“This town having been visited by three disastrous fires within a year, the first at A.H. Uhler destroying his barn and other out buildings on May 11, 1912, putting the whole upper end of the town in jeopardy, one on March 22, 1913 destroying a fine residence belonging to Messrs. Heise and Currie with other out buildings. . . . It was deemed advisable by the citizens of this community to organize a Volunteer Fire Company, and for this purpose a mass meeting was held in Landstreet Hall on May 9, 1913 presided over by Prof. H.H. Murphy at which time it was decided to hold a picnic and supper in order to raise funds to start said Fire Company. At this meeting a committee of the following ladies Mrs. S.S. Yingling, Mrs. Jas. Gore and Mrs. J.M. Currie were appointed to take the charge of and conduct the picnic and supper which was held May 30, 1913 in the grove on Chatsworth Ave. and which proved a grand social and financial success, there was raised the sum of $412.29 which is now held by the treas. H.H. Russell deposited in the Reisterstown Savings Bank subject to the order of the community. There were elected that day the following temporary officers, S.S. Yingling President H.H. Russell Treasurer and W.I. Stevenson Secretary who’s duty it was to co-operate with the ladies in the settlement of the affairs of the picnic and as soon there after as possible to call a public meeting for the purpose of announcing the financial result of the picnic also organize a Volunteer Fire Company and elect permanent officer for the same, and here we are now assembled to attend to these duties.

Proved and read    W.I. Stevenson Secretary”
June 11, 1913

Today there was a train crash and buildings damaged down in Rosedale. Baltimore County sent approximately 40 apparatus on the first call. They very quickly called for fill in crews due to the large response. Engine 412 and Engine 413 were both requested for fill in duty. Engine 413 is shown here filling in at Baltimore County Station 7.

On Saturday May 18th at 9am we will be hosting a fire departement parade along Main Street.  It will start Chartley Blvd and go north on Main Street to Village Center Drive.  Approximately 40 other apparatus will be joining us in our celebrations.

100th Anniversary Parade

Saturday May 18, 9am

Come out and celebrate with us!

For those of you who were not able to attend the funeral the family has given us permission to post a video of the funeral.

(The video was kindly created by Focal Point Productions and we are thankful for their help on such short notice.  As well, we would like to thank Dave Statter at statter911.com for streaming the funeral live.)

Reisterstown Community,

Thank you for your support for the fire company and family over the past week. It has been difficult but we appreciate the overwhelming support from the community.

We would like to collect pictures or video that you might have taken through the day of the Reisterstown Volunteer fire company whether of the processional on Reisterstown Road, at the fire house, or from Har Sinai to Dulaney Valley.

If you are willing to share them with us and will allow us to use them privately or publicly, please email to: pictures@rvfc.org.

Sincerely,

RVFC

Details are as follows:

Fire Department Funeral Services will be held on Sunday May 5th at 1 PM at the Har Sinai Congregation (http://www.harsinai-md.org/index.php) 2905 Walnut Avenue, Owings Mills, MD 21117

School will be in session until noon at the synagogue so plan on that, and expect to be stadium parked if you park at the synagogue.

Any company that is bringing Fire Department Apparatus is being asked to contact Dan Uddeme at secondalarm@gmail.com or 443-353-9326 or Larry Goldberg at firemangoldie20@gmail.com or 410-227-4164. It is preferred that companies bring utility trucks and special units over large apparatus due to parking constraints.

All Fire Department apparatus is being asked to stage at the Army Reserve Center next to Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company at 12020 Greenspring Avenue, Owings Mills, MD 21117.  We will proceed up to the synagogue before the funeral starts. Also large apparatus will be needed to stage at various intersections along the Funeral procession route and again Dan Uddeme will be the contact.

The talkgroup for the day will be EVENT4 which is W4 if you have had your radio programmed, and I am not sure if you have not.

Immediately following the service Gene will be layed to rest at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, 200 East Padonia Road, Timonium, MD 21093.  Please keep in mind that large apparatus, with the exception of Reisterstown, will not be able to park within the Gardens.

It is with deep sorrow and regret that the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company announces the line of duty passing of Firefighter Gene Kirchner.  Gene succumbed to his injures after an 8 day fight.  He sustained critical injuries while he was performing a search on a dwelling fire April 24, 2013.    Gene is a 9 year member of our company and was a junior fire fighter for 2 years. A full fire department funeral will be scheduled.  More details will follow.

Update:
Date of Funeral:  Sunday, May 5, 2013
Time of Funeral:  1 pm

Funeral Location:
Har Sinai Congregation
2905 Walnut Avenue, Owings Mills, MD, 21117

Cemetery:
Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, Timonium, MD

Shiva:
302 Bond Avenue
Reisterstown, MD 21136

Donations:

Contributions in his memory may be made to:

Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company
108 Main Street
Reisterstown, MD 21136

Gene remains in critical condition and will be transferred to a long term care facility the first part of next week. The staff and Gene’s family will develop a care plan at that time. The family and members of Reisterstown thank everyone for their support and ask for your continued prayers during these difficult times.

The past 2 days have been an emotional roller coaster ride for Gene’s Family and our membership.  Gene has made some progress in his recovery, but still remains in critical condition.  Please continue to keep him and his family in your prayers.  We have been amazed by the amount of support that has been offered by our community and the fire service brotherhood.  We appreciate everyone’s continued support through these tough times.