History of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company

On February 19, 1859, the Harford County Courthouse was destroyed by fire, resulting in the loss of many invaluable records. During those early years, fire protection was considered a community responsibility. When an alarm was raised, citizens responded with buckets and formed bucket brigades to fight the flames. Residents also brought ladders, axes, and any other tools that might prove useful. Water was obtained wherever it could be found, including troughs, wells, and barrels, as there was no municipal water system or network of hydrants. Without an organized fire department or reliable water supply, most buildings burned to the ground and were considered total losses.

By 1890, the village of Bel Air had grown to a population of 1,416. The community already included five hotels, three blacksmith shops, two banks, seven physicians, one undertaker, three tanners, 34 lawyers, and many independent businesses. Architects were being hired to design not only public buildings, but also homes for an increasingly prosperous and sophisticated population. These structures required protection from devastating fires.

From that need, the history of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company begins.

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The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company has a long and distinguished history. Explore the sections below to learn how the organization has grown and evolved from its earliest days to the present.

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