Bowie VFD Auxiliary Support Team

On Saturday, January 17, 2009, Chief Rick Lasky, a 25-year veteran of the fire service and nationally known author, educator, and speaker presented a day-long seminar entitled "Pride and Ownership" to 50 members of the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department and about 90 volunteer and career firefighters representing departments from four states. The seminar included discussions of a number of important topics, including history and traditions of the fire service, leadership challenges facing both volunteer and career departments, techniques for striking a healthy balance between family life and the fire service, and innovative strategies for increasing a department's visibility in and impact on the community. Chief Lasky challenged those of us in attendance to ask ourselves some hard questions with an eye towards rededicating ourselves to our departments and our communities.

At 1500 on Friday, January 16, 2009, the alarm was struck for a garage fire in the 3000 block of Irongate Lane in Company 39's first due. Chief 39A (Daly) arrived on location and found heavy smoke showing from the roof and a small amount of fire visible from above the garage window, establishing the Irongate Lane command. Units responding on the call included Engines 39 (first due), 19, and 18; Anne Arundel Engines 5 and 7; Towers 39 and 43; Truck 17; and Rescue Squad 14.

Canteen 19 ran the call with two Auxiliary members (George Amyx and Lloyd Bass), providing hot coffee to crews operating on the scene. They returned to quarters after approximately 1 hour.

A Bowie citizen videotaped Santa's trip down Westmont Lane on December 14, 2008, and was kind enough to post the video on YouTube. For your edification, here's the video:

At 1853 on Wednesday, January 6, 2008, a box alarm was sounded for a townhouse fire in the 12700 block of Midwood Lane in Company 39's first due. Bowie units responding on the call included Engine 391, Tower 39, and Engine 431.

Auxiliary member John Cole lives across the street from the scene of the fire, and reports that Company 39 responded to the alarm very quickly, double-pulling with the Tower and Engine. The outstanding work of the first arriving crews minimized the damage to the affected home and prevented extension to the surrounding homes. The residents were not home at the time and the fire was reported by a vigilant neighbor.

At approximately 1900 on Saturday, January 3, 2009, units were dispatched to a large mulch fire in the 700 block of Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro in Company 43's first due. Bowie units responding on the call included Engines 431 and 391, Tanker 39, and Canteen 39. The property on which the fire occurred was not hydranted, and several tankers were used to establish a water supply. Canteen 39 arrived on the scene at approximately 2000 with three (Amyx, Cole, and Locker) and provided water, coffee, and hot chocolate to personnel on the scene. The Canteen was released into service and arrived back in quarters at about 2130.

As the members of all 3 Bowie Volunteer Fire Department stations completed their Santa Rides this year they also collected food items to support the Bowie Interfaith Pantry. Both Operational and Auxiliary members all pitched in to make this program a success. At 0900 on Monday, December 22nd, several members of the Department were proud to drop off an estimated 1,000 food items which were collected from the citizens of Bowie.

Please see the related story by Joe Aiello in the Bowie Blade, Food pantry receives much needed delivery.

The Bowie Volunteer Fire Department was contacted by the Bowie Baysox regarding a Bowie family in need of help with Christmas. The family initially contacted the Baysox, as they were running their annual "Louie's Holiday Hope" program. With all the Baysox resources already committed, they contacted the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department to see if we could help. The officers and members of Company 39 (Belair) stepped up to provide Christmas gifts for all of the family members. The Auxiliary received a food donation from the Baysox to which they added to provide everything needed for a complete Christmas dinner. On the evening of Tuesday, December 23rd, Department members gathered to accompany Santa on his special delivery.

On Saturday, December 6, the Auxiliary will host its annual Lunch with Santa at Company 39 (15454 Annapolis Road). Admission is only $5 per child, and includes a photograph with Santa, lunch, and a craft. Parents are admitted free of charge, and may purchase lunch if they like.

Auxiliary members are needed to help with set-up Friday night, and for the event on Saturday. Please contact Amy Locker for details.

All three stations of the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department will be conducting Santa rides throughout the communities we serve. The citizens of Bowie look forward to this holiday tradition each year. Schedules for each Company have been posted on the Auxiliary website, but may change due to weather and call volume.

The President and Chiefs made a presentation about the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department to the Bowie City Council on Monday, 27 October, 2008. This was an excellent opportunity to tell the Mayor and Councilmembers about the Department's organization and operations, and they asked lots of insightful questions. If you were unable to attend or watch live you can watch streaming video on the Internet at: http://www.cityofbowie.org/Studio/programsched.asp.