BAVFC 1971 Activity History Highlights Major Fires, Rescues, Mutual Aid Responses, and Serious Winter Incidents

The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company’s 1971 activity history reflects a demanding year of fire suppression, rescue operations, EMS response, mutual aid support, and major fireground operations. Throughout the year, BAVFC crews responded to dwelling fires, building fires, barn fires, serious vehicle collisions, school bus incident response, and several extended operations during difficult weather conditions.

The year began with several January fires. On January 21, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the Brandywine Farms development. Company 7 assisted with three engines. Crews used approximately 125 gallons of water and operated for about two and a half hours. T. Broumel served as acting officer. That same date, crews responded to a building fire near Routes 1 and 543 involving a barn. Engine 74 also assisted. Firefighters used approximately 250 gallons of water and operated for about an hour and a half. S. Matthews served as acting officer.

On January 24, BAVFC responded to a building fire near Ruff’s Mill and Thomas Run roads involving a shed. Crews used approximately 2,600 gallons of water. D. Woodward served as acting officer.

On January 27, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 1700 block of High Point Road involving a trailer. Company 7 assisted with three engines. Firefighters used approximately 3,200 gallons of water, and damage was estimated at approximately $5,000. D. MacLean served as acting officer. That same date, BAVFC also responded to a dwelling fire on Jarrettsville Road near Grafton Shop. Company 7 again assisted with three engines. Crews used approximately 2,350 gallons of water, and damage was estimated at approximately $35,000. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On January 29, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire near Wheel Road and Schucks Road involving a trailer. A 12-year-old sustained second-degree burns. Crews operated during very cold conditions and used approximately 2,000 gallons of water. Damage was estimated at approximately $3,500. D. Woodward served as acting officer.

February included one of the year’s most significant commercial fires. On February 1, BAVFC responded to a two-alarm building fire at Western Auto in the 16 block of North Main Street. Companies 7, 4, and 1 also assisted. Crews operated for approximately seven hours and used about 120,000 gallons of water. Damage was estimated at approximately $175,000. Several firefighter injuries were reported, including a nail injury to the foot, a slip on ice, and two members transported to Harford Memorial Hospital for X-rays. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On February 3, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 800 block of Rock Spring Road involving a garage. Firefighters used approximately 300 gallons of water and operated for about two hours. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

On February 24, BAVFC responded to a building fire on Tollgate Road near Winterview Drive involving a barn. The incident was initially reported as a field fire. Crews operated for approximately three hours and used about 25,000 gallons of water. Damage was estimated at approximately $25,000. D. Woodward served as acting officer.

March included several building and barn fires. On March 11, crews responded to a building fire on Route 24 about a half-mile north of Route 23 involving a barn. Firefighters used approximately 9,100 gallons of water. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On March 16, BAVFC responded to a building fire on Connolly Road at the Smith Farm involving a field, barn, and brush. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

On March 17, Company 3 assisted with a mutual aid building fire near Route 165 and Old Fallston Road involving a barn. Company 3 sent one engine to the scene and used approximately 1,200 gallons of water. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On April 18, BAVFC assisted with a three-alarm mutual aid building fire at the Delta Sewing Factory. Company 3 responded with two engines and Truck 331, operating for approximately four hours and using about 1,800 gallons of water. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

June included additional building and dwelling fire responses. On June 14, crews responded to a building fire on Route 1 north of the Baltimore County line involving a barn. Company 8 and Battalion Chief 48 also assisted. Crews used approximately 1,200 gallons of water. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On June 18, BAVFC responded to a vacant dwelling fire on Route 24 near Bel Air South Parkway. Company 4 assisted with three engines. Firefighters used approximately 1,000 gallons of water. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

July was active with multiple fires. On July 5, crews responded to a building fire on Route 22 at the Moxley residence involving two garages. Company 1 assisted with three engines. Crews used approximately 2,200 gallons of water. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On July 9, BAVFC responded to a building fire in the 500 block of Old Joppa Road involving a garage. The fire occurred on a hot day and was attributed to careless smoking. Company 8 also assisted, and damage was estimated at approximately $2,000. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

On July 23, crews responded to a dwelling fire on Prospect Mill Road near Thomas Run Road. Engine 17 also assisted. Firefighters operated for approximately four and a half hours, used about 2,000 gallons of water, and damage was estimated at approximately $15,000. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On July 29, BAVFC responded to a building fire on Melrose Lane involving a garage. Engine 74 also assisted. Crews used approximately 4,000 gallons of water, and damage was estimated at approximately $8,000. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On July 31, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 2000 block of Parsons Lane off Route 1. Firefighters operated for approximately three hours and used about 1,400 gallons of water.

On August 2, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the 7 block of Brooks Road involving a basement fire. Crews used approximately 50 gallons of water. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

September included a dwelling fire and a mutual aid building fire. On September 3, crews responded to a dwelling fire on Forge Hill Road east of Route 1. Company 9 assisted with two engines. Firefighters used approximately 100 gallons of water. D. Woodward served as acting officer.

On September 9, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid building fire at Rolling Green involving a barn. Crews used approximately 45,000 gallons of water.

On October 20, crews responded to a building fire in the Grafton Shop area at the Osborne Farm involving a barn. Engines 72 and 83 also assisted, and crews used approximately 5,500 gallons of water. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

November included building and dwelling fire responses. On November 13, BAVFC responded to a building fire at the Richardson Farm near Route 1 and Bynum Road involving a barn. Crews used approximately 300 gallons of water. D. Woodward served as acting officer.

On November 24, crews responded to a building fire at Auto Village on Bel Air Road involving a garage. Firefighters used approximately 50 gallons of water. D. MacLean served as acting officer. That same date, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the 200 block of Bynum Ridge Road, using approximately 350 gallons of water. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

December began with two serious crash responses on the same day. On December 6, BAVFC responded to a personal injury rescue at Churchville Road and Corns Drive. A port-a-power was used during the rescue operation. Two fatalities were reported, identified in the activity history as a mother and child. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

Also on December 6, crews responded to a school bus collision at Harford Road and Reckord Road. Company 3 responded with two ambulances, Company 7 with one ambulance, and Company 8 with two ambulances. Seventeen people were transported to area hospitals. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

On December 18, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire on Ady Road about a half-mile north of Chestnut Hill Road. Company 7 assisted with two engines. Crews operated for approximately two and a half hours and used about 1,000 gallons of water. M. Purcell served as acting officer.

On December 19, crews responded to a dwelling fire on Thomas Run Road. Companies 1 and 2 also assisted. Firefighters operated for approximately three and a half hours and used approximately 1,800 gallons of water. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

On December 22, BAVFC responded to a building fire on MacPhail Road near Jackson Boulevard involving a barn. Crews used approximately 2,000 gallons of water. D. MacLean served as acting officer.

The 1971 activity history demonstrates the broad range of services provided by the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, including fire suppression, rescue operations, EMS support, mutual aid coverage, water supply operations, and major fireground support. The year was marked by several serious fires, multiple rescues, firefighter injuries, and fatal incidents that required a coordinated and professional emergency response.

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