Location

109 South Hickory Avenue
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Phone: 410-638-4401 (Operations)
Phone: 410-638-4400 (Administrative)
Fax: 410-638-4431
Year Opened: 2001

In 1962 the fire company was once again experiencing growing pains. More space was needed and the Bond Street station was too small. Starting in July of 1962, serious discussions were held among the officers and members concerning acquiring a piece of property for a new fire station. One suggestion was to look at the Harford County property at the corner of Churchville Road and Dallam Place (now Hickory Avenue). The property consisted of a large garage type building with some offices that were currently in use by the Harford County Highways and Welfare Department. The Board of Directors inquired with the county about the availability of the property but were informed it was not available.

In April of 1963, the property became available and the fire company exchanged the Bond Street property with the county for the Dallam Place property. After all the necessary paperwork had been completed and filed, the fire company began remodeling the new property at Dallam Place in March of 1964.

The renovations were finally complete and on September 26, 1964, the fire company moved into its new fire station. The first alarm to be answered out of the new fire station would be for a field and brush fire on the Shaffer property located on Kalmia Road, north of Bel Air.

In 1972, with the number of apparatus growing, the fire company was once again in need of space. The company discussed what could be done and finally decided on expanding the fire station by adding a rear three bay addition. All the necessary permits having been obtained and the necessary contracts signed, the fire company broke ground on April 3, 1973 on the addition. On April 23, 1973, the Town of Bel Air released the yearly budget and in it was a $45,000 dollar expenditure to the fire company to pay for the construction of the rear bay addition. By late September of 1973 the rear bay addition was complete and the dedication was in conjunction with the annual Fire Prevention Open House on October 7, 1973.

In September of 1978, the adjacent house and property located on the corner of Churchville Road and Hickory Avenue was purchased. The existing house on the property would be demolished and the lot used as a auxiliary parking lot.

In January 1982, the adjacent house and property located at 112 Churchville Road was purchased from Charles Lutz. The rooms in the house were converted into office space. The building was primarily used as offices for the Board of Directors and as a conference room.

The purchase of these two pieces of adjoining property now gave the fire company a large combined corner lot at the intersection of Churchville Road and Hickory Avenue. This would become important in the future when further expansion would be considered.

March of 1985 saw the fire company looking into different plans to address the needs for more space, as the current space was inadequate to meet the fire company’s needs. In August of 1985 a special company meeting was held and a building committee appointed. The committee was tasked with reporting back to the company with a plan for the renovation of the current fire station.

In February of 1986 the company approved the building committee’s four part plan to improve the present building. The improvements recommended would provide better training facilities, accommodate a new ladder truck, and build an addition to include bunk rooms, bathrooms, laundry room, and office space. The corner property and the adjoining property on Churchville Road were incorporated into the plans.

In September 1987, with the town band playing, balloons flying and our local dignitaries present, dedication services were held at the fire station. Later a dinner was held for our members as a way of thanking them for all their support.

In 1996 the fire company was again in need of space. The company placed its plans into the county system to erect a fire station along the Route 22 corridor, the Route 24 corridor and to renovate or rebuild the Hickory Avenue fire station. The first step would be to renovate the main fire station on Hickory Avenue.

September of 1996 saw the fire company purchase the adjoining property on Hickory Avenue which contained a small two story apartment building. This building would be used for company training exercises until it was demolished when the new construction started.

In 1997 the company appointed a building committee to oversee the design and construction of the new fire station. It had been decided not to renovate the existing structure, but to demolish it in phases and replace it with a brand new fire station.

The design was completed and approved by the company in June of 1998 and on June 22, 1998, a groundbreaking ceremony was held.

After many months of construction, the new fire station was completed in October of 2000 and the official dedication ceremony was held on May 6, 2001.