History

The Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department was organized as a committee of the Potomac Heights Mutual Homeowners' Association in September 1950. Up until that time, Potomac Heights (built by the Federal Government during World War II) served as housing for the families of wartime workers at the Naval Powder Factory located approximately one mile away in Indian Head. As a part of the Powder Factory, fire protection was provided by the Navy. In 1950, the Federal Government, as it attempted to rid itself of excess wartime property, sold the entire project to a cooperative formed specifically to purchase the property and housing by those living in the houses known as the "Potomac Heights Mutual Homeowners Association". When the homeowners bought the project, fire protection by the Navy in Indian Head literally ceased. This left the project dependent on fire protection from the distant neighboring communities.

The Safety and Grounds Committee of the Homeowners' Association organized a fire department to supply the much needed protection for the community. The name of the organization was the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. Within the first two months, the newly organized Committee had purchased a truck, acquired land and began the construction of a fire station. At the end of its first year of operation, the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department had been incorporated, had responded to a total of 27 fire alarms, moved into its new station (costing $3,842.80) built by volunteer labor and was in business to stay. In March 1951 the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department began receiving $1,500 a year from the Charles County slot machine tax revenue.

In May 1952 Potomac Heights joined the Charles County Volunteer Firemen's Association and on June 24, 1952 was elected to membership in the Maryland State Firemen's Association at its annual convention. During this same time frame, the department purchased a 1942 Ford American LaFrance 500 GPM Pumper. This unit still belongs to the company and has been restored. The unit attends parades and other special function as an emissary of the company.

In October 1952, the Homeowners' Association voted to voluntarily donate one dollar a month per family to the department. This was Charles County's first "fire tax". Along with additional County funding and company fundraisers, such as block parties, carnivals, raffles and bingo, the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department managed to keep pace with the fire protection needs of the community and its surrounding first due area.

In September 1954, the company was accepted into membership by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

In December 1954, the company entered in the ambulance service with the purchase and placing in service of a surplus Navy Packard Ambulance. This service continues today with the company responding to over 1000 ambulance calls per year.

In 1959, Potomac Heights purchased a surplus Army Amphibious Duck and entered into the Water Rescue Business. The duck was costly and with no direct access to the Potomac River for a unit of its size, the duck was eventually sold to Ocean City. The Water Rescue Service resumed in 1975 with the purchase of a Boston Whaler with a grant from the State of Maryland.

Now, over fifty years later, the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. has moved into a newer, larger facility which currently houses two custom Pumpers, two Ambulances, two Brush Units, a Water Rescue Unit with a tow Vehicle, a Tanker, a Confined Space Unit, and a Heavy Duty Rescue Squad.