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Bel Air

Volunteer Fire Company

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  • News
    • Videos
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    • BAVFC Activity History
    • Multi-Alarm Incidents
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    • Start Your Application
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Department History
    • Our Fallen
    • The Bell
    • Past Leadership
  • Stations
    • Bel Air Main Station
    • Forest Hill Station
    • Patterson Mill Station
    • BAVFC Front Line Fleet
    • Former Fire Stations
    • Apparatus Past
  • Community
    • Event Calendar
    • Life Safety Division
    • Fire Safety Tips
  • Support
    • Community & Life Safety Division
    • Donate Now
    • Event Appearance Request
    • Auxiliary Division

History of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company

On February 19, 1859, many invaluable papers were lost when the Harford County Courthouse was destroyed by fire. During these early years fire protection was considered a community effort. When the alarm was raised, members of the community would go to the scene of the fire with buckets and form a bucket brigade to extinguish the fire. Citizens of the community would also bring ladders, axes and other tools that might prove useful. Water sources were found where available. Anything from water troughs, wells, barrels, etc., were used as there was no water system with hydrants. With no water system or organized fire department, most buildings burned to the ground and were a total loss.

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 as well as 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.

Keep Reading …

The BAVFC has a rich, well-detailed history. Browse the sections listed below for a full rundown of how we have evolved since those early days.

Select a section below

  • BAVFC Activity History
  • Multi-Alarm Incidents
  • The Beginning
  • The Early Years
  • The Reorganization
  • The 1930's
  • The War Years
  • The 1950's
  • The 1960's
  • The 1970's
  • The 1980's
  • The 1990's
  • The 2000's
  • The 2010's

BAVFC History

  • BAVFC Activity History
  • Multi-Alarm Incidents
  • The Beginning
  • The Early Years
  • The Reorganization
  • The 1930’s
  • The War Years
  • The 1950’s
  • The 1960’s
  • The 1970’s
  • The 1980’s
  • The 1990’s
  • The 2000’s
  • The 2010’s

About BAVFC

  • Leadership
  • Department History
  • Our Fallen
  • The Bell
  • Past Leadership

BAVFC LATEST

MVC Rescue
Baltimore Pike MVC Rescue
Rt 543 MVC
County Medic Unit In Service At Patterson Mill Station
Hibiscus Court Garage Fire

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Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company

109 South Hickory Avenue
Bel Air, Maryland 21014

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