History of Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Company - 1970's

In 1971 the Owings Mills Fire Company celebrated its 50th year anniversary, a milestone for the company. The company had grown significantly since its birth in 1921 and continued to do so in the years that followed. The community continued to expand with new roads and housing developments, all the while providing support to help improve the company in many ways. The administration saw young faces with fresh ideas. Fund raisers such as the annual fund drive, carnival, and Christmas tree sales continued to bring money to the company. The officers still looked to purchasing the most efficient and updated equipment. Membership was counted in the hundreds and women became active members of the company. The alarm system became known so that most in the community could determine the nature of a call - one blow for the ambulance and four for the Engine, Truck, and Special Unit. Training has always been a requirement to ride apparatus and is extensive and up dated constantly. With the county wide water main system, obtaining a water supply no longer was an obstacle, and where fires occurred with no available water supply, tanker trucks await at near by fire stations. Owings Mills became the pioneers of large diameter hose, which allows maximum water flow from a hydrant. Crews that did not hear the siren would eventually be paged via a low band pager system when implemented in the mid 1970's. All of these elements have helped the company progress through the years to what it is today.