In early January 2023, the Westminster Fire Department was contacted by the family of a past fire department member. The family of Frank B. Dillard was interested in learning the department’s history when he served. They had several artifacts showing that he was active in his time. After some research, Historian Jeffrey Ausherman found much information for the family. Historian Ausherman forwarded this to the family, who were excited to see how active he was. 

Frank B. Dillard was elected to membership in January 1914 and served until August 1938. He served proudly as President from 1925-1926. He also held the titles of First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Assistant Marshall. He was also very active in attending the County and State Conventions most of those years. 

Mr. Dillard served on the committee that purchased our 1924 American LaFrance City Service ladder truck, which remains in our museum today. He was assigned as a Ladderman, according to a booklet the family shared with Historian Ausherman. Mr. Dillard served our department when we purchased our first motorized fire truck, transitioning from using hand-pulled hose carts, which are still on display in our museum today.

On March 4, 2023, Historian Ausherman invited the family to tour The Historical Museum of the Westminster Fire Department. The family was very grateful for all our work and the great information they could obtain about their family member. Too much enjoyment for the family; they were able to see the equipment their grandfather was involved in purchasing and operated when he was a member. President Daniel Plunkert, Assistant Historian Jeffrey Alexander, and Member Bryan VanFossen assisted with the tour.

The family was kind enough to donate a few items to The Historical Museum of the Westminster Fire Department, pictured below. We are fortunate to receive such fine items for our museum. We humbly thank the Blizzard, Houseman, and Ratte families for their visit and thoughtful donation. After the visit, we presented the families with our new 200^th Anniversary Challenge coins.  

It is best to follow the Santa Facebook Page here in case of last minute changes.

This year Santa is expecting to visit the Westminster community Monday, December 12 through the 16th, 6-9 PM. Routes and specific times are updated on the Facebook page soon and updated in real time during the evening visits.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the members of the Westminster Fire Department.

Make sure you LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE the Facebook page with all of your friends!

Westminster Fire Engine & Hose Company #1~Carroll County ~ Maryland

October 19, 1996 Firefighter/Fire Policeman Eugene Bauerlien had been on-duty all morning at the Westminster VFC cooking for the fire company’s pancake breakfast. At about 11 am, he took off his apron, donned his fire police attire, and headed up to the Western Maryland College campus, located on the west end of the City of Westminster, to assist with directing college homecoming traffic. Afterwards, FP Bauerlien returned to the Westminster VFC pancake breakfast to help with cleanup and suffered sudden cardiac arrest. Sadly, all resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

Firefighter/Fire Policeman Eugene Bauerlien was 72 years old and had served 22.5 years.

*All information has been provided by the Maryland Fire Rescue Services Memorial Foundation

We are so grateful for the support of our citizens and local businesses as we returned to an In-Person raffle night at out station. Thank you everyone.

Here are the winning prizes and recipients:

1st $ 10,000 Patriot Fire – Donated back
2nd $ 2,000 Jason M
3rd $ 1,000 Kevin D
4th $ 500 Randy L
5th $ 250 Adrian G
6th $ 250 Joan W
7th $ 200 Chris F
8th $ 200 Mark D
9th $ 100 Hughes T
10th $ 100 Debbie T
11th $ 100 Roger E
12th $ 100 Debbie B
13th $ 100 John D
14th $ 100 Harold L

On Saturday May 21, 2022, the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association held their annual convention at the Sykesville Freedom District Fire Station. During the convention awards ceremony, the recipients of the CCVESA Scholarship were announced. Westminster Fire Department member Chris Petry was awarded a college scholarship. Unfortunately, Chris was unable to attend due to a training that he had organized at the Carroll County Public Safety Training Center. Since Chris was unavailable, Chris’s father accepted the scholarship on his behalf.

The Westminster Fire Department recognized the dedicated volunteers and career members for their service to the community in 2021 during their monthly company meeting on Wednesday May 4, 2022. The Annual Awards Banquet which is normally held in January was canceled due to COVID 19.

A Unit Citation is presented to members of the department that, as a crew or group, participated in an action that contributed to the overall professional mitigation of an emergency situation.

In February, Medic 39 was dispatched for a seizure and while en route, the call was upgraded to an unconscious person. The medic unit provided lifesaving interventions and before arriving at the hospital, the patient had been successfully resuscitated. A few weeks later the patient stopped by the station to thank those that saved the patient’s life. The following were recognized with a unit citation:

FF/Paramedic Seth Robinson                               FF/EMT Michael Karolenko

Engineer Vishal Agrawal                                       Lieutenant Mikel C Hess

FF/EMT Michael Erdman                                       FF/Paramedic Briana Stull

In December, Medic  37 was dispatched for a subject with trouble breathing. When Medic 37 arrived they found the patient in cardiac arrest. The medic unit provided life saving interventions. Medic 128 from Sykesville was clearing CHC and responded to assist Medic 37 along with Engine 31 . Without the fast and effective CPR from Medic 37 and the assistance from Medic 128, this could have had a much different outcome. The following were recognized with a unit citation:

FF/EMT Matthew Hafler                                         Engineer Lee Bowers

FF/Paramedic Cassie Houpt                                  Lieutenant Mikel Hess

On Medic 128

FF/EMT Bobby Moser                                             FF/Paramedic Madeline Plaut

