Patterson Mill Fire Station Dedicated Over Weekend
The station is Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company's newest substation.
Photos
Bel Air officially gained a new fire station Saturday.
The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company's Patterson Mill substation, located at the corner of Maryland Route 924 and Patterson Mill Road, was dedicated Saturday by the fire company and Harford County government officials.
The 9,000-square-foot Patterson Mill Station is the third active station of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company. The main station is located on Hickory Avenue in Bel Air and the second is in Forest Hill on East Jarrettsville Road.
The station is located up the road from Patterson Mill Middle/High School.
"Although we are less than four miles from our main station, it is critical that we are in the community we serve," Bel Air fire company chief Edward Hopkins said, according to an ExploreHarford.com story.
He went on to say the Bel Air South community will also see faster response times, the article states.
Members of the community who have shown staunch opposition to a proposed Walmart location off Maryland Route 924 have cited the new station as a reason the Walmart should go elsewhere, contending Walmart traffic will hinder prompt emergency response times.
If you want to see photos of the dedication like the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company's Facebook page and pay it a visit.
Have your own photos of the dedication? Add them to this article by clicking on the "Upload Photos and Videos" button.
DJ
6:46 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Will the new Patterson Mill Station be the responding station for those of us who reside on the Wheel Road end of Patterson Mill Road with a Bel Air address since it is closer or will Abingdon still respond first?
Casey Ayers
5:15 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
DJ, that is completely up to the dispatcher. When 911 is called, it is up to the dispatcher to 'dispatch' appropriate units to the scene. That is why police usually will show up first to declare scene safety followed by Fire and EMS personel. Depending on the level of fire both stations will end up responding.
DJ
5:59 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thanks for the info. Casey. I mostly was asking for donation purposes, in the past we have had the Abingdon Fire dept. send mailers and walk through the neighborhood asking for donations for new equipment since they were "our" fire dept. The Bel Air dept. has never done this. I like to donate whatever money I can I just want to make sure it goes to the company who will be responding to my house. Sorry if this sounds selfish, but this was the basis for my question. Thanks.
Casey Ayers
6:51 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
No problem. I completely understand. I used to live of cedar lane. I am a 2010 graduate of Patterson Mill, joined the Army Infantry and am now stationed in Hawaii. I am EMT certified and figured I could help out. Hope this gave you some valid points for your decision.
Really...
9:51 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Unfortunatley, the closest fire / EMS unit is NOT dispatched in this county. If you live in the area Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company serves, they will still continue to be dispatched first even if the new fire station is closer.
JS
11:30 am on Friday, November 16, 2012
They need the donations. The firehouse is "open" but not really finished. Lots of work still needs to be done.