert King was elected Chief and remained in office until 1965.

       The 1950’s were quiet years compared to the 1940’s, but the fire house family was growing, and by 1958 the company consisted of two pumpers, one tanker, one mini pumper and one ambulance.

       Two significant events occurred in the 1950’s. The most spectacular happened on December 10, 1953, when a B-57 Jet, out of Glen L. Martin Company, exploded over Bel Air. The pilot was picked up by the ambulance in critical condition after bailing out, and another crewman was dead on arrival. The majority of the wreckage came down in the area of the present John Carroll School. Because sections of the plane were scattered around everywhere, and the real danger of fire from the jet fuel existed, fire engines were positioned around Bel Air.

       The second incident occurred in October 1956, when Hurricane Hazel blew into Harford County with high winds and torrential downpours. The fire company was kept busy responding to "wires down, trees down, and flooding." Hours upon hours were spent pumping out basements.

       An article from the September 15, 1958, Baltimore News Post stated that the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company’s motto was "The possible we do fast - the impossible will take time."

       During the year of 1958 the fire company responded to 120 fires, and the $12,000 Cadillac Ambulance traveled a total of 11,000 miles. 

       By the time the 1960’s rolled around, the fire house on Bond Street was becoming too small. The Ladies Auxiliary was continuing to serve dinners to raise money. In 1960 they served a total of 850 ham and chicken dinners at the fire house.

         In 1962, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company became interested in the property and building located at Curchville Road and Dallam Place (now Hickory Avenue) which belonged to the county and was used for both the Highway Maintenance and Welfare Departments. in 1963 the deeds for the two properties were exchanged, and the refurbishing process began to take place. In the early morning hours of May 2, 1963, the automobiles located on the outside of the building, and still belonging to the Highway Department, caught fire and created a large fire which could be seen from miles away. Apparently the gas tanks kept blowing up and helped fuel the fire until all the cars were completely destroyed. A large shed was also destroyed. Fortunately, the newly acquired building was saved from damage.

        A tragic fire took place at 1:00 a.m. on the night of August 2, 1964, at 18 North Bond Street. A total of 22 fireman responded to the fire. When the first engine arrived, one man in the building jumped to his death while fireman were raising their ladders. Another man was rescued unharmed, but took off down the street and was never seen again. Three of the fireman were taken to the hospital with injuries that included cuts, sprains, smoke inhalation and steam burns from feverishly trying to gain access into the burning building. To everyone’s dismay, another man was found burned to death in the dwelling.

         The dedication for the new building on Hickory Avenue was held in September, 1964, and on September 26, the first call was a field and brush fire on Kalmia Road. The only remark noted about this incident on the fire report is "siren did not blow from Headquarters."

         In 1965 Donald MacLean was elected Chief and he remained in that capacity until January 1970.

         On May 29, 1965, an alert was given out for 333 East Broadway. Upon arriving at the scene, neighbors stated that the occupants were not at home. An attack was made on the upstairs bedroom which was burning, and a search of the house was made. Chief Donald MacLean and Fireman Howdie Reith found a lady lying unconscious on the bathroom floor. She was pulled to a safe area, given mouth to mouth resuscitation by others and thus saved by the heroic fireman.

         On Thursday, November 27, 1969, the main assembly building of the Millon-Daneker Company in Fallston, where grandfather clocks were made for the Daneker Company, was completely destroyed by fire. The blaze, discovered at 3:30 a.m., did an estimated $500,000 worth of damage to approximately 700 grandfather clocks. The building fire was fueled by gas lines and plywood stored in the building. Three additional buildings were saved during this multi-alarm fire. Fire trucks returning to the scene with water pumped from the Maryland Water Works Company on Lake Fanny Hill, were faced with an additional hazard - icing along the road from spilled water.

        In January 1970, Mr. Carol Barnes was elected Chief of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company. From July of 1970 until January 1972, Milliard Purcell was Chief of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company. The two other Chiefs elected in the 1970’s were Richard Woodward (1973-1974) and Donald MacLean (1972-1982).

