Middletown Fire & Rescue Company
Auxiliary History

The Middletown Fire Company was chartered on April 27, 1942 -- the second fire company in Frederick County. The action to organize a fire company was inspired by a devastating fire that year on Main Street.  The blaze nearly destroyed the entire block where the Wayside Theatre and the Fire Department now stand.  The company was soon created, with an initial membership of 22 volunteers.  Howard Shull was the fire chief; the president was George R. Clarke.  Middletown's first fire truck was a used, 1937 GMC open-cab pumper, purchased from Woodstock Fire Department. It was housed in a garage located at 7751 Main Street.

In 1943 the company moved to a garage attached to the Middletown Town Hall, located at 7875 Church Street. In 1948 the firefighters purchased their first new truck, an Oren pumper on a Ford Chassis, which cost only $4,000.  Today the Middletown Fire and Rescue Company has ten vehicles: Engine, Tanker, Rescue Engine, Attack, Ambulance
12-1, Ambulance 12-2, Chiefs Mobile, Mobile, and ATV.  The most recent purchase is the 2004 Ford F450 Diesel 6.0L 4x4 Ambulance.  A new attack is on order.  Between 1948 and 2003 the cost of a new truck has risen more than ten-fold, from $4,000 to $425,000.

In August 1943 the Auxiliary was formed. Throughout its history, the Auxiliary has been a invaluable part of Company 12, raising tens of thousands of dollars to support the fire and rescue service.  Their spring and fall Turkey/Oyster Suppers draw hundreds of people.  The Auxiliary trailer is known for the excellence of its food service at auctions and other events throughout the area, and the annual Christmas Bazaar (the first Saturday in November) is always a great success. 

The Town Hall garage served as the fire station for nine years, but the company continued to grow, and in 1952 the Middletown Fire Department moved into a new building on land donated by Carlton D. Harris.  Rescue Operations were added in June 1952, and the company bought a 1948 International panel truck as its first rescue vehicle.  Today the Rescue service has two ambulances, the last purchased in 2004 for $124,000.

In the late 1960's the company adopted its present name, Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, Inc.  In its more than 50 years of service, the company has had only five chiefs and nine presidents.  Today there are over 25 active members, and the company continues to grow.

In 1986, Middletown Fire and Rescue was the first company in Frederick County to recognize the need to hire paid personnel to attain the quality of its daytime service. Because of Company 12's foresight, initiative and leadership, Frederick County soon established an Emergency Services Department, which now employs 46.  

In 1992, The Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company celebrated its 50th anniversary of service to the community with the dedication of a building addition which more than doubled the size of the station.  The $600,000 project afforded a new community hall and kitchen, garage space for fire and rescue vehicles, offices, a day room and new bunkrooms.  Thanks to the dedicated support of our community, the Middletown Fire and Rescue Company with the Auxiliary has been able to maintain a consistently high level of service for more than five decades.