Urbana Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service

For nearly 120 years, The Guardian Hose Company, located in Maryland, was organized in 1887. As volunteer firefighters, the company provides fire and rescue services to an approximate 85 square mile area of predominantly rural area in the Piedmont physiographic region of Maryland adjoining the Catoctin Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains, in Frederick County, Md. Comprising more than 220 active and social members, the dedicated men and women of Guardian Hose pride themselves on protecting friends, neighbors and visitors from the ever-present dangers of fire and providing rescue service when and where needed. The fire station also supports and participates in a number of community events, such as the annual community yard sale, summer carnivals, fund raising events, tributes, safety fairs and parades. The Guardian Hose Company is headquartered in Thurmont, Md.

Reisterstown Volunteer Fire is a nonprofit organization that provides services for various applications, including small bungalows, single-family dwellings, townhouses, garden apartments, farms, shopping centers, shopping malls, military base, manufacturing facilities and high rise buildings. The company operates several engines, such as engines 412 and 413. The features of engines include automatic transmission, waterous pump, water tank, extension ladder, roof ladder, generator, telescoping floodlights, positive pressure fan, hurst rabbit tool and deluge gun. The firm also operates a rescue squad, a medic unit and a special unit. The company is member of the Baltimore County Volunteer Fireman s association. It was founded in 1913 and is located in Reisterstown, Md.

The Germantown Volunteer Fire Department offers a variety of fire prevention, emergency medical assistance, rescue, risk management and disaster response services. The department s fire crew responds to fire situations, hazardous material incidents and rescue firefighting. It provides training and educational programs in general safety, emergency response and life saving techniques. In addition, it works to protect the lives, property and environment from the threats and occurrences of emergencies. It maintains a communication center that coordinates responses to fire and medical emergency and nonemergency calls. The Germantown Volunteer Fire Department has been operational since 1989 and is located in Germantown, Md.