Company Profile
In March 1962, nineteen pieces of equipment and over 200 firemen were needed to contain a disastrous fire that gutted two homes and damaged two others. In June 1964, Simpsons Store and the adjoining house caught fire. Twenty pieces of equipment from 12 companies helped with the blaze. This prompted the citizens of Libertytown to take action. By November 1964, the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department was formed. A charter membership of 150 people was formed. On November 2 1964, the State Board accepted the articles of incorporation.
Meetings were held, committees formed and officers were elected. A 1952 Ford pumper was purchased for $1,500. Training was acquired from the State of Maryland. Our first home was a converted church building on Main Street on the east end of town - until we had to break the door down in order to respond to a call. After we were no longer welcome there, we moved to our second home at the mechanic’s garage on Main Street in the center of town (just east of the creek). The Libertytown-Unionville Lions Club purchased and presented the deed to the property where we currently reside to the LVFD. Ground was broken in May 1966 and in October 1966, we moved into our new home. Due to membership dedication and community support, we were able to burn the mortgage in 1973. An addition was built to the hall and kitchen in 1978 and in 1987 the entire dinging hall was remodeled.
The Auxiliary to the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department was chartered in 1965 with 47 members. They are a strong asset to our organization, raising much-needed funds. Their first fundraiser was a rummage sale that netted $240.30. Now they donate thousands of dollars a year to the LVFD and are responsible for all maintenance in the dining hall and kitchen. They are a very hard working group and their canteen service on emergency calls is the best around.
Also in 1965, the Junior Division of the LVFD was formed. They have provided the LVFD with numerous tools and money over the years. Various members have come through that organization to be members and officers of the LVFD.
In 1978, the Junior Auxiliary was formed, the first organization of its kind in the State of Maryland. This organization is not functioning at this time, but plans are under way to get it back up and running again this year. Some of its members are now members of the Auxiliary. In time, we think this organization will provide the Auxiliary with more quality members.
Over the years, the LVFD has had some of the best apparatus and equipment money can buy. We currently have a fleet of eight vehicles. Rescue Engine 171 is a 2003 Pierce Dash with a 750 gallon tank that flows 1200gpm as an assist in firefighting capability. Engine Tanker 172 is a 1989 4-door custom Pierce Lance. It has a 1,500 gallon water tank flowing 1000gpm, and runs first due on structure fires. Tanker 17 is a Peterbuilt Model 330 with a U.S. Tanker body that holds 3,000 gallons of water flowing 1000gpm, and is rated at 400hp from a 24-valve Cummins turbodiesel engine. This unit has proved invaluable in providing extra water for the engines. Brush 176 is a 1982 GMC Sierra with a Pierce body, and is a 250 gallon mini-pumper. Besides field, brush and woods fires, it performs other tasks such as water supply, EMS support and run structure fires in narrow or hard to get to lanes. Soon to come is our replacement for Brush 175 - a 2009 GMC 5500 Crewcab/Pierce Contender 4WD mini-pumper. It will be equipped with a 300 gallon tank flowing 1000gpm and 4 pre-connect hand lines. Delivery is expected in the Spring of 2009. EMS services are delivered from two state-of-the-art ambulances. A179 is a 2003 Ford ambo package with a Horton body and the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel, and A178 is also a 2006 Ford/Horton package, but with the 6.0L engine. The remainder of our fleet are the support vehicles: Utility 17 is a 2002 Ford F350 Crewcab 4WD with the 7.2L diesel, and Chief 17's car, Car 17, is a 2007 Ford Expedition that is equipped as a command center.
Over the years our membership has grown, our call load has grown and our apparatus has grown. In the very near future, it will be time for our building to grow, or for us to build a new building. Whatever project we do, we are going to need membership unity and dedication and strong community support in order to make this project happen. We’ve done it in the past and we can do it again. We want to keep providing the public with the best Fire an EMS protection just as we have in the previous 35 years.
