Was cleaning up some old DVDs in the firehouse and we found this old footage! This is an old documentary made in 1963 about Bryn Mawr Fire Company and the volunteer firefighters in the mainline.
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
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 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! 😂😂
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
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.
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
Nice documentary, and I asked this question all the time of channels on RU-vid, 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
