BAVFC 2008 Activity History Highlights Major Rescues, Working Fires, Station Renovation, and Member Milestones

The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company’s 2008 activity history reflects a year of significant emergency response, mutual aid operations, rescue incidents, fire suppression, facility improvements, and department milestones. Throughout the year, BAVFC crews responded to serious motor vehicle collisions, dwelling fires, townhouse fires, building fires, and multi-company incidents while also supporting important changes to station operations and apparatus placement.

The year began with a major operational move on January 2, when equipment was moved out of the Forest Hill Station to temporary quarters across the street as work continued toward the station’s renovation.

Just days later, on January 6, BAVFC responded to a serious personal injury rescue in the 1100 block of Conowingo Road. The head-on collision involved two fatalities and entrapment, with two additional patients transported to a medical facility. Firefighters used multiple rescue tools to complete the extrication. R. Eyre served as acting officer.

On January 18, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid dwelling fire in the 2300 block of Furnace Road, Box 704. Company 3 responded with two engines and assisted with overhaul. Companies 7, 13, Battalion Chief 47, and Company 3 operated on the scene. J. Krebs served as acting officer.

February included a building fire at Bel Air High School. On February 4, crews responded to the 100 block of Heighe Street after pallets of roof insulation caught fire on the roof. The fire was reported to have started from welding sparks. Company 3 operated with four engines and two trucks. Company 13, Battalion Chief 48, and Company 8 also operated on the scene. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

March brought several fire and rescue responses. On March 17, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid dwelling fire in the 3300 block of Cool Branch Road, Box 138. The fire involved the attic and was reported to have originated from a chimney fire. Company 3 responded with an engine and truck, operating with Companies 1 and 9. S. Panowitz served as acting officer.

On March 20, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the 1000 block of Leeswood Road. A worker sweating pipes ignited an interior wall, and the fire extended to the attic. Crews made a quick knockdown, with Company 3 units handling the incident using three engines and a truck. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

On March 26, crews responded to a personal injury rescue at Route 23 and Grafton Shop Road after a two-car collision left one person trapped. Firefighters removed the roof to access and remove the patient, using hydraulic cutters and spreaders. D. Cox served as acting officer.

April was one of the year’s busiest months for working fires and rescues. On April 6, crews responded to a dwelling fire in the 1300 block of Prospect Mill Road. A large ranch-style home was well involved on arrival. Firefighters made an interior attack and were able to save a portion of the structure, though the fire had gained significant headway before arrival. Companies 3, 7, and 9 operated on the scene. Damage was estimated at approximately $150,000. S. Panowitz served as acting officer.

On April 17, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid dwelling fire in the 3200 block of Old Forge Hill Road, Box 928. The fire involved the basement. Company 3 responded with three engines and a truck, operating with Companies 9, 3, and 1. S. Panowitz served as acting officer.

On April 18, crews responded to a personal injury rescue at Bel Air Road and Tollgate Road. One person was pinned and flown to Shock Trauma, while another patient was transported to a medical facility. R. Eyre served as acting officer.

Two days later, on April 20, BAVFC responded to a dwelling fire in the 700 block of High Plain Drive. The fire involved a bedroom, and damage was estimated at approximately $50,000. R. Eyre served as acting officer.

On April 21, crews handled a building fire in the 1 block of South Atwood Road. The incident involved a shed that was being occupied. Company 3 handled the incident with three engines and a truck. Ry. Davis served as acting officer.

On April 27, BAVFC responded to a single-vehicle rollover with a male occupant trapped inside. Crews used multiple cribbing systems and jacks to stabilize the vehicle and complete the extrication. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

Rescue activity continued in May. On May 15, BAVFC responded to a personal injury rescue at Conowingo Road and East-West Highway. Ry. Davis served as acting officer.

On May 22, crews responded to the Emmorton Bypass south of Ring Factory Road for a single vehicle overturned into heavy brush. One female patient was transported by Maryland State Police Aviation Trooper 1. Firefighters built a box cribbing system to stabilize the vehicle and used chainsaws extensively to clear access around the crash scene. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

On May 27, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid dwelling fire on Dublin Road, Box 929. The ranch-style home had heavy fire in the rear and attic. Truck 331’s crew ventilated the roof, while Engine 314’s crew worked inside the structure. Companies 9, 6, 1, York County 57, and Company 3 operated on the scene. B. Stower served as acting officer.

June included an apparatus milestone and another mutual aid fire. On June 9, Truck 332 left Bel Air for the final time.

On June 28, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid dwelling fire in the 2000 block of Durham Road, Box 705. Company 3 responded with two engines and a truck. First-arriving units found fire in an attached garage and attic. Engine 313’s crew assisted with roof ventilation, while Engine 315’s crew assisted with extinguishment. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

In July, BAVFC handled additional mutual aid fire responses and completed a major station move. On July 18, crews assisted with a mutual aid townhouse fire involving a second-floor bedroom. The fire was quickly knocked down. Company 3 responded with two engines and operated with Companies 4 and 8 for approximately an hour and a half. D. Cox served as acting officer.

On July 22, BAVFC assisted with a mutual aid building fire at the Gas n Go in the 600 block of Pulaski Highway, Box 816. The incident involved a vacant gas station garage. Truck 331 was used to pull soffits, and the crew also extinguished hot spots. Companies 8, 12, 4, Battalion Chief 48, 3, and 5 operated for approximately two hours. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

On July 26, the Forest Hill Station moved back into the renovated firehouse, marking an important improvement for station operations and service delivery.

On August 11, crews responded to a personal injury rescue on Brierhill Drive after a vehicle overturned. One female occupant was trapped upside down inside the vehicle. Firefighters stabilized the car and removed the driver-side door to complete the extrication. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

September included another apparatus milestone when Ambulance 392 made its first run on September 19.

On October 2, BAVFC responded to a personal injury rescue in the 100 block of Baltimore Pike. One male occupant was trapped in the driver’s seat, and crews completed a full driver-side door removal. P. Carlton served as acting officer.

One of the year’s most serious incidents occurred on November 7 on the Bel Air Bypass. Crews responded to a three-car collision with five people trapped in two vehicles. The incident required an extended extrication operation. Two fatalities were reported, and three additional patients were flown from the scene using three medevac helicopters. B. Snyder served as acting officer.

The year closed with two December townhouse fires. On December 8, BAVFC responded to a townhouse fire in the 900 block of Richwood Court. Fire was showing from the rear deck and back of the house on arrival. Crews made a quick knockdown and prevented the fire from damaging the interior of the home. Damage was estimated at approximately $50,000. Company 3 units handled the incident. S. Panowitz served as acting officer.

On December 14, crews responded to a townhouse fire in the 200 block of Temple Drive. The fire involved the attic after a chimney fire, with fire showing from the roof when Rescue 351 arrived. Companies 4 and 8 each assisted with one engine. Damage was estimated at approximately $95,000. S. Panowitz served as acting officer.

The company also recognized a member milestone in December, as Jeff Ey answered his 5,000th fire call, reflecting years of committed service to the department and community.

The 2008 activity history demonstrates the wide range of services provided by the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, including fire suppression, rescue operations, EMS support, mutual aid response, apparatus deployment, and station improvements. It also reflects the dedication of members who continued to respond to difficult and demanding incidents throughout the year.

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