Although in the U.S. Army at the time, Howard A. Belford spent many leave days working with the group of men organizing what was to become the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company. After the company was chartered in 1944, Howard looked forward to his discharge from the Army to begin his firefighting training. He took every training class he could and used his training wisely. He held different offices in the company including Chief. For over 23-years, he was also a professional firefighter at Fort George G. Meade and Tipton Airfield while also being a volunteer. He was proud that each of his five sons were at one time or the other trained firefighters at Lake Shore. He was a founding father and life member of Lake Shore.