HISTORY OF RIVA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

 

    The history of our Fire Department began back in March 1941. This was brought about because of several houses in the community being destroyed by fires. The residents in the community became quite fire conscious and decided to try and form a volunteer fire company of their own.

 

     A meeting was held at Town Hall Grill (Mikes Crab House), attended by 45 interested men in the community, who were interested in forming a volunteer fire department. Since one of the residents in the community was a member of the Washington, D.C. Fire Dept. William E. Thomas, he was chosen to take charge at this meeting. The following men were chosen as officers at this meeting:

   Chief : W.E. Thomas, President : Dr. Barnes, Vice President : W.E. Thomas, Secretary : H.S. Leimbach, Treasurer : Joseph McKee.

 

     In the spring of 1941 Mr. Carl W. Riddick donated a piece of ground in Sylvan Shores at the entrance to the shores, between Cherry Rd. and Hillcrest Rd. which forms a triangle, on which they could build a Fire House.

 

     On June 5, 1941 they were advised that the certificate of incorporation of the Sylvan Shores Community Volunteer Fire Company had been approved by the State Tax Commission of Maryland. To raise money for fire equipment, they held dances, dinners, and raffles besides getting donations by going around house to house in the community.

 

     Our first president, Dr. Barnes, gave us a 1928 Packard. This was their first fire truck, after tearing off the car body and replacing it with a plywood truck body. They were able to get a 275 gallon oil tank mounted on the truck with a 75 GPM pump mounted on the front end. After obtaining 300 feet of used air compressor hose ¾” in diameter, 6 shovels, 2 fire rakes, 20’ ladder, 2 indian tanks, they had their first piece of apparatus. One little drawback was the fact that the tank did not have any baffles in it and when they were rolling down the road the water would start to sway and they could not control the truck until they came to a complete stop and then started up again. 

 

    Mr. Riddick gave them a plot of ground on the 1^st. District side of Riva Road which is our present location. They had asked him to give a larger piece of ground so they would be able to expand and have room for a carnival, as one way of raising money. Since he gave them the first plot, they bought the land on the side and rear which gave them room for carnivals which were held every summer. After they were given the first piece of ground they changed the name of our company to Riva Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. In fact there are very few people that know we had any other name but Riva Fire Dept.

 

    November 24, 1942 we paid $160.00 for concrete blocks to start building the Fire House. After they came home from work in the evenings they would mix up some concrete to pour for the footings. It was so cold that before they could do much work it would freeze. Building this house was a long drawn out project, due to the fact that they were losing their men who were enlisting in the service of their country. It was also due to the fact that all building materials were rationed due to the war. Many of the men had returned from the war and helped them to build the house we now have.

 

    They had purchased a 1918 American LaFrance Pumper, 750 GPM that had been in the Washington D.C. Fire Department for the sum of $35.00. It proved to be impractical for use here due to the solid tires and chain drive. They had no place to keep it under cover, so it sat in Chief Thomas’s yard for over a year. It proved to be a good investment when they decided to junk both the Packard and American LaFrance trucks as it gave them a return of $164.05.                        

 

    They had bought a Ford truck and had fixed it up with front end pump, American Marsh.   Men were taking turns at staying at the fire house at nights.

 

     During the month of October 1946 the company had the misfortune to lose Chief George Galloway. In this same accident three other members of the company were badly injured; Gilbert Shief, Ray Scherer & M. Galloway. This was a set back to the company because George had worked so hard to get the truck ready, so they could receive the county’s support. However on November 18, 1947 Riva Volunteer Fire Dept. was accepted by the Anne Arundel County Commissioners for the 1949 budget. We bought our International truck with 500 GPM Pump which was received October 1948. We hired two engineman to work one day and the other night work to change at regular intervals. These men were to start work January 1, 1949.

 

     Riva Volunteer Fire Dept. joined the Maryland State Fireman’s Association on March 1, 1947. We were accepted in the Anne Arundel County Fireman’s Association on March 4, 1949.

 

     Today the Riva Volunteer Fire Dept. is staffed around the clock with career personnel, consisting of one line officer, two pump operators, two fire fighters and one paramedic, all hired by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. We currently staff a tanker, fire engine, paramedic unit and a brush truck.

 

     The volunteers no longer serve in an emergency response capacity but still actively serve as administrative members. Riva Volunteer Fire Department still purchases their own equipment and fire fighting equipment, with the exception of the paramedic unit and brush truck.