At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, Chief Stanis Inscoe, President Clarke Rawlings, Vice-President Sonny Brady, members of Squad, and Public Safety joined the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and other distinguished guests to cut the ribbon on their brand-new building at 755 Solomons Island Road, Prince Frederick, Maryland.
Established in 1965, PFVRS operated out of the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department until 1971, when a three-bay metal building was built on land donated by Mrs. Virginia Somervell. In 1976, money was allocated to update the building. Approximately 20 years later, in 1998, life members Sonny Brady, Clarke Rawlings and Bill Clark led the effort for a complete replacement of the existing building, that would be done in two phases. The PFVRS broke ground on Phase 1 on September 11, 2001. In 2016, the same members Sonny Brady, Clarke Rawlings and Blil Clark went back to Calvert County government for money to “complete phase 2”. After a tour of the building, the Commissioners determined the building needed to be replaced, providing a building that would continue to grow with the organization.
The new station house was built on the existing property within the footprint of the former building. This was done to comply with Maryland’s stormwater management criteria. While construction was underway, the department relocated to a temporary station located a mile south of their home. The PFVRS runs an average of 2000 to 2500 calls each year, and this location provided the space to continue their excellent service.
The $7.5 million, 23,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will house the all-volunteer rescue and emergency medical service personnel. A large training room on the second floor allows interactive presentations and physical demonstrations. Next to the training room is a kitchen and break room. There are large bunk rooms with private bathroom and shower areas for the men and women who donate their time and energy to the citizens of Calvert County.
“The Prince Frederick Volunteer Rescue Squad has demonstrated a long-standing tradition of providing high-quality, 100 percent volunteer emergency medical services to the citizens of Calvert County,” said Calvert County Fire/Rescue/EMS Division Chief Jim Richardson. “This new state-of-the-art facility will provide the department with additional space, training areas and operational features that will further enhance Company 4’s ability to provide life-saving services to county residents.”
Volunteers are always needed at the PFVRS. While the organization is an all-volunteer organization, the PFVRS offers several benefits for their members through coordination with the Calvert County Government. These benefits include emergency medical training, tuition reimbursement for college students, day care reimbursements for parents, and retirement plans to volunteers that dedicate years of time to the organization.
Want to learn more about volunteering? Contact the Prince Frederick Volunteer Rescue Squad at 410-535-9836, email – info@pfvrs.org, or visit their website www.pfvrs.org.
Please enjoy the picture gallery below.
Joyce Stinnett Baki / Calvert Beacon Reporter
