Dwelling fire in Reisterstown

Incident No Comments

May 10, 2020
Sunday morning units were alerted for a garage fire on Gores Mill Road. Engine 412 arrived to find a garage fire with extension into the dwelling. Due to the lack of hydrants, a tanker strike team and second alarm was requested. The fire was quickly knocked down and under control within an hour. Engine 412, Engine 413, Medic 415, Special Unit 418, and Utility 419 responded.

Passing of Malcom Carrick

General No Comments

It is with sadness we report the passing of Malcom Carrick this week.

Malcom Carrick joined the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company as a riding member on January 9, 1946. He was the longest living member of our company and we will sadly miss him.

A short recollection from one of our “senior” members:

Through general discussion, he would talk about conditions that caused him to join the fire company. He turned 16 the first day of September 1945. WWII was just ending but the boys had not yet returned from the war. There was a need and a request sent to Franklin High School for any boys 16 or older to join the fire company in order to staff the equipment. The high school then was beside what is now our station. At that time the fire house was up town just behind Dunkin Donuts. When the alarm sounded, he and others would run up town to the fire house. The Old Packard and the Diamond T were the red engines of that time. His recollection of fires that he participated in were mostly field, woods and barn fires. There were many farms in and around Reisterstown at that time. I don’t recall him speaking about any house fires although there may have been some.

It was known during that time and up into around 1955 or 1956 that emergency call went direct to the telephone switch board up town. The switch board operator would take the call, blow the siren. First person in (no dial phones then) would lift the receiver and the operator would come on and give nature of call and location. Also the Police dispatched the ambulance up until 1959 or 1960. Our ambulance radio call # was 283 and we used the 10-7, 10-8 as in service or out of service, etc.

Building Fire in Reese

Incident No Comments
Images courtesy of Carroll Fire Wire
Images courtesy of Carroll Fire Wire

Just after 2:00 am Engine 412 was dispatched for a building fire on Baltimore Blvd. in Reese. Crews from Reese found heavy smoke coming from an office building. The fire was located in the basement. The crew from Engine 412 was initially assigned to RIT. They were re-deployed to assist with pulling ceilings on the first floor. While operating on the first floor one of our firefighters fell through the floor into the basement when the floor underneath them collapsed. The firefighter was transported by Reese VFC Ambulance to Shock Trauma as a precaution.

The injured firefighter is home recovering from minor injuries. We would like to thank everyone who has reached out to check on the firefighter.

Passing of BCoFD Captain Michael Curtis

General No Comments

It is with deep sorrow that we have learned of the passing of Captain Michael Curtis of Station 56 of the Baltimore County Fire Department.

He was a member of the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company (as well as the Glyndon Volunteer Fire company). Two of his sons are a member of RVFC, as well.

He was a career firefighter and one who cared. He will be missed by all.

Please keep the family and friends in your hearts and prayers…

(Due to the current pandemic, the funeral services will be private and for family only.)

End of an era

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March 14, 2020
After serving Reisterstown for the last 27 years, the Peterbilt left our station for the last time today. The Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department came to pick up their new squad. We look forward to seeing the Peterbilt serve them for many years to come.