BAVFC 1998 Activity History Highlights Fires, Rescues, Mutual Aid Responses, Apparatus Milestones, and Member Service Recognition

The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company’s 1998 activity history reflects a busy year of fire suppression, rescue operations, mutual aid support, apparatus activity, and member service milestones. Throughout the year, BAVFC crews responded to dwelling fires, building fires, apartment fires, serious motor vehicle collisions, and multi-company incidents across Bel Air and surrounding communities.

The year began with a series of working fires in January. On January 2, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the 700 block of Hickory Limb Circle after a salamander heater burned through the floor and ignited the basement ceiling. Damage was estimated at approximately $8,000. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

On January 3, Engine 311 assisted with a mutual aid dwelling fire in the 19 block of Mountain Road, arriving second on an incident that was dispatched with a rescue assignment. Considerable damage was reported. D. Cox served as acting officer. That same day, crews responded to a building fire in the 700 block of Walters Mill Road involving a 30-by-35-foot barn exposed to a nearby house. Engine 914 also assisted. The call came in seven minutes after a Company 13 box alarm, and crews operated for approximately two hours. Damage was estimated at approximately $10,000. R. Eyre served as acting officer.

On January 6, crews handled two additional fires. The first was a building fire in the 100 block of South Main Street involving a dryer fire with heavy smoke extending into second-floor apartments. Damage was estimated at approximately $500. Later that day, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 19 block of Bonnie Avenue, where fire involved a bedroom and hallway. The home sustained considerable smoke and heat damage. The fire was reported to have been caused by a five-year-old playing with matches, and damage was estimated at approximately $75,000. R. Eyre served as acting officer.

On January 7, BAVFC responded to the Bel Air Athletic Club for a building fire that was initially reported as an automatic alarm. Crews found a mattress and clothing on fire, with damage estimated at approximately $1,500. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

On January 14, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 2900 block of Grier Nursery Road. The fire started in the basement due to faulty wiring and produced heavy fire conditions in the basement. Engine 714 also assisted, and damage was estimated at approximately $35,000. D. Vaughn served as acting officer.

On January 26, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid building fire at the Edgewood Garage in the 2000 block of East Nuttal Avenue, Box 836. Fire was through the roof on arrival. Company 3 responded with two engines and the air unit and operated for approximately two and a half hours. R. Davis served as acting officer. That same date, the company recognized Ricky Davis, Jr. for answering his 5,000th fire call and Millard Purcell for answering his 25,000th fire call.

February included two significant building fires. On February 4, crews responded to a building fire in the 2100 block of Old Fountain Green Road at a tree nursery farm. The call was initially dispatched as an automatic alarm. Crews found two 20-by-50-foot barns burning, with numerous exposures threatened. The first hydrant laid from was out of service, complicating early water supply operations. Firefighters operated for approximately four and a half hours, and damage was estimated at approximately $500,000. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

On February 7, BAVFC responded to a building fire in the 1000 block of South Fountain Green Road, next to the swim club. The incident involved a 60-by-40-foot barn that was fully involved on arrival. Company 4 assisted with one engine, and damage was estimated at approximately $10,000. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

March brought mutual aid fire responses, a fatal crash, and another member milestone. On March 1, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid building fire in the 2100 block of Old Edgewood Road, Box 836, at the old post office. Company 3 sent one engine when the box was filled and another engine on the second alarm. Crews assisted with extensive overhaul. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

On March 10, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid dwelling fire in the 2500 block of Lady Ann Court, Box 122. The fire involved a bedroom, and Company 3 crews extinguished the room fire. The second floor sustained considerable heat damage. The fire was reported to have been caused by a child playing with matches. D. Cox served as acting officer.

On March 14, crews responded to a personal injury collision at the Emmorton Bypass and Baltimore Pike. One fatality was reported, and eight priority-three patients were transported to Fallston General Hospital. P. Caudill served as acting officer.

On March 30, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the 150 block of Nichols Street. Fire involved a second-floor bedroom and attic. One occupant was flown to Shock Trauma. Crews used approximately 600 gallons of water, and damage was estimated at approximately $20,000. M. Gallagher served as acting officer. The department also recognized John Eid for answering his 5,000th fire call.

April included a basement fire and a serious tractor-trailer crash. On April 6, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 700 block of Foothill Road. A basement fire extended upward toward the kitchen, causing heat damage throughout the home. Three occupants were transported to Fallston General Hospital for smoke exposure. Damage was estimated at approximately $15,000.

On April 30, BAVFC responded to a personal injury rescue on Route 543 north of Walters Mill Road after an 18-wheeler collided head-on with an automobile and ran over the vehicle. One fatality required extrication, and one additional patient was transported to Fallston General Hospital. D. Cox served as acting officer.

