Bel Air Main Station (House 1)

109 South Hickory Avenue
Bel Air, Maryland 21014

Phone (Operations): 410-638-4401
Phone (Administrative): 410-638-4400
Fax: 410-638-4431

Year Opened: 2001

The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company’s Main Station serves as the department’s central operational facility and administrative headquarters. Located on South Hickory Avenue in downtown Bel Air, the station houses frontline apparatus, operational leadership, and modern facilities designed to support emergency response, training, and member readiness.

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Station Fleet

The Main Station houses a diverse fleet of apparatus designed to respond to a wide range of emergency incidents including fires, medical emergencies, rescues, and special operations.

 

Fire Suppression

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engine 313

2006 Seagrave Marauder II Pumper

 

Engine 315

2015 Pierce Enforcer Rescue Pumper

 

 

Rescue 3

2021 Piece Enforcer

 

 

Quint 3

2021 Pierce Enforcer Ascendant

 

 

Tower 3

2025 Pierce 100 Foot Ascendent Mid-Mount Tower

 

Brush 3-1

2017 Ford F350 / EBY 4 X 4 Brush Truck

 

Support Vehicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UTV 3

2014 Polaris Ranger 800 6X6 Utility Vehicle

 

Utility 3-3

2014 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Command / Utility

 

Utility 3-4

1995 Ford F350 Brush Truck. Pulls UTV 3.

 

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Station History

By the early 1960s, the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company was experiencing significant growth. The existing Bond Street fire station had become too small to accommodate the department’s increasing operational needs.

In July 1962, company officers and members began serious discussions about acquiring property for a new station. One potential location was a Harford County-owned property at the corner of Churchville Road and Dallam Place (now Hickory Avenue). At the time, the property was being used by the Harford County Highways and Welfare Department and was not initially available.

In April 1963, the property became available, and the fire company completed a property exchange with Harford County, trading the Bond Street station for the Dallam Place property. Renovations to the new station began in March 1964.

The company officially moved into the newly renovated station on September 26, 1964. The first alarm answered from the new facility was a field and brush fire on the Shaffer property along Kalmia Road north of Bel Air.

As the department continued to expand, the need for additional space quickly returned. In 1972, the company began planning a rear three-bay addition to accommodate additional apparatus. Construction began on April 3, 1973. Later that month, the Town of Bel Air announced a $45,000 budget allocation to support construction of the addition. The expansion was completed in September 1973 and officially dedicated during the annual Fire Prevention Open House on October 7, 1973.

In September 1978, the fire company purchased the adjacent property at the corner of Churchville Road and Hickory Avenue. The house on the property was demolished, and the lot was converted into additional parking.

Further expansion occurred in January 1982 when the company purchased another adjacent property at 112 Churchville Road from Charles Lutz. The home was converted into office space for the Board of Directors and conference use. With these property acquisitions, the fire company now controlled a large combined corner parcel that would allow for future development.

By 1985, the station again required upgrades to meet the growing operational needs of the department. A building committee was appointed and developed a multi-phase renovation plan. In February 1986, the company approved a four-part improvement plan that included enhanced training facilities, accommodations for a new ladder truck, and the construction of bunk rooms, bathrooms, a laundry room, and expanded office space.

Dedication ceremonies for these improvements were held in September 1987, attended by local officials, community members, and fire company supporters.

By the mid-1990s, increasing call volume and operational demands again highlighted the need for more space. In 1996, the fire company began planning improvements that included additional fire stations along the Route 22 and Route 24 corridors as well as a full renovation or replacement of the Hickory Avenue station.

Later that year, the company purchased an adjoining property on Hickory Avenue that included a two-story apartment building. The structure was used for training exercises until it was demolished during the construction process.

In 1997, a new building committee was appointed to oversee the design and construction of a replacement fire station. Rather than renovating the existing structure, the company decided to demolish the old building in phases and construct a completely new facility.

The station design was finalized and approved in June 1998, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 22, 1998.

After several years of construction, the new station was completed in October 2000. The official dedication ceremony for the current Bel Air Main Station was held on May 6, 2001.