In December, units were dispatched for a reported vehicle collision with entrapment. On arrival, one subject was found trapped inside of the vehicle after striking a tree. The engine crew was able to pry open the driver’s door and  worked diligently to remove the driver’s door. With the assistance of Rescue Squad 6 from Pleasant Valley, the driver’s door was removed allowing access to the patient. The patient was then flown by helicopter to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. Due to the unique position of the vehicle and the patient being trapped, units had to be very cautious how they operated around the scene. The following were recognized with a unit citation: 

Lt Michael Hess                                                       EVOD Kyle Stull                                  

FF Bryan Deckleman                                              FF Dennis Mann

Captain Chad Petry                                                 Chief Jeff Leppert

Assistant Chief Marques Price

From Pleasant Valley

Chief Forrest Shaw                                                  Grant Shaw

Wayne Short                                                             Chris Staley

Matt Condon                                                             Michael Swartzbaugh

In October, Westminster Fire Department was alerted for Vehicle Collision with Rescue. Engine 31, Duty 3, Medic 38 and Medic 37 responded along with Rescue Squad 9 from Reese. While enroute units were advised that there was possibly a vehicle over an embankment. Units arrived to find a vehicle suspended approx. 15-20’ off the ground. The vehicle was being held up by a small branch under the front bumper and the rear wheels which were at the edge of the retaining wall. Crews observed the operator to still be in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Captain Petry requested additional resources as the crews started securing the vehicle. Additional resources arrived and crews spent approximately an hour monitoring the vehicle’s stability and re-assuring the driver of efforts being made to remove them. The driver of the vehicle was removed uninjured. The following were recognized with a unit citation:

Captain Chad Petry                                                 Lt Dave Stull

Engineer Thomas Ray                                            Lt Bill Brehm

FF/Paramedic Casey Smith                                   FF/EMT Matt Vosburgh

FF/Paramedic Steve Caho                                     FF/EMT Hank Swann

Presidents Award – This award is presented to a member who shows outstanding service to the Department by taking on and completing a large and complicated task or project that improves the level of service the Department is able to provide to the community or positively affects the quality of life for other members of the Department.

The Westminster Fire Department decided after many years to bring back Friday night Bingo. The following are the members of the Bingo Committee who have put in many hours of planning to make weekly Bingo a successful fundraiser for the department:

Timothy Bangerd                                                     James Bangerd, III

Mike Garber                                                              Amy Garber

Kenny Carlisle                                                          Robin Stansbury

Bill Brehm                                                                  Richard Koons

Firefighter of the Year – This award shall be presented to a member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the organization through a variety of activities and has demonstrated the pride, dedication, and commitment that every department looks for in a member.

Firefighter of the Year – Chris Petry.

I would respectfully nominate Chris Petry for Firefighter of the year for the year of 2021. Chris has stepped up in many aspects of the department by constantly being seen in the firehouse assisting with house chores, cleaning, checking apparatus, and preparing himself for the next call for service. Chris attended over 430 hours of training for the year and obtained numerous certifications for both fire and EMS. He has obtained approximately 700 hours of LOSAP for the year and responded to over 500 calls making him one of the top responders for 2021. Chris’s attitude is always positive, his willingness to learn and enhance his skills, expand his knowledge, and his dedication to the department does not go unnoticed. He is a role model for newer firefighters coming into the department, maintains a positive attitude and has achieved the position of Sergeant in a very short time.

The following members were recognized as the Top 10 Responders for 2021:

10 – Lieutenant Corey Milewski                                         9 – Deputy Chief Josh Evans

8 – EMS Captain Gunnar Mohlhenrich                             7 – Assistant Chief Marques Price

6 – FF Dani Wolf                                                                   5 – FF Bill Brehm

4 – Chief Jeff Leppert                                                           3 – Captain Chad Petry

2 – FF Bryan Deckelman                                                     1 – Sergeant Chris Petry

Honoring & Remembering Maryland Fallen Heroes. Westminster Fire Eng. & Hose Co.1~Carroll County, Maryland

On January 26, 1931, our brothers and sisters in the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 and the greater Carroll County community suffered one the two Line of Duty Deaths in the company’s history when Fireman Joseph G. Hahn died.

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on Monday January 26,1931, the Westminster Fire Engine & Hose Co.No.1 responded to the Oscar Hess residence, on the Manchester State Road near Cranberry, for a gasoline stove explosion in the kitchen.

The flames were quickly extinguished by the Westminster firemen. The kitchen was mostly destroyed from the blast, but the rest of the house was saved, having suffered only smoke damage and some broken windowpanes.

While the firemen were performing salvage and overhaul, Fireman Joseph G. Hahn suffered a heart attack and fell over. Before medical aid could be summoned, death occurred.

Fireman Joseph G. Hahn was 46 years old. Number of years served is unknown at this time.

LODD narrative paraphrased from 1931 Baltimore Evening Sun. H/T: Tim Bangerd

The 2022 Big Money raffle is scheduled for May 26, 2022 6-9 PM. At this time, it is our plan to be able to return to the normal in-person raffle drawing. Chances are STILL just $10 and can be purchased from any member, at the station or Online at our virtual store. COVID has hurt all organizations, but with your help we can continue our service to the community.

With deep regret, the Westminster Fire Department announces the passing of Life Member Gilbert A. Roper. Gil served Westminster Fire Department faithfully since his start date in April 1992. Gil served as an EMS Lieutenant and EMS Captain for many years and was a firefighter and an avid fundraiser. We ask that all fire department volunteers and community members keep his wife Brenda, his brother Gus, and the entire Roper family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.