WFD History

PO Box 357 Westminster, MD 21158 Voice: 410-848-1800 Fax: 410-848-3407

Serving Westminster and the surrounding Carroll County area since 1823

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Department History Timeline

◊	1823	Organized and constructed first station on Carroll Street.

◊	1834	Moved engine house to Main Street at Court Street

◊	1851	Mayor and Council ordered the engine be sold. They then ordered hooks and ladders as the only tools available.

◊	1868	Efforts to start a second department on the west end failed

◊	1879	Department reorganized and incorporated under the current name. Land purchased to build new station on Main Street.

◊	1881	Fire Bell purchased for engine house - Cost $.25/pound

◊	1885	Town water system completed and the pumper was disposed of and replaced with reels of hose

◊	1887	Two hose houses erected at each end of town

◊	1893	Major fire destroys a complete city block. Fireman from Baltimore were brought in by Western Maryland Railroad to help

◊	1896	New 3 story engine house constructed at 66 E Main St. This included a clock tower that would house the bell which was transferred from the old station.

◊	1918	First motorized engine purchased - Republic 350 gallon pumper

◊	1919	American LaFrance 750 gallon pumper purchased

◊	1924	American LaFrance Ladder Wagon purchased. Within 24 hours of its arrival, the ladder wagon was used in fighting a large fire at Wm Myers Meat Packing plant. This unit still runs and can be seen in our museum. Click on the image to see a larger image.

◊	1926	Four paid engine drivers hired to maintain a presence 24 X 7

◊	1928	Ambulance Service started with the Rotary Club convincing the City Council to buy the ambulance for the fire department

◊	1929	Purchased American LaFrance 500 GPM pumper	No Photo Available

◊	1933	Purchased American LaFrance 750 GPM Pumper which still runs and can be seen in our museum. Click on the photo to see a larger view.

◊	1936	Purchased American LaFrance 650 GPM Pumper	No Photo Available

◊	1948	Purchased American LaFrance 700 series 750 GPM Pumper	No Photo Available

◊	1955	Purchased American LaFrance 700 series 750 GPM Pumper. This unit in excellent condition and owned as a show piece by one of our members. Click on the image to see a larger view.

◊	1962	Purchased a Ford 750 GPM pumper	No Photo Available

◊	1969	Purchased American LaFrance 750 GPM 100 foot Aerial Ladder. This unit remained in service until sold in 1998

◊	1981	Purchased Engine 34

◊	1986	Purchased Engine 31 - Hahn Pumper

◊	1997	Purchased new E-1 105' Tower to replace 1969 Truck. Delivered in early 1998

◊	1998	October 24, 1998 - Retired Station 3 at 66 East Main Street at 12:00 hrs. Dedicated and placed new Station 3 at 28 John Street In-Service at 13:00 hrs. At the time of the opening, this station was the second largest volunteer station in Maryland covering 35,280 sq.ft.

◊	2000	Purchased new Peirce Engine to replace Engine 34 but was numbered Engine 32. The previous Engine 32 was retired years before.

◊	2001	Purchased new Peirce Engine to replace Engine 33

◊	2002	New Utility to replace aged GMC Suburban

◊	2003	New Ambulance 38 Horton on Ford Chassis

◊	2005	New Ambulance 37 Horton on ford Chassis. Department made the decision based on EMS statistics to have a 3rd EMS unit for reserve and has a 3rd unit out as volunteer staffing allows.

◊	2005	Department purchases a special unit for small type incidents, use at the airport ( FOAM Equipped ) and does not take specialty class of license to drive. 2005 Ford Super Duty chassis.

◊	2006	Rechassis Ambulance 39 Horton on Ford Chassis

◊	2007	New Brush 35 purchased.