The Company was formed on November 8, 1946 by a small group of concerned citizens who saw the need for a adequate fire protection. The town of Corriganville had formed its fire company several years earlier to this, but they were several miles away and this added consideration on response time. During the first meeting under the guidance of Mr. A.C. Howard, Chief of the Kelly Tire Company Fire Brigade and Chief Lasher from the Cumberland Fire Dept, the first company officers were elected. The first president was Mr. S. Porter and the first Fire Chief was Mr. A. Shaffer.


On January 5, 1947, another meeting was held and it was at this time that the men of the company elected to join the local firemen’s association and also to become incorporated. All that was needed now was an alerting system and fire equipment. The first need was filled in February of that year when the Cresaptown Fire Company donated a small siren. This siren was mounted on the top of a garage in the center of town. The second need was filled in March of that year. The Cumberland Fire Department made available a 1923 American LaFrance Pumper and 1000 feet of 2 1/2 “ fire hose for $1050. The company quickly approved the purchase of the truck and equipment. The truck was housed in a local business garage. Soon after that, the company recorded its first call on March 14, 1947. Two freight trains were involved in a derailment just above Ellerslie at an area called Ford’s Mill. The number of cars involved was not stated in the company records, it did state, however, that the diesel engine posed a problem to the men in as it was very hot and diesel fuel was pouring from the ruptured fuel tanks, resulting in heavy black smoke. The fire department responded and sprayed water on the engine until dander had surpassed. For this, the department was commended by the superintendent of the B and O railroad.



In April of 1947, the company purchased the land to begin construction of there first station on Alleghany Street in Ellerslie. With great support from the Ladies Auxiliary, the department held there first meeting in the new building on March 15, 1949.
On December 25, 1949, the department was called to assist Hyndman, Pennsylvania Fire Department on a structure fire. This incident was most single most destructive fire in the department’s history. The fire grew to a conflaguration, involving twelve stores, a Bank, the post office, and twenty residences. There were two fatalities in that fire. The fire was fought by thirty-two fire departments with some traveling as far as Winchester, VA, a distance of ninety miles. The 1923 LaFrance was put to the real test as records indicate that it pumped for least twelve straight hours, which made the members very pleased with there twenty-six year old piece of equipment. The engine supplied water to five different departments through the night.


It was soon discovered that the new stations location was not suitable for the department; they could not obtain the necessary from the county to do repair work to the surrounding roads and drainage ditches. It was then decided that the department would have to start plans to start once more. In October of 1951, the company obtained a piece of land along Route 35 and construction on the new hall was begun, this is the current site of the station. By April of 1953 the station was ready to house equipment. The old building was sold to a local citizen. The company was now faced with a $7500.00 mortgage but with much hard work from the company, ladies auxiliary, and the community, the mortgage was paid in full by October of 1956. On January 17, 1957 the company established a truck fund and began work toward another piece of equipment. The company’s colors of black and white were also established at this meeting. November of 1957 saw the purchase of the second truck from the Liberty Road Fire Dept. in the Baltimore area. The truck was a 1942 Ford, and this engine was quickly painted to the new colors. January 1958 saw the company begin the construction of a desperately needed tank truck. A 1951 Ford truck chassis was purchased and a tank and 350 gpm pump was added. It was at this time that the 1923 American LaFrance was sold. In April of 1959, the company purchased an equipment truck from a citizen in the community and work started on enlarging the new station to accommodate the additional equipment.
On April 1, 1960, a spectacular fire destroyed Harold’s Kitchen Factory. This structure was a large warehouse containing forty-thousand square feet of space. Large amounts of paint and wood products aided in the fire’s rapid spread. Due to this fact and a large delay in reporting the fire to the fire department, the largest portion of the building was lost. The fire burned so intensely that it could be seen in Cumberland. Ten departments assisted in bringing the fire under control but not before it did an estimated $100,000 in damage.
On May 18, 1961, the first two all purpose breathing apparatus were placed in service. Members received training for these masks through the local civil defense. On July 5, 1962, the company had the opportunity to purchase a 1942 Lafrance fire engine. The truck was bought and work began immediately on converting the truck to a tanker. The truck was painted and ready for service by mid-September of the same year. On November 1, 1962 Ralph DeVore, owner of a local market, donated a small parcel of land next to the new station. The company had wanted this piece of land very much so there would be room for expansion of the garage area.
On December 16, 1964, the company was alerted to assist Corriganville Fire Department on a house fire at the Fetters residence. The fire killed four children and injured four other people. The department also responded on December 1965to a plane crash on the C.F. Wisler property in King’s Grove. The plane was owned by the Monroe Shock Absorber Company. It had just landed in a vacant field in order to refuel. The pilot had walked to a local service station to get gas and prepare for take-off. On the take-off however the pilot did not gain enough altitude and crashed into nearby trees. The pilot was able to walk away from the scene of the crash just before the plane burst into flames. The fire department responded quickly and doused the burning fuselage.
In 1968, the department saw the need to replace the 1948 Ford Panel truck that had been used as a equipment truck. They purchased a 1958 Chevrolet and the members worked on painting the vehicle the company colors. In May of 1969, the department started construction on two new bays to house emergency equipment. A local contractors bid was accepted and work was completed in July of the same year. In 1970, the company purchased a 1957 GMC engine with a 750 gpm pump from the Comet Fire Equipment in New Jersey. In August of 1972 the company was able to complete outside renovations by having the entire lot black topped. By December 1972, the 1942 Lafrance tanker was in very poor condition. The Corriganville Fire Department made available a 1955 International tanker. This truck was purchased and by 1974 a buyer was found for the old Lafrance.
In 1974, the Allegany County Water Commission began the planning and installing of the towns new water system, which for the first time included fire hydrants. Over the next seven years, the company worked to restore the social hall of the fire department. In 1975, the department purchased a new Ford chassis and started plans for a new engine. It was not until 1977, that the company had decided on specifications and placed its order with Seagrave Fire Apparatus. The truck was delivered in June of 1978. In 1979, the 1958 Chevrolet equipment truck was sold to make room for a 1953 Dodge army surplus jeep which was converted into a brush unit.
November 27, 1980, individuals of the Ellerslie Fire department formed the Ellerslie Ambulance Service. This company operated from the fire department and carried its own financial responsibility. They purchased their first ambulance in August of the same year from the LaVale Rescue Squad for $2400.This unit was a 1974 Dodge type II unit. By January 1982, the service purchased a new Ford/Horton type II ambulance.
In 1982, the fire department sold the 1942 Ford pumper back to the Liberty Road Fire Department who had plans to refurbish the truck .In December of 1983 the building that housed Murphy’s Furniture Mart caught fire. The blaze was started by a malfunctioning heater and cause an estimated $100,000 in damage. Over twelve different departments assisted in bringing the fire under control. This was followed by the flood which caused Wills Creek to flow over its banks. The fire department and ambulance service immediately initiated an evacuation of homes in the affected area .Various rescues were performed by members of our department and other mutual aid companies who responded.
In 1984 the department found a buyer for the 1957 GMC pumper and it was sold immediately. The next big step in the in the departments history began shortly there after as the departments started plans to replace its current tanker. The department located a fuel tanker and worked through Charles Sites from Sites Fire Equipment in drawing up the plans for the unit refurbishment. The company’s next step was to find financing for the truck. A committee was established and they approached the Maryland State Firemen’s Associations Board of Review. The board awarded the company a $33,000 loan for a truck. The truck was delivered in October of 1987, approximately one and a half years after the loan was awarded.