History of

Anne Arundel Volunteer Firefighter’s Association

             On March 1, 1929, a meeting was called of all volunteer fire companies in Anne Arundel County.  Jesse A. Fisher of Annapolis was elected chairman. At that time, the first legislative act was drafted, paying each company $2,000.00 for maintenance and one chauffeur for each company at $100.00 per month.

             The companies were again called together on March 7, 1930, to consider a problem confronting one of the companies.  Fisher again served as the chairman. Representatives present adopted the following resolution:

That the fire companies of Anne Arundel County represented here tonight pledge protection for each other against amalgamation of fire companies with organization other than organized for fire protection and from unfair attacks from other sources.

            Those key words have become the cornerstone of today’s Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, and remain as the pledge of protection as incorporated in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association. 

            At that initial meeting on March 7, 1930, the organization of a permanent association of fire companies in the county was then discussed. The acting secretary was directed to write all the county companies to attend a meeting on April 18, 1930, said to take up the matter of forming an association for the mutual benefits of member companies. 

            After Fisher called this session to order on the date set, the following motions were made, duly seconded, and carried:

 That we now proceed with the business of forming a permanent association.

 As represented by the companies here tonight, such officers as shall be elected, continue through the year or until the first Saturday following the first day of January.

 That we now proceed with permanent organization and that the name be the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association.

 Elected as temporary officers were Fisher of the Water Witch Hook and Ladder Company of Annapolis, President; Earl Strange of Eastport, Vice-President; B. Everett Beavin of Linthicum Heights, Secretary; and Wallace Hambrook of West Annapolis, Treasurer.  A constitution and bylaws committee was also appointed.

Charter member companies of the Association which affiliated on April 18, 1930, were:

        Water Witch Hook and Ladder Company, Inc.  (Co. 39)
        Independent Fire Company No. 2, Inc.  (Co. 37)
        Rescue Hose Company #1, Inc.  (Co. 38)
        Eastport Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.  (Co. 36)
        West Annapolis Fire and Improvement Company, Inc.  (Co. 40)
        Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.  (Co. 12)
        Community Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.  (Co. 32)
        Herald Harbor Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.  (Co. 6)
        Galesville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.  (Co. 1)

 The constitution set the date of the annual convention in the month of September.  The first one was held at Galesville on September 20, 1930.  At that convention, the late J.B. Peat of Herald Harbor was elected President.  Since then, the leadership of the Association has been representative of all sections of the county, as the roster of Past Presidents indicates.

            On December 31, 1951, the Association was incorporated.  This organization remains to grow in pace with the county.  Since its organization with the nine original members, the following companies have joined the Association on the dates indicated:

    Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; December 2, 1932 (Co. 13)
    Orchard Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.; September 8, 1934 (Co. 11)
    Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; September 12, 1936 (Co. 28)
    Jessup Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.; March 5, 1937 (Co. 29)
    Glen Burnie Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.; November 5, 1937 (Co. 33)
    Brooklyn Community Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; January 6, 1939 (Co. 31)
    Arnold Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.; May 7, 1943 (Co. 17)
    Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; November 3, 1943 (Co. 34)
    Marley Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; May 5, 1944 (Co. 18)
    Avalon Shores Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; November 3, 1944 (Co. 41)
    Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; February 2, 1945 (Co. 20)
    Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.; September 11, 1948 (Co. 2)
    Riva Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; March 4, 1949 (Co. 3)
    Deale Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc.; September 16, 1949 (Co. 42)
    Green Haven Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; September 21, 1951 (Co. 14)
    Powhatan Beach Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; September 21, 1951 (Co. 15)
    Lombardee Beach Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; January 1, 1953 (Co. 16)
    Arundel Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.; January 1, 1956 (Co. 7)
    Cape St. Claire Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; April 5, 1957 (Co. 19)
    Maryland City Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc.; March 7, 1969 (Co. 27)
    Seventh District Rescue Squad, Inc.; January 7, 1977 (Co. 24)
    Anne Arundel County Alarmers Association, Inc; May 6, 1977 (Co. 99)
    Harwood Lothian Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; December 1, 1985 (Co. 9)
    Armiger Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; November 2, 1990 (Co. 30)

  Since its inception, the Association has been instrumental in initiating legislative benefits not only to the firemen and fire companies, but also to the citizens of the county at large.

             At a meeting of the Firemen’s Training Committee on October 22, 1961, Chairman Emory Kopf predicted that “Some $37,000, representing one-half cent on every $100 of assessed taxable property in the county for 1960 and 1961, should be in the treasury of the proposed Firemen’s Training Center and Central Alarm System by the next year. Current cash assets of the center total $20,000.” Despite his prediction, Chairman Kopf admitted that he was stumped over where to build the new center.

             Approved by the voters in 1958 as a means of giving centralized training to beginning firemen, the center remained subject to dispute over location.  The two most widely held ideas were:

·        Building it as a separate unit, housing also the Fire Prevention Bureau and Civil Defense operation; or

·        make it part of a all-inclusive Public Safety Headquarters.

             Regardless of location, said Kopf, the center will train firemen better and afford a central alarm system.  Training facilities would include a tower, smoke room, pits, contrivances of many hazardous types, and a driving course to steer trucks over. The alarm would serve the entire Anne Arundel County populace. No matter where the alarm is phoned in from, it will be received at central headquarters.  There it would be dispatched to proper companies.

             The Kopf Committee, formed by legislative law after voters okayed a 1958 referendum, included Albert Parlett of Linthicum, Daniel Mosberg of Jessup, Ellsworth McQuade of Herald Harbor, John Meech of Avalon Shores, County Manager J.J. Salaavara, and County Commissioner Louis Boehm.  Advisor to the committee was Harry W. Klasmeier, head of the Fire Prevention Bureau.

             In 1973, the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association sponsored legislation with the Anne Arundel County Council for a Length of Service Award Program(LOSAP).  This program would provide a monthly benefit of $100.00 to any volunteer fire, rescue, or EMS member who had completed 25 years of active service and reached the age of 62.  This legislation was passed by the County Council and remains a key volunteer retention tool to maintain an active volunteer fire service within Anne Arundel County.  The provisions of the law have been changed over the years, with the current benefits provided of $250.00 per month for members completing the 25 years of active service and reaching the age of 50.

             In 1985, the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association was a strong proponent of Maryland Senate Bill 508(SB-508) which was passed and became effective on July 1, 1985. This legislation was originally proposed, justified, and introduced by the Maryland State Firemen’s Association to provide funding assistance through a statewide financial assistance program.  This legislation now provides an annual payment to each County and Baltimore City to help fund improvements to fire, rescue, and EMS services.  In 1998, the fund was renamed to the Senator William H. Amoss fund, in honor of the legislation’s original sponsor and prime supporter.

             In 1992, the Constitution and Bylaws of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association were ammended to change the name to the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association.  This amendment recognized the dual role of both men and women in providing emergency fire, rescue, and medical services to the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

             The Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association continues to pride itself on the contributions of its members in providing quality fire, rescue, and EMS services to the citizens of Anne Arundel County. 

 Original history reprinted from the Convention Program
of the Maryland State Fire Chief’s Association, November 23, 1975. 
Updates provided by David W. Lewis, President 1983-84, 2006-07.