       On January 14, 1970, at 11:30 a.m., in subfreezing temperatures, there was an alert for apartments on fire at the Hickory Hills Apartment Complex. The apartments, under construction, fortunately were not occupied. Twelve apartment units were completely destroyed. Due to the fire walls and quick action of the fire company, a third section of apartments was not damaged. Unfortunately for the fire company, the front of the cab and left doors of the 1967 Seagrave were severely damaged by radiant heat.

         On the morning of March 11, 1970, there was a smoky house fire on Fallston Road near Pleasantville Road. three fireman, C. Jacobson, P. McCullough, and R. Britton were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Mr. Jacobson also fell from the house onto his air pack. Luckily the x-rays and tests proved negative and all three were sent home from the hospital that afternoon.

        The town of Bel Air was making national news in March of 1970. Mr. H. Rap Brown was to be tried in the historic Harford County Courthouse for inception riots in Cambridge, Maryland. Tension mounted as the trial date drew closer - police were everywhere. Officers and members of the fire company guarded the fire house both day and night and additional officers had to be appointed. The tension peaked on March 23, 1970, when a car exploded on Route 1 near Tollgate Road, killing two men. it was believed that the bomb (which went off prematurely) was intended for the court house. Eventually , the trail was moved to another county.

        While firefighting technology steadily advanced in the 1970’s. it jumped by leaps and bounds on the emergency medical side. Formerly all the first aid courses were given by the American Red Cross. The first advanced training introduced in Harford County was the Emergency Medical Technician Course, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene of the State of Maryland. Later this course was taught by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.

         In 1976 the first Intravenous Injection course was taught at Kirk Army Hospital. This was proceeded by a Cardiac Rescue Technician Course (CRT), introduced by the State of Maryland, and taught in Havre de Grace in 1974. When this course was started the state did not think volunteers could be trained in advanced life procedures. Not only did the new pupils pass the exam, they also became, ultimately, some of the best CRT’s licensed in the state of Maryland.

         In December 1974, Bel Air graduated three CRTs: Kenneth Atwell, Donald Holmes, and Richard Woodward.

         In 1977 ambulance personnel were trained in the use of esophageal airways and in 1978 they were taught how to use Medical Anti Shock Trousers (MAST).

        On a snowy, cold morning on February 1, 1971, the Western Auto Store in Bel Air caught fire. Fire officials blamed a faulty lighting fixture for the $90,000 blaze that destroyed the building. Over 60 firefighters responded to the three alarms with equipment from Bel Air, Jarrettsville, Abingdon, Level, and Joppa Magnolia. Sub zero temperatures hampered the firefighters. The water froze and Main Street became a sheet of ice. Equipment on the fire engines also froze. It took 2 1/2 hours to bring the fire under control.

        On January 30, 1972, a tragic fire occurred at Gene’s Bar and Grill on Old Jarrettsville Road in Coopstown. Three Bel Air fireman were injured attempting to rescue two teenaged girls. Their attempts were futile, and the girls’ bodies were later recovered under the debris where they had been trapped. Three fireman, James Foard, Mel Kulis, and Harry Hopkins received burns that sent them to the hospital.

        Shortly thereafter, on a snowy morning of February 2, 1972, Bel Air responded to the largest fire in the history of the fire company. Sixty-one members from Bel Air, along with 164 other firefighters fought the downtown blaze that resulted in $2 million worth of damage.

       The fire was started by a ruptured fuel oil tank in the back room of the Red Fox Restaurant. Eleven fire companies battled the raging fire for four hours before bringing it under control. Fortunately only two fireman from Bel Air suffered smoke inhalation, and were released from the hospital that same evening.

      Mayor James O’Neill, discussing at that time all the fireman and units on the scene said, : The orderly manner with which the units were displaced around the conflagration and the close cooperation among them, no doubt, saved the rest of the downtown businesses."

