About Our Department

Welcome to the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD)...where compassion and action meet. Our members take pride in serving the health, welfare and safety needs of our community. Hopefully, you will never need emergency services, but if you do, the LVFD will respond with a fast, professional, well-trained and courteous team to answer your call for assistance.

• Mission: Save lives and protect property, while delivering the highest quality of service.

Our department is always looking for exceptional people committed to providing compassionate services and rapid response to our community's diverse needs. Contact us if you are interested in becoming a member of our volunteer organization.

Always remember, “Smoke detectors and seat belts save lives!”

History

Fire protection in Libertytown can be traced back as far as 1847 when a corporation charter was authorized by the Maryland General Assembly for the "Liberty Town Fire Company". Though little is known of this early fire company, sometime after 1878, a hand pumper of the United Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 3 of Frederick found it's way to Libertytown. Whether the hand pumper was sold to the community, was loaned to the community, or was in simply stored in Libertytown is a matter of debate. What is known is after a catastrophic fire in 1899 the town orgnanized fire protection as the "United Volunteer Fire Company" using the former United hand pump engine known as "Old Lady".  The original fire house was located in the middle of town on the north side of Main Street beside the town creek. The fire company members also built a unique damn along the creek that allowed the water to flow normally, but in case of fire, a large metal gate could be dropped to damn the creek to provide deeper water for the engine to suction water for firefighting. 

In March 1962, nineteen pieces of equipment and over 200 firemen were needed to contain a disastrous fire that gutted two homes and damaged two others. In June 1964, Simpsons Store and the adjoining house caught fire. Twenty pieces of equipment from 12 companies helped with the blaze. This prompted the citizens of Libertytown to take action. By November 1964, the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) was formed and a charter membership of 150 people was established. On November 2, 1964, the State Board accepted the articles of incorporation.

Meetings were held, committees formed and officers were elected. A 1952 Ford pumper was purchased for $1,500. Training was acquired from the State of Maryland. Our first home was a converted church building on Main Street on the east end of town - until we had to break the door down in order to respond to a call. The fire company later moved to our second home at the mechanic’s garage on Main Street in the center of town (just east of the creek). The Libertytown-Unionville Lions Club purchased and presented the deed to the property where we currently reside as the LVFD. Ground was broken in May 1966 and in October 1966, we moved into our new home. Due to membership dedication and community support, we were able to burn the mortgage in 1973. 

As the fire department continued to improve service to the community, a large addition was added to the bulidng providing an expansive apparatus bay, large bunk room, remodeled administrative offices, and renovations to the social hall. 

Auxiliary

In 1965, the Auxiliary to the LVFD was chartered with 47 members. They are a strong asset to our organization, raising much-needed funds. Their first fundraiser was a rummage sale that netted $240.30. Now they donate thousands of dollars a year to the LVFD and are responsible for all maintenance in the dining hall and kitchen. The dedication of the auxiliary has been a foundation of support for the growth of the fire department.