I was a student at The Phelps School in Malvern in the early 70s when we had a fire at Rosengarden Hall. I joined my local Volunteer company in Baltimore County,Maryland when I turned 16, and was hired in the career department in 1978. This movie brings back many memories. Retired as a career Captain after 33.5 years in the Baltimore County Fire Department. Still active as a Peer Support Team member…Thank you Brothers and Sisters🫡 Jhett Lewis Ret. Baltimore County Fire Department
I joined in 1965 and remember the metal helmets, high boots and riding on the side or rear step, sometimes to mutual aid fires miles away! Great times! 😂😂
Retired 22-51 here from Belmont Hills. Joined in 1976 what great times in Lower Merion Township . Much respect to Jack Thomas Bryan Mawr Chief. To put into perspective I was 3 when this was filmed and at 21 was Deputy Chief and Jack Thomas was still the Chief. Police and Fireman softball league was great as were fire drills at the tower and socials. Best wishes to all my many friends.
I was on neighboring Newtown Square in 1966 and still recall being on a station cover assignment when that klaxon horn went off. I swear I cleared two feet under my butt.
Heh! I remember seeing those old Scott air packs when i first started out in 1979. Heavy S.O.B.'s! A full bottle of 2200 pounds of air would last between 20-30 minutes, depending on how fast you were breathing, but some guys would empty one in ten minutes. The air packs they have now are much lighter and better.
They are still pretty heavy with all the “new features” added on. 45 minute composite cylinders vs the steel ones you probably had. Can still suck a bottle back in 25 minutes when you’re breathing heavily
Very interesting too see how volunteer (and carreer) fire companies have changed over the last 60 years in terms of gear, training etc. and on the other hand have not changed that much. Of course the protective gear they had back then is no match to modern gear, and some things are trained and done different today. and of course, sirens for alarming the volunteers, while still in use, get less and replaced by other systems. But one thing I really find interesting, from the perspective of someone living in Germany. Back then, at least with that company, they used high pressure hoses as first attack hoses. I think today those are called a booster reel as those hoses are stored on a reel on the truck. And they are common across Europe here. I have seen them on US vehicles only on the latest electric driven Rosenbauer engines. But in most places, they don´t have those any more, but instead may have a regular hose (2 inch line I think) preconnected. But the main difference, and I guess this is valid here in Europe as well in the US, it seems to become more and more difficult to get volunteers to be ready to spend their time and take the risk.
Started as a Oxford ma call ff in 1986 always looked up to my big brother who did the same in early 74 .. I just ret ff /medic. IAAF in mass . It is a ❤ type of job
Was there per chance a welsh settlement in this area a while ago? I'm live in Wales and Bryn Mawr means Big Hill. Also there's a village near where I work called Brynmawr
I've been fascinated with the fire department since I was in elementary school, but I never joined. Went military instead. I have nothing but the highest respect for the men and women who do this dangerous work.
Nice documentary, and I asked this question all the time of channels on RUclips, how come you have nothing on your biography, what is your channel about where was this department located etc. it takes just a few minutes to type something out and let people know what your channel is here for, I’ll be watching
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I was a student at The Phelps School in Malvern in the early 70s when we had a fire at Rosengarden Hall. I joined my local Volunteer company in Baltimore County,Maryland when I turned 16, and was hired in the career department in 1978. This movie brings back many memories. Retired as a career Captain after 33.5 years in the Baltimore County Fire Department. Still active as a Peer Support Team member…Thank you Brothers and Sisters🫡
Jhett Lewis
Ret. Baltimore County Fire Department
I had a friend that was in the Coast Guard with me. Kevin Frost, I think he was a chief in one of suburban company. Poss. nearer to DC.