On May 27, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid apartment fire in the 1800 block of Brookside Drive, Box 826. Company 3 sent one engine when the box was filled, followed by Truck 331 and the air unit on the second alarm. Engine 312 arrived as the third engine. One fatality was reported. Company 3 crews extinguished fire in the exposures and ventilated the roof. Three units were affected, and crews operated for approximately four hours. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

June included two dwelling fires. On June 27, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 500 block of Hanna Road involving a garage fire. The fire was reported to have started from oily rags that self-heated and ignited. Damage was estimated at approximately $2,500. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

On June 28, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the 1400 block of Banavie Terrace. A kitchen fire was mostly out on arrival and was reported to have started from a dishwasher. Damage was estimated at approximately $10,000. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

July included apparatus milestones, building fires, and several member service recognitions. On July 4, Engines 314 and 315 made their first official run, responding to an automatic alarm at the Bel Air Town Center.

That same day, BAVFC responded to a building fire in the 2600 block of Thomas Run Road involving a 140-by-40-foot barn that was fully involved on arrival and allowed to burn due to conditions. Company 9 assisted with one engine, and damage was estimated at approximately $250,000. R. Davis served as acting officer.

On July 21, crews responded to a building fire in the 4 block of North Avenue after a light fixture malfunctioned. Truck 3 was used during the incident, and damage was estimated at approximately $2,000. R. Eyre served as acting officer. The department also recognized June Potter and Mike Livezey for each answering their 5,000th fire call, and Mike Gallagher for answering his 10,000th fire call.

On August 10, BAVFC responded to Silver Spring Mining Company for a small fire in the roof area after a lightning strike. Six full-assignment calls were occurring at the same time, creating a significant demand on county fire resources. Company 13 sent three units to the incident, while Companies 1, 6, and 9 filled in at Company 3. P. Caudill served as acting officer.

September included a serious rescue. On September 10, crews responded to the 300 block of South Fountain Green Road for a personal injury rescue. One occupant was trapped in the passenger seat. Firefighters used O-cutters and spreaders to access the patient. Two fatalities were reported, and two additional patients were transported to Fallston General Hospital. D. Cox served as acting officer.

October included multiple fire responses, including an apartment fire with rescue. On October 15, crews responded to the 700 through 721 block of Ridgewood Road after four houses were affected by a transformer problem. About 10 minutes after the first call, the electric meter blew off at the 721 address, and crews quickly extinguished the resulting fire. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

On October 24, BAVFC responded to an apartment fire with rescue in the 100 block of South Main Street. Fire involved a bedroom and attic, and crews encountered heavy smoke and heat in the hallway. Firefighters carried one conscious woman down the stairs and removed a second unconscious woman about 15 minutes later. The second patient was transported to Shock Trauma. Damage was estimated at approximately $150,000. R. Davis served as acting officer.

On October 31, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 700 block of Grady Lane. The incident was dispatched as a chimney fire, and crews found fire in the box around the chimney. Damage was estimated at approximately $1,000. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

November included several significant fires. On November 9, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid building fire at the Fallston Airpark maintenance shop and hangar on Reckord Road, Box 1305. Company 3 sent one engine on the first alarm, followed by two engines and a truck on the second alarm. Company 3 crews put out a large amount of fire from the rear, with Engine 311 arriving second. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

On November 12, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the 700 block of Winters Drive. Fire was venting from the basement sliding glass door on arrival. Engine 1311 also assisted, and damage was estimated at approximately $60,000. R. Davis served as acting officer.

On November 14, crews responded to a building fire at Kenny Rogers in the 10 block of Bel Air South Parkway. Fire involved a grease hood, flue, and roof. Engine 411 arrived first, and damage was estimated at approximately $3,000. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

On November 20, BAVFC returned to the 700 block of Grady Lane, the same house involved in a chimney fire 20 days earlier. This time, crews found a basement fire that was mostly out on arrival. Damage was estimated at approximately $30,000. M. Gallagher served as acting officer.

The year closed with a fatal pedestrian incident, mutual aid fire, and another major service milestone. On December 13, crews responded to Route 24 and Red Pump Road for a pedestrian struck. One fatality was reported. A large number of family members at the scene created additional challenges for responders. J. Rutherford served as acting officer.

On December 28, BAVFC assisted with a two-alarm mutual aid building fire in the 1400 block of Calvary Road, Box 415, involving a pig barn. Engine 311 responded from Company 3, and Companies 1, 2, 3, and 4 operated on the scene. B. Snyder served as acting officer. The department also recognized Donald MacLean for answering his 25,000th fire call.

The 1998 activity history demonstrates the broad scope of services provided by the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, including fire suppression, rescue operations, EMS support, mutual aid coverage, apparatus response, and major incident operations. It also reflects the dedication of members who reached important service milestones while continuing to respond to difficult and demanding emergencies throughout the year.

Residents are encouraged to follow BAVFC for department updates, fire prevention information, and opportunities to support or volunteer with the company.