Urbana Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc.

Chartered, 1973

Urbana Volunteer Fire Department, and Urbana Volunteer Rescue Squad were chartered December 11, 1973. The first apparatus were two donated ambulances, a Cadillac from the 5th District Volunteer Fire Department of Clarksville and a Chevrolet from the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department. These units were housed in a vacant garage owned by Mr. Joe Knott. After placing these ambulances in service (June 1975) they responded to 71 alarms by years end.

Having need for a permanent station, land was purchased in 1975 and construction began in 1976. The Fire Department was its own general contractor with the membership and local citizens supplying the lion's share of the labor to save money. The first fire apparatus was also acquired in 1976 with the purchase of a 1972 Ford Ward LaFrance 750 g.p.m. pumper for the sum of $27,000. Urbana Fire and Rescue Company were accepted as members by the Frederick County Volunteer Firemen's Association.

In 1977 the company moved into their new station. On November 27, 1982, the mortgage was retired scarcely 5 years into a 20 year term. It was the high point in their history after years of hard work and fund raising.

This station supported the Urbana community area for a good 25 years. But growth and development soon encompassed our area. In the year 2003 a new 12,000 sqft, two story station addition was designed, constructed and completed by 2004.

Two additional apparatus bays were added to hold our Advanced Life Support Unit and Aerial Ladder Truck. The addition was designed with the future in mind. All the amenities of a fire station that can accommodate 24x7 staffing, holding up to 15 full-time personnel, and administrative and training sections.