In 1926, a group of concerned citizens consisting mainly of business and professional men saw the need for a fire department in Prince Frederick, the seat of Calvert County. On May 6, 1926, a charter was issued in the name of Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Company. Acting officers of the company were John B. Gray, Jr., Rutherford B. Smoot, George D. Turner, Albert B. Gibson, and Isaac N. King. In 1927, a Ford Model A chemical fire engine was purchased and housed in a shed next to the Calvert Motor Company, known today as Prince Frederick Ford. The Company disbanded in 1931 for reasons unknown leaving the town again without any fire protection.
In 1940, a group of townspeople, including some of the previously involved, began meeting in an effort to reorganize a fire department in Prince Frederick. After many meetings with citizens from all areas of the county and a serious fire in Prince Frederick, progress began to take place. As the department would be providing fire protection to all areas of the county, it was decided that the name of the organization would be the Calvert County Volunteer Fire Department. In 1941 a charter was issued to the CCVFD. On September 9, 1941, Mr. Will Duke was appointed a temporary chairman and the following Administrative Officers were elected:
- President – Harry Hughes
- Vice Presidents – Warren Denton, J. Wilmer Gott, Allen Bowen, and Reginald Bowen
- Secretary – Louis L. Goldstein
- Treasurer – Reginald Bowen
The Suppression Officers were:
- Chief – Shemwell Parran
- Assistant Chief’s – Robert Harkness, Austin Bowen & Berbard Lankford
- Captain – Millard Fowler
- Lieutenant – Maurice T. Lusby Jr.
- Sergeant – Ray Shipley
- Engineer – Halston Young
- Fire Marshall – Robert King
A 1928 Studebaker was borrowed from the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department and was housed in the shed next to Calvert Motor Company. Soon after this, a committee was formed to purchase the department’s first fire engine. The committee ordered a 1941 American LaFrance with a 500gpm pump and a 300-gallon tank that would be known as Engine 21. As the new fire engine was being built, construction on a new firehouse was started. In 1942, the CCVFD constructed a 1000 gallon Tanker with a 500gpm pump on a 1935 International chassis. In 1943, the department moved into the new two-bay firehouse next to the courthouse on Main Street. In 1947, an International fire engine was purchased from American Fire Apparatus with a 500gpm front mounted pump and a 750-gallon tank known as Engine 22.
In 1955, another International fire engine was purchased. It featured a 500gpm front mounted pump and a 1000 gallon tank. Due to other fire departments emerging and mutual aid with other counties, the county decided to change the numbers on the engines from two digits to three digits, making the new 55′ Engine 201. 1956 started a 29-year era when Vernon D. Horsmon, Sr. became Fire Chief. By 1959, the two-bay firehouse was full with three engines and a tanker, and talk was started about building a new firehouse.
In 1960, a new one story, four bay firehouse was constructed. It also featured an area on the front providing a kitchen and meeting room. In 1964, an International Scout was purchased due to many large brush fires in the county. In 1967, Engine 21 was replaced with an American Fire Apparatus International that featured a 750gpm front mounted pump and a 1000 gallon tank which was known as Engine 202. In 1968, a Rambler Chief’s Car was purchased from the Prince Frederick Motor Company.
In 1970, an International 1-ton brush truck was constructed by the CCVFD. In 1973, Engine 203 was replaced with the department’s first closed cab fire engine, an International Custom. In 1976, a new Jeep was purchased to get into tighter areas where Brush 2 couldn’t. In 1978, the Tanker was replaced with an International 750gpm front mounted pump and a 1500 gallon tank. The Tanker was purchased from Oren Fire Apparatus in Virginia. With the county growing at a fast rate, the department decided to purchase the county’s first ladder truck in 1979. A 100′ Maxim rear mount ladder truck was purchased.