         In 1972 the fire station was still growing. The rear apparatus bays were added to the fire house to house an engine, brush truck, and air cascade unit. The addition was funded by the Town of Bel Air.

         In 1974, Ms. Pamela MacLean submitted her application to the membership committee of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company. Known as a progressive fire company, Bel Air accepted Pam, its first female, into membership in September 1974. She was only 16 years of age, but desperately wanted to ride the fire engines and be a firefighter. Today, 25 years later, we find Pam still an active member with the fire company and a career firefighter for the Baltimore County Fire Department.

         In the late 1970s the community was still growing and there as a real need to expand the membership and build a sub-station. While Fallston Volunteer Fire Company (Company 13) was being built, some of their members were training at Bel Air (Company 3). A membership drive was successful in Forest Hill, and the new members were manning Air Unit 361 (also used as a support unit to the ambulance). Before the sub-station was built, Air 361 was first kept at a local gas station and later moved to a hanger at Forest Hill Air Park. An engine was also housed there. Every time the equipment left the air park special care had to be taken to watch for planes using the runway that crossed in front of the fire company’s hanger.

         In 1978, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Klein donated a parcel of land to the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company which was located on East Jarrettsville Road. A sub-station was built on this property which now houses two engines and a brush truck. Additionally, in September 1978, the fire company purchased the house on the corner of Churchville Road and Hickory Avenue. The structure was torn down for temporary parking.

        The main fire station on Hickory Avenue now housed the biggest ladder truck in Harford County: a new 1976, LTI ladder platform which extended 85 feet and matched all the other red fire engines.

       The end of the decade found the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company in excellent condition, under very capable leadership, and with a well trained and dedicated membership. Since fire calls and ambulance trips had increased, along with the necessity of more hours spent in classes and drills, the weekly Bingo games were ended The Board of Directors would now have the difficult task of generating new money for building maintenance and equipment replacement.

       The 1980s brought more amenities; microwave ovens, ladies bunk rooms and showers, five inch hose, advanced rescue tools, special protective equipment, fire retardant jump suits, a female President (Dorothy Arnold), VCR equipment, new State Police helicopters, the fire company’s theme song, "Rocky Top," computers, the population explosion in Harford County, and a real fear of AIDS.

       On Friday, May 16, 1980, Bel Air was alerted for a vehicle accident involving a school bus. The incident took place near the Maryland Golf and Country Club on MacPhail Road. Twenty-three Bel Air High School students were injured when the school bus slammed into a tree and overturned. Assistance was provided by four mutual aid fire companies, 58 law enforcement officers, six ambulances and three medivac helicopters. One student later died from injuries received. The incident was handled professionally by both Bel Air and other mutual-aid companies, partly owing to the fact that county-wide drills on disasters are held annually.

          In 1981 a third ambulance, purchased for $45,000, was put into service; Bel Air was now the only company in Harford County to operate three ambulances.

          In February 1982, the adjacent house on Churchville Road was purchased by the fire company. The rooms in the house were converted into office space. Since the company was growing, everyone seemed to need their "own" chambers. The building primarily was primarily used as offices for the Board of Directors and as a conference room.

          Richard Woodward was elected Chief in 1983.

         The largest potential disaster ever averted by the fire company occurred May 22, 1984, at 5 p.m. The incident took place adjacent to the south side of the Montgomery Wards store at the Harford Mall.

         The original alert was for construction equipment on fire, and subsequent additional information stated that a propane tank was burning. Arriving at the scene, Engine 314 discovered a fire involving the tar pot, a spreading pool of molten burning tar flowing over the parking lot, and worst of all, a 1,000 gallon tank of Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) which was surrounded by fire. Pressure built up in the LPG tank from the heat and caused the pressure relief valve to operate. It had been operating for 3 to 4 minutes prior to the arrival of the fire department.

          A second alarm was requested by Chief Woodward.

         The initial attack crew was confronted with intense heat, heavy black smoke, burning vehicles, and flames from the propane tank’s relief valve shooting flames 40 to 50 feet into the air.

