The early days of fire fighting and fire tactics in Frostburg are difficult to trace. It is known, however, that each time there was a major fire, involving a business or residence, the local citizens made some progress towards fire prevention and extinguishment tactics.
Men, women, and sometimes even children, were the fire fighters of the town. These fire fighters were inexperienced, unorganized and had no training drills. They did little for the structure that was involved, but rather concentrated on protecting exposures and surrounding buildings.
Buckets were important to the early fire fighters, and every business and most homes had fire buckets available. Barrels of water were located at some street corners to be used on a fire alarm. Swabs were used also. These looked like mops and were used to swat out fires on roofs. They were dipped in water buckets and passed up ladders to men on the roof.
"Bucket Brigades" were soon to come. Frostburg had "bucket brigades" representing streets and sections of the town. They gave themselves patriotic names, and often during Sunday afternoon outings, competed in athletic events.
Another tactic frequently used by the fire fighters, was to remove the fuel. Large hooks were attached to ropes and thrown over the roof of the burning building. Then with manpower or horsepower, pull the building down to prevent it from spreading.
As the department was formally incorporated and organized on paper, it also became more organized in the field. Fire fighting was no longer a "drown it with water, and hope it doesn't spread" operation. More tactics for fighting as well as prevention came into common practice. With the invention and use of horsepower and motorpower, the time factor was coming onto the fireman's side. Not only did he get there faster, but once he was there, he operated more efficiently with his up-to-date equipment.
Today, fire fighting isn't the helpless and hopeless operation it was for our forefathers. Thanks to the advanced studies of the University of Maryland and other institutions of higher learning, fire fighting has become a fascinating science.
The men of Frostburg's Fire Department keep up on any new techniques that may come into being by volunteering their own time to take advanced courses at the College Park Campus. However, since the inception of the University of Maryland Extension program, the classes have been brought to the area firemen, making it possible for more men to take the course.
Today's Frostburg Fire Department is better equipped, better trained, and more prepared for a fire emergency then their charter members were, but one thing they have in common. Both Departments are manned by enthusiastic volunteers who are ready to help when called upon.
September 5, 1874 - At about twenty minutes past one o'clock on Saturday, September 5, 1874, a fire broke out in the loft of the store of Beall & Koch, on Union (Main) Street, nearly opposite of St. Michael's Catholic Church. The flames gaining headway, soon extended to the adjoining roofs of Keller's Store and the old Franklin Block. This row of buildings, including Marx Wineland's extensive store, next caught fire, and being very dry structures, were in a few mintues a sheet of flames. From the Franklin Block, the fire moved southward on Broadway, and crossed Mechanic Street to a large stable owned by the Hoblizell heirs. From Mechanic Street, the fire swept around on Water Street, in both directions. The Cumberland fire engines arrived about three o'clock and after a sharp struggle, conquered the flames.
In all, at least 40 businesses and residences were destroyed or received damage from the fire. There totals in damages to property and goods, by street were as follows: Union Street, $114,700; Broadway, $17,600; Mechanic Street, $6,600; Water Street, $11,000. Total losses, $149,900.
March 18, 1878 - A number of young men of this place, met in the City Council Chamber, with a view to taking into consideration the feasibility of organizing a new fire company, for the better protection of property. A motion was made to limit the number of the company to thirty-five members. A committee was appointed to wait on the Mayor and Council and ascertain what aid they would give the company.
The following are the officers elected to serve the ensuing term:
Inside Officers: President, George B. McCulloh; Vice President, Thom G. Mason; Secretary, R.K. Mason; Treasurer, Frank Maurey; Sergeant-At-Arms, John Jefferies.
Outside Officers and men: Chief, George H. Wittig; Assistants, John B. McCulloh and John A. Spades; Nozzlemen, Wash McCulloh, Frank Maurey, Charles Sourbough and Alfred Jeffries; Assistants, John Jeffries, Charles Merril, Walker Keller and T.S. Preston: Plugmen, George B. McCulloh, D. Skelly, John Donahoe and Henry Albright.
April 6, 1878 - The following appeared in the Frostburg Mining Journal. The Fire Alarm - Hereafter, in case of fire, the large bell in St. Michael's Church steeple will be tolled, instead of three being rung as for church related matters.
December 9, 1878 - Charter granted to the Frostburg Fire Department.
June 1893 - Frostburg was one of nine member fire companies that organized the Maryland State Firemen's Association in Frederick, MD. At this first state convention, one of Frostburg's hose reels was used as the official piece for the reel pulling contest. For many years, Frostburg was known throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia as the champions in the hose pulling contest.
