Hide Article Text (OCR)
Cumberland Fire Dept, started 88 years agoJEFF ALDERTONTimes-News Staff WriterCUMBERLAND — The Cum berland Fire Department began operation on March 26, 1906, with four men at the Central Station No. 1 at Market Square, located across from the present City Hall Building.Three men were as signed also to South End Station No. 2 on Browning Street.At that time, the department’s equipment consisted of a 654-foot Seagrave aerial ladder truck, three American LaFrance combination chemical engine and hose wagons, all horse-drawn with six horses at a total cost of $18,500, according to departmental history.Central Station began operation with the employment of William Clugston, Edward Weisenmiller, John Shinholtz and Charles Baker.South Cumberland Station was manned initially by Robert Kelly, James Kelly and J.F. Lewis.Today, the Cumberland Fire Department operates from three fire stations: Fire Headquarters Station No. 1 in the Public Safety Building at 20 Bedford Street; South End Station No. 2, located at Third Street between Raceand Seymour streets, and East Side Station No. 3, located at 1411 Frederick Street.The department operates with an inspection-investigation bureau and a force of 65 well-trained, capable members who perform fire prevention, firefighting, public fire training, rescue and emergency medical duties.The department’s fleet consists of five pumpers, one 90-foot aerial tower, one rescue truck, three advanced life support ambulances, and three automobiles.In May 1977, the department initiated an ambulance service which is staffed with 27 emergency medical technicians, four cardiac rescue technicians and three national registry paramedics.In 1994, the fire department answered 1,089 fire calls, compared to 1.094 in 1993.A breakdown by district shows 434 calls in the Central City and West Side last year, 332 in the South End area, 283 in the East Side and North End districts and 40 fire calls outside the city limits.The department also responded to 2,992 emergency rescue/ambulance calls in 1994,180 of which were outside the city limits.In 1993, 2,823 emergencyambulance calls were handled by the City Fire Department Ambulance, according to department records.While there no fire deaths in the city in 1993, two persons died in city fires in Cumberland last I year.On Jan. 3, 1994, Edythe R. McKindess, 80, of 1812 Frederick Street, died in a fire which began when a hair dryer ignited a sofa in the living of the residence.On March 12, 1994, Jenny L. Stegmaier, 43, died in a fire at her residence at 821 Shriver Avenue.The fire resulted from ignition of gasoline in the residence, according to a department spokesman.Fifteen fire chiefs have served the department.The first chief was John Slem-mer followed by Robert Kelley, William E. Clugston, Thomas Connell, Edward Connell, Edward Wegman, Hanson Willi-son, Reid C. Hoenicka, John E. Brennen, William Linder, Paul Reid, Jerimiah T. Defibaugh, Virgil Parker, Robert C. Long, and Russell L. Livengood.
Newspaper Details
Cumberland Times News
Cumberland, Maryland, US
Tue, Mar 28, 1995
Page 39
Full Page
Clipped by
Alison G.
WI, USA 26 Jun 2019
Other Publications Near Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland Daily Alleganian and Times
Alleganian and Times
Cumberland News
Cumberland Times News
Democratic Alleganian