         Handlines and a master stream were put into service which succeeded in cooling the area while the crews carefully avoided the flames from the relief valve. The master stream also extinguished the burning tar and many of the burning vehicles. Not until a second and third master stream were put into service with handlines could the large tank sufficiently be cooled down. Firefighters continued the cooling operation, opting to let the tank burn itself out. The initial damage was set at $40,000.

         Had the propane tank not been cooled by the firefighters, many people could have died or suffered serious injuries in the resulting rupture and explosions, with damage possibly reaching $10 million. Montgomery Wards was open for business the next day!

          In 1985 Steve Cox was elected Chief of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

         On July 17, 1985, a warm Wednesday morning, a large explosion occurred at the home of a prominent physician. The arriving Bel Air units found the house fully involved in flames, allegedly caused by a gasoline leak. The owners of the house were found on the front lawn, severely burned. Both were sent to the Francis Scott Key Burn Center by medivac helicopter, and eventually recovered after a long and arduous recuperation. The house was completely destroyed. after spending hours at the scene, the fireman were back at the station just long enough to clean the units, return to work, eat their dinner, and then respond to another working fire that evening.

         In 1986 Donald MacLean was once again elected Chief of the company.

        Once again, the station on Hickory Avenue seemed to be inadequate to meet the fire company’s needs. The company approved the building committee’s recommendation that we improve the present building. the improvements recommended would provide better training facilities, accommodate a new ladder truck, and build an addition to include bunk rooms, bathrooms, laundry room, room, and office space. The corner property and a house on Churchville Road were incorporated into the plans.

        In September 1987, with the town band playing, balloons flying and our local dignitaries present, dedication services were held at the fire house. Later a dinner was held for our members as a way of thanking them for all their support.

         The Motorola Pager system was implemented in Harford County in 1986, at a cost of over a million dollars. Bel Air initially received ninety-two pagers and they were given to the most active members. Eventually two-way portable radios were issued to each company in Harford County to be put on every piece of equipment. Fire ground operations ran more efficiently due to the advent of these radios. The system was not without fault. Occasionally one could hear "Wheel of Fortune," "Jeopardy" and the baseball games over the airwaves.

          The elected Chief for 1988-1990 was Thomas Harrington Sr.

          During the summer of 1988 there was a most unusual fire call. The original alert was "Transformer explosion with CPR Assist." The place: Moores Mill Road near Broadway. The first unit to arrive on the scene found, to their relief, that, miraculously, the man in the bucket of the utility truck had escaped injury. A transformer was lighting up the area every few minutes and its fire would run up and down the wires on Moores Mill Road.

         Very shortly afterward, transformers all over the nearby developments were burning. The officer in charge called for additional alarms and units from all over the county responded. Fireman left work to help with the serious situation, and the EMS people were busy helping neighbors with the "welders eyes" they had received from watching the bright electrical arcs on the power lines. One house caught fire and many homes had such strong surges of current that their appliances were ruined. Luckily, no one was seriously injured. The entire day was spent preventing disastrous situations.

          In 1989 two new units were put into service at the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company. During the summer the new 100 foot aerial platform (a Spartan LTI) arrived. It fit perfectly into the new building, which had been remodeled to accommodate it. In December a new Horton Diesel Ambulance, with its air horns and new Lifepack 5 defibrillators, was delivered.

        With calls increasing due to the population explosion, Bel Air started a very progressive membership drive in 1989. Due to the work of the recruitment committee, membership committee, and training officers, a total of 39 new members were recruited and trained.

        The 1990s brought more and more changes for the fire company. The population in our first due area was increasing, development was on the rise with seemingly no end in sight. Fortunately for the fire company the capable leadership from previous years had set the stage for the coming decade by taking a strong position with recruiting new members and retaining its current members.

       Training requirements were on the rise and emergency calls were increasing year by year.

       In 1990 Thomas Harrington, Sr. was elected Chief.