Frostburg Fire Department has attended, by member or delegation, every Maryland State Firemen's Convention since it was organized.
June 1895 - The Frostburg Fire Department served as host for the 3rd Annual Maryland State Firemen's Convention. Moat's Opera House was used for conducting the business meetings.
December 26, 1899 - Frostburg Fire Department Constitution and By-Laws adopted.
1903 - The City of Frostburg bought the Fire Department a modern American LaFrance hand-drawn hook and ladder truck at the cost of $650.
1907 - The City of Frostburg bought the Fire Department a horse-drawn chemical engine at the cost of $1,180.
April 7, 1908 - A special meeting was held for "the members of the Frostburg Fire Department of 1878." At this meeting, motion was made and passed that "we shall be known as the veterns of 1878."
June 1908 - The Frostburg Fire Department served as host for the 16th Annual Maryland State Firemen's Convention. According to the Frostburg Mining Journal every house and business place in Frostburg was decorated in red, white and blue, and was the largest State Convention to date.
1911 - Hose reel house on Grant Street built. By 1911 Frostburg had four hose reel housed located at Federal Hill (West Mechanic Street), Central (Water Street), Bowery Street (at Oak Street) and Grant Street. The equipment included four hand or horse drawn hose reels, two hand or horse drawn ladder trucks, on horse drawn chemical truck and 3000 feet of hose.
September 12, 1912 - The Frostburg Fire Department, along with seven other area fire companies (Cumberland Hose Co., Mt. Savage, Chapel Hill, Midland, Potomac #2, Goodwill and Tri-Towns) organized the Allegany Volunteer Firemen's Association. The first convention of the newly formed association was held in Frostburg with all eight of the Charter organizations attending.
In August 1930, the association combined with Garrett County, becoming known as the Allegany-Garrett Counties Volunteer Firemen's Association.
November 18, 1916 - The Frostburg Fire Department accepted bid for its first motorized piece of fire apparatus. The Fire Department placed an order with the American LaFrance Fire Truck Co. of Elmira, NY, for one of their combination engine and hose motor cars which cost $3,700.
The auto truck, which was known as the "Brockaway Type D" was scheduled for delivery to Frostburg on February 1, 1917.
April 1922 - Frostburg accepted bid for a 1922 Ahrens-Fox fire engine for $11,600. This was the first pumper purchased for the Frostburg Fire Department, and is still owned by the department today.
1924 - During a special ceremony, William Wink and T.S. Preston, laid the cornerstone for the new three story Central Fire Headquarters. Today, known as Station #1.
October 20, 1946 - Dedication of memorial plaque on Station #1, in memory of deceased members.
June 1947 - Frostburg hosted the 55th Maryland State Firemen's Convention. During the convention, the Frostburg Fire Department presented the old hand-drawn American LaFrance hook and ladder truck to the Maryland State Firemen's Association as a gift. The old 1903 hand-drawn truck was last used by Frostburg on a fire ground in 1926.
October 30, 1966 - Frostburg Fire Department Station #2 was completed and a formal Dedication Ceremony was held. Station #2 is located at 298 East Main Street.
1971 - Frostburg Fire Department gained membership to the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association and was host for the Association's 70th Annual Convention.
December 4, 1977 - The Frostburg Fire Department resigned from the Allegany-Garrett Counties Firemen's Association due to strong differences of opinion concerning appropriation of county funds.
March 18, 1978 - Frostburg Fire Department conducted a special 6:00 P.M. memorial at Station #1 where the department bell was rung 111 times in memory of the 111 deceased members. At 7:30 P.M. the annual department banquet was held for the 100th time at which letters from the National Fire Protection and Control Administration on behalf of the President of the United States and from Maryland's acting Governor Blair Lee were presented.
September 11, 2001 - The Frostburg Fire Department morns with the rest of the country as thousand of Americans lose their lives in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Included among those killed are 343 brother firemen from FDNY.
March 16, 2002 - The Frostburg Fire Department holds it's 124th Anniversary Banquet, dedicating it to all who lost their lives in the 9-11 tragedy.
March 18, 2003 - The Frostburg Fire Department celebrates 125 years of service to the City of Frostburg and the surrounding communities.
TODAY - The Frostburg Fire Department has 2 Stations and 6 pieces of apparatus: 2 Engines, an Arial Ladder Truck, a Medium Duty Squad, a Utility Unit, and a Chief's Car. The Department has over 80 members. All of which VOLUNTEER their time and risk their own lives to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the City of Frostburg and surrounding communities.