EMMITSBURG, MD -- A move to preserve historical fire service related documents took a step toward reality this week.
The National Fire Heritage Center may open as early as January in the building that now houses the Emmitsburg Volunteer Ambulance Company.
That step was made possible when the Frederick County Commissioners agreed that organizers of the local fire and rescue museum can take over the building once the ambulance crew moves to its new quarters.
"What an incredible opportunity. This is a perfect location because it's within walking distance of the National Fire Academy," said Chip Jewell, who heads the local preservation effort.
The Frederick County Fire and Rescue Museum and Preservation Society has been homeless since it was forced to move out of its downtown Frederick location due to safety concerns.
Jewell said he also was pleased that the county agreed to pick up the tab for utilities for two years.
"The town of Emmitsburg has been behind us throughout the process. They know how important it is to preserve and show the history of the fire service," he said. "This is a perfect partnership, a win-win for both the local museum and the national one..."
Preserving written documents of the nation's fire service is not a new concept. The U.S. Fire Administration conducted a comprehensive study on the issue in 2002.
Authors recommended that a repository be established "to collect, preserve and provide access to the historical records of the fire service/fire protection disciplines in the United States."
They also noted that the fire service was one of the few disciplines lacking an archive.
Ron Coleman, president of board of the National Fire Heritage Center, said he was ecstatic when he learned of the opportunity this week.
"This is long overdue. We're very concerned about the documents that we've lost. We need a place to preserve them."
Coleman and other board members recently visited the U.S. Army's Heritage Hall to learn how it archives its treasures. They also are pursuing becoming a non-profit organization.
"We are working closely with the county so we can fulfill our dream of saving our precious history," Coleman said, adding that Jewell's effort to secure the building is an important step.
Dr. Burt Clark, an advocate for the preservation effort who worked on the study, said he doesn't want to think about the historical documents that have been lost or destroyed.
He was able to track down the desk journal of the fire department that responded to Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. 1941.
"I'm sure there are other collections out there gathering dust. We want a place for them to be preserved so others can enjoy and learn."
Desk journal entries also show that the first due companies to both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were Engine 10 and Truck 10. It's tidbits like those that Clark said need to be preserved.
The national heritage center will be a repository for written documents, photographs and other disciplines. Coleman said there won't be a display of badges, helmets or firefighting tools. "Those are in museums throughout the country."
Clark said there has always been talk about Ben Franklin being a volunteer firefighter. But, to date, no official documents have been uncovered to prove that.