      To provide better service to the community and the best possible equipment to the rescue personnel, in 1990 a new rescue-pumper (Rescue 351) was purchased. With new technology and more advanced equipment, this unit was state of the art.

       In 1991 Richard Woodward was again elected Chief.

       On the afternoon of February 2, 1991 the company was alerted for a building fire at the Bel Air Middle School. Upon arrival, heavy smoke conditions were present and a second alarm was requested. Handlines were advanced into the building and the fire was found in a storage room. The fire was quickly extinguished but the extensive cleanup and smoke removal took several hours.

      On the night of April 9, 1991, Bel Air was alerted for a building fire at the Harford Mall. The mall had been the scene of several major calls in the departments history and this one would not be the exception. Upon arrival, the first engine found heavy smoke conditions in several stores and the hallways behind them. The fire was located inside one of the electrical rooms and the cause was a transformer on fire. B.G. and E. responded and after disconnecting the power feed, the fire was quickly extinguished.

      On July 22, 1991, the fire company was alerted for a building fire at the Quality Tire Store on Bel Air Road. Responding units were advised that the building was heavily involved in fire. 2nd Assistant Chief Pete Caudill arrived at location before any equipment and advised, " Chief 3-2 on location, large working fire, 2nd Alarm." The fire took a half-hour to control and several long hours were spent overhauling and checking for hot spots.

      In 1992 and 1993 Steve Cox was elected Chief of the company.

     On January 18, 1992, the company was alerted for an apartment fire with rescue a the Hickory Hills Apartment Complex. Heavy smoke conditions were present on arrival and as the first attack crew made entry to the apartment, they encountered a fully involved unit. During extinguishment and rescue operations, the lone occupant of the apartment was found in the living room, but unfortunately had succumbed in the fire.

      On the night of April 29, 1992, the company was alerted for a building fire at Uncle George's Restaurant on South Bond Street. This was a favorite local hangout for the town teenager crowd. Upon arrival, the first engine found heavy smoke across Bond Street with fire pushing out the back of the building. An aggressive interior attack was made and the fire quickly knocked down.

      On March 6, 1993, the company was alerted for a building fire at the Harford County Health Department on Hayes Street. Upon arrival, Chief Cox found heavy smoke showing from the structure and he requested a second alarm. The interior attack crew found the fire in a back room and parts of the ceiling. It was quickly extinguished and units remained for several hours overhauling the structure.

      On March 16, 1993, the company was alerted for a building fire at the Hard Times Cafe in the Festival at Bel Air Shopping Center. Responding units were slowed by the deep snow that blanketed the area from the previous days blizzard. Upon arrival, heavy smoke conditions existed. The initial interior attack crew found the fire in the kitchen and bar area of the restaurant and quickly knocked it down.

     On October 2, 1993, the fire company was to experience the largest multiple casualty incident in its or the county’s history. The alert was for an auto accident at the Route 1 Bypass and Route 24. Upon arrival the first responding units found three buses involved with people all over the intersection. 41 patients were transported to area hospitals by Bel Air and Mutual aid ambulances with other mutual aid ambulances covering empty fire stations throughout the county. The scene could have been utter chaos, but the buses involved were carrying U.S. Army troops from Aberdeen Proving Ground, The drill instructors were a essential part of keeping order in the ranks!!

       As 1993 came to a close, the company decided to make a major purchase of equipment. Three new pumpers were purchased. These units were designated Engines 311, 312, and 313,and replaced three older units in the apparatus fleet.

        In 1994 Pete Caudill was elected Chief of the company.

        In 1995 Richard Woodward was elected Chief again and served through 1997.

       On February 2, 1995, the company was alerted for an apartment fire in the Heritage Woods Development. Units arrived on location to find heavy smoke conditions and heavy fire showing to the rear extending from the first floor to the third floor. An aggressive interior attack was made by several crews and the fire brought under control in a half-hour.

       On October 19, 1996, the fire company had its busiest day to date when a storm swept thru Harford County. The fire company answered 78 emergency calls.

