The department received a letter from Mrs. Cooper, a teacher at Maryland Park High School, who wanted to start an auxiliary fire class for students to help out during the war. The Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department organized the class and provided instructors.
During the 20th birthday celebration of the Ladies Auxiliary, the department celebrated that the firehouse mortgage was “paid in full” by burning the mortgage note.
The Washington Post reports that a five year old girl was critically burned when a box of matches exploded in her hands while in the yard of her family’s home on Central Avenue. The girl’s mother and father were also burned, but their injuries were less serious.
Frank P. Briguglio joins the Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department, starting a 40 year fire service career. During his tenure with our department he held various positions, including Financial Secretary, Recording Secretary, Captain, Assistant Chief and Fire Chief. He achieved lifetime membership status in 1958. He was elected President of the Prince George’s County Fire Firemen’s Association in 1951. Chief Briguglio was instrumental in establishing the Fire Control Board, which now what know as Public Safety Communications. In 1978, Frank was appointed Fire Chief for Prince George’s County, succeeding Fire Chief Lawrence Waltz. He served as Fire Chief until his untimely death in 1978 while vacationing in Florida. The Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department is proud of Chief Briguglio’s 40 year fire service career.
Department members traveled to Washington, DC in the engine to pick up supplies for the weekly carnival. It was reported that they were double parked while loading the fire engine and that District of Columbia Police impounded the engine. Chief W.H. Wells went to Washington and was informed that the usual fee for retrieving an impounded vehicle was $5.00, but since it was a fire engine they would release engine for $3.00. After some protesting, the Chief paid the $3.00 and he and the crew came home.
Three firefighters were injured battling a blaze that destroyed a building that was once used as a place to hold town hall meetings. At the time of the fire the building housed an electric repair shop, operated by Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department member Walter Oliver. Walter and his new bride, Elizabeth, lived in an upstairs apartment on the second floor. The building was totally destroyed. One firefighter from Capitol Heights suffered from smoke inhalation, one firefighter from Greater Capitol Heights suffered a sprained wrist after falling from a 10 foot ladder and one firefighter from Boulevard Heights suffered from cuts to his arm and head after being hit with falling timbers.
John “Jack” P. Brooks was appointed Forest Warden for the State of Maryland by Governor Harry Nice. Jack replaced Past Chief George Finger after his death.
President Otto Fankhouser appoints M. Stillwell and W. H. Wells to a committee to purchase a boxing ring for fund raising events.
The department holds elections for the delegates and alternates to attend the upcoming Maryland State Firemen’s Association convention in Cambridge, Maryland. The delegates were Charles Smith, George Finger, Neal McFarlane, Herbert Davis, and Jack Brooks. Alternates included B. Glazer, Otto Fankhouser, Walter Oliver, J. Barrett and Wendal Reno.
A delegation from the National Firemen’s Association, including Chief George Finger (1926 and 1927), laid a wreath at George Washington’s Tomb at Mount Vernon, Virginia and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery as part of Labor Day events. Chief Finger (1926 and 1927), founded the National Firemen’s Association and also served as the President of the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association in 1927.
The Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department is a non-profit organization that provides fire and emergency services for the town of Capitol Heights and surrounding communities. We are located about 5 miles from our nation’s capital, in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Our station is staffed both by career and volunteer personnel.