I joined in 1965 and remember the metal helmets, high boots and riding on the side or rear step, sometimes to mutual aid fires miles away! Great times! 😂😂
Sounds like a lot of fun. The old guy at my dpt was like. Before the academy they'd just throw you in and teach you on the job. I wish
Yep, I remember those days rather well. Thanks for bringing those memories back brother.👍
Love the narriation
Retired 22-51 here from Belmont Hills. Joined in 1976 what great times in Lower Merion Township . Much respect to Jack Thomas Bryan Mawr Chief. To put into perspective I was 3 when this was filmed and at 21 was Deputy Chief and Jack Thomas was still the Chief. Police and Fireman softball league was great as were fire drills at the tower and socials. Best wishes to all my many friends.
I was on neighboring Newtown Square in 1966 and still recall being on a station cover assignment when that klaxon horn went off. I swear I cleared two feet under my butt.
Heh! I remember seeing those old Scott air packs when i first started out in 1979. Heavy S.O.B.'s! A full bottle of 2200 pounds of air would last between 20-30 minutes, depending on how fast you were breathing, but some guys would empty one in ten minutes. The air packs they have now are much lighter and better.
They are still pretty heavy with all the “new features” added on. 45 minute composite cylinders vs the steel ones you probably had. Can still suck a bottle back in 25 minutes when you’re breathing heavily
I see a lot of old guys in the comments and i appreciate your service 🍻
Very interesting too see how volunteer (and carreer) fire companies have changed over the last 60 years in terms of gear, training etc. and on the other hand have not changed that much. Of course the protective gear they had back then is no match to modern gear, and some things are trained and done different today. and of course, sirens for alarming the volunteers, while still in use, get less and replaced by other systems.
But one thing I really find interesting, from the perspective of someone living in Germany. Back then, at least with that company, they used high pressure hoses as first attack hoses. I think today those are called a booster reel as those hoses are stored on a reel on the truck. And they are common across Europe here. I have seen them on US vehicles only on the latest electric driven Rosenbauer engines. But in most places, they don´t have those any more, but instead may have a regular hose (2 inch line I think) preconnected.
But the main difference, and I guess this is valid here in Europe as well in the US, it seems to become more and more difficult to get volunteers to be ready to spend their time and take the risk.
This was well done and very informative for the time period. 👍
Seagrave Anniversary Series mid-mount aerial (85').
Metal helmets and rubber coats, I started out that way...Oh and the big orange gloves that melted to your hands....
Red ball gloves
Yep that's them...
Still for sale on Amazon
@@molotov9502 aint worth a damn, unless your crabbing or lobstering
I had a leather New Yorker style helmet I bought myself, a lot better than the fiberglass Bullard's my department had.
Started as a Oxford ma call ff in 1986 always looked up to my big brother who did the same in early 74 .. I just ret ff /medic. IAAF in mass . It is a ❤ type of job
thank you for a neat documentary and I loved the fire horn!
Priceless!
The sound of that siren, scared the life of me.
My dad was a volunteer with the Landsdowne Fire Dept in that era.
Great video, thanks for sharing!
Cool old stuff
Was there per chance a welsh settlement in this area a while ago? I'm live in Wales and Bryn Mawr means Big Hill. Also there's a village near where I work called Brynmawr
Lower Merion township was actually settled by Welsh, so there are many Welsh names here. I grew up in the Bala-Cynwyd section.
One thing I never understood was why fire trucks of that era were open w/no roof! Those poor guys froze their rears off in the Winter mos!
That's what men do. Wicked awesome video!
Really?
So cool!!
Go Get Em Brothers!!!!!!
I've been fascinated with the fire department since I was in elementary school, but I never joined. Went military instead. I have nothing but the highest respect for the men and women who do this dangerous work.
Nice documentary, and I asked this question all the time of channels on RUclips, how come you have nothing on your biography, what is your channel about where was this department located etc. it takes just a few minutes to type something out and let people know what your channel is here for, I’ll be watching
MST3K needs to do this
Many times the fires were on my street. I don't remember any human lives being lost. The fire fighters, were wore their weight in Gold.
That siren is still there:
That
Why can nobody pronounce Bryn Mawr properly in this video.
That truck can not be good in rain
Children playing in the streets, knew to get out of the streets and give them them, the right of way.
It was called respect.