      In 1996 the company acquired Automatic External Defibrillators or AED’s. This became a everyday part of the EMS Service provided by the fire company and the first use and save recorded in the county was by the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company on June 12, 1997.

      The summer of 1997 was a very hot one with temperatures commonly in the high 90’s with very high humidity levels. On June 22, 1997, a severe thunderstorm rolled through the county and created a lot of damage. The company was alerted for a house struck by lightening just after the storm had cleared and units responded within seconds. Approaching the scene, the first engine could see a heavy column of smoke and visible fire. The fire was in a converted barn that had been made into a dwelling. The fire went to three alarms and the home was completely destroyed by fire.

        In 1998 Rick Davis Sr. was elected Chief of the company.

       On October 24, 1998, the company was alerted for an apartment fire with rescue at 108 South Main Street. Upon arrival units found heavy smoke conditions. A rescue was confirmed by evacuating residents and rescue efforts were undertaken while other firefighters advanced handlines on the fire.  The victim was found in a rear apartment in the bathroom by firefighters Skip Strong, Walt Holloway, and Scott Panowitz. Removing the victim from the building, she was treated by paramedics on the scene and flown to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The fire was quickly brought under control and the victim survived the fire.

        In 1999 Rusty Eyre was elected Chief of the company.

       On January 10, 1999, in the early morning hours, the company received an alert for an apartment fire on Denise Drive in the Forest Valley Development. The first responding units arrived to find heavy smoke and fire on portions of the second floor, all of the third floor, and thru the roof. Captain Bill Snyder made the call for the second alarm as he pulled in on the first engine. Five victims were rescued from the building and master streams knocked the fire down with handlines mopping up the remnants. Throughout the fire several residents could not be accounted for and were found on the third floor still in their apartment. Unfortunately firefighters could not get to them because of the amount of fire and degree of collapse in most of the apartment.

       On April 20, 1999 the alarm sounded again for an apartment fire in the Dellcrest development. Units responding found heavy smoke and fire coming from the third floor and attic of the building. Once again Captain Snyder was riding the seat of the first in engine and immediately pulled a second alarm, also requesting an additional truck company to respond on the box. Master streams once again brought the fire under control and the final overhaul was done with handlines.

        On December 31, 1999 members gathered at the two stations and prepared to face the "Y2K" issue. In the months and weeks leading up to the turn of the century, the fire company officers had planned for any major incident that the company would be called upon to handle. Planning sessions included the local law enforcement communities as well as the Emergency Operations Center staff. When the midnight hour struck, everyone in both stations breathed a big sigh of relief when everything remained quiet. 

         Russ Eyre was Chief from 2000 - 2002.

         The first decade of the 21st century has brought Co.3 more fires, rescues, EMS calls, and automatic alarms.  From 2000 - 2006 fire calls increased 30% and EMS calls increased 35%.

          On January 31, 2000, E314 with Lt Dave Cox arrived to find a large dwelling in the 400 blk of Prospect Mill Rd, well involved on arrival.  Chief Eyre requested a 2nd alarm for this fire.  Then, on February 11, 2000, Assistant Chief Rutherford led Co.3 units at a 3-alarm fire at the McDonald's in Abingdon.  In all, Co.3 had 3 engines and a truck at scene.  This fire was well advanced on arrival of first in units.

         On March 21, 2000, E314 with Asst Chief Snyder, arrived in the 700 blk of Fairwind Drive to find a well-involved single-family dwelling.  This fire was deliberately set.  2-alarms were needed to control the fire that spread to both exposures.  On October 29, 2000, Upper Chesapeake Medical Center officially opened to receive patients.  Later this year, on December 7, 2000, E314 with Asst Chief Snyder, arrived to find a large, historic dwelling on fire.  This 2-alarm fire was down a very long and very tight driveway.  Units that got down the lane had mirrors broken and light bars damaged.  This building, the "Medical Hall", was quickly extinguished with 4 hand lines of E314's crew of eight men.

         On March 23, 2001, Asst Chief Snyder led Bel Air units at the scene of a bad fire at Kurtz's Funeral home in Jarrettsville.  The 2-alarm fire brought 3 engines & truck from Co.3.  On July 27, 2001, Chief Eyre was OIC at a commercial building fire in the 1500 blk of Rock Spring Rd.  This fire damaged 3 businesses and the roof of the entire complex.  This fire was called in over the radio by a mutual aid ambulance with fire  already through the roof at this time.  Later in the year, on October 30, 2001, Asst Chief Snyder arrived in the 900 blk of Redfield Rd for the 3rd arson fire in a week in the same apartment complex.  A Molotov cocktail had erupted in the 2nd floor lobby.  Co.3 firefighters removed 18 citizens via ground ladder at this fire.

         The BAVFC placed the new T331 in-service on December, 1, 2002.  Co.3 began operating two (2) truck companies.

          Tom Schaech was Chief from 2003 - 2005.

         On August 24, 2003 a single passenger plane crashed in the 2300 blk of Rock Spring Road.  The pilot, tragically, died on impact.  The plane ignited everything in the back yards of the dwellings nearby.  On September 18 & 19 of 2003 Co.3 was very busy running calls caused by the remnants of Hurricane Isabel.  In 30 hours, Co.3 fireside units handled approximately 100 calls for service.

         On March 3, 2004, Co.3 placed into service the new R351 (for the 2nd time).

        On May 10, 2004, Deputy Chief Snyder arrived on scene of a working fire in a large garage that had been converted into apartments.  On his arrival a male subject was laying in the road in front of the house with severe burns.  Fire was showing from both floors.  Two alarms were needed to fully control the fire.

        On August 14, 2004, Chief Millard Purcell passed away.  Chief Purcell was an active member for 65 years.  He had answered 35,416 fire calls in his career.  He was given a full fire department funeral and was taken to his final resting place down Main Street in the 1939 Mack that he operated for many years.

      On March 3, 2005, Lieutenant Davis led T331's crew on a 4-alarm church fire on Market Street, in Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania.  On this cold night T331 flowed water with Stewartstown's truck to knock the bulk of the fire down.  Late in the evening on May 5, 2005, Bel Air units arrived at a working townhouse fire in 1200 blk of Athens Ct.  FF Ferguson responded from his house 1 block away.  He found an unconscious female on the 1st floor and removed her out the back of the dwelling.  The basement fire was quickly extinguished by the other arriving units.  On June 27, 2005, Lt Dave Cox arrived on E314 with a well-involved townhome that had already spread into two adjacent units.  Deputy Chief Snyder requested 3-alarms.  Unfortunately one child died in this fire and one other person was badly burned.  On August 8, 2005, Co.3 units were alerted for a late afternoon dwelling fire in the 300 blk of Montgomery Drive.  Chief Schaech arrived to find fire on all levels of the dwelling.  Aggressive interior attacks extinguished the fire.

        On of the saddest days in our history occurred unexpectently on September 26, 2005.  While enroute to Louisiana to assist in Hurricane Katrina rebuilding, Assistant Chief Strong passed away in a car accident.  Chief Strong was a role model to many, and he was definitely just beginning a great career at the BAVFC.

       In 2005, many Co.3 personnel helped establish the new Harford County Technical Rescue Team.  Headed up by Captain Rob Smeltzer, Co.3 would be responsible for the Collapse Rescue sector.

        In 2006, Rusty Eyre was again elected Chief.

       On March 8, 2006, Co.3 responded to its 4th working fire in 24 hours.  In the 700 blk of County Village Dr, E314 with Lt Ricky Davis, arrived 3 minutes from alert to find a 3-story garden apartment with fire showing thru the roof.  He requested 2nd alarm almost immediately.  An aggressive attack stopped further fire spread.  March of 2006 was very busy with 232 fire alerts, 7 working structure fires and numerous large field/woods fires.

       In early 2006, the BAVFC began EMS suppliment staffing.  This program will assist our volunteers in answering over 6,000 EMS calls a year.