From the Company Scrapbooks

The Photo Archive

Eight decades of neighbors answering the call — work parties and working fires, parades and picnics, first trucks and new stations. Scanned from the department’s scrapbooks and shared here.

Read the History
1941 – 1959

The Beginning

Two companies get off the ground: Riva incorporates in 1941 after the Sylvan Shores fires, and Arundel rises from a Gambrills tragedy in 1954 — a firehouse built by hand on donated land, with a donated truck.

Otto Gerstner, the farmer who donated the land — and the timber, and the well — for the first Arundel firehouse.
1954Otto Gerstner, the farmer who donated the land — and the timber, and the well — for the first Arundel firehouse.
The promise on Davidsonville Road: "Future Home — Arundel Vol. Fire Dept. Inc. Donations Accepted."
c. 1954The promise on Davidsonville Road: "Future Home — Arundel Vol. Fire Dept. Inc. Donations Accepted."
Saturday work party: members building the original station by hand.
1954–55Saturday work party: members building the original station by hand.
The first new engine arrives on Davidsonville Road.
Aug 1955The first new engine arrives on Davidsonville Road.
The donated 1935 Ford — half the fleet on Arundel’s first call, New Year’s night 1956.
1955The donated 1935 Ford — half the fleet on Arundel’s first call, New Year’s night 1956.
The new 500-gallon pumper — first-out on that first call.
1955The new 500-gallon pumper — first-out on that first call.
Kenny Jorden with the first truck.
c. 1955Kenny Jorden with the first truck.
The company’s first parade.
Oct 1955The company’s first parade.
Working the county fair.
1955Working the county fair.
The company lines up, summer 1955.
Aug 1955The company lines up, summer 1955.
Dedication day: Carr, Jones, Klein, and Chaney in dress blues.
1956Dedication day: Carr, Jones, Klein, and Chaney in dress blues.
The first trophies on display — atop the television, where everyone would see them.
c. 1955The first trophies on display — atop the television, where everyone would see them.
Working a barn fire at Whitehall — among the young company’s first big jobs.
May 1957Working a barn fire at Whitehall — among the young company’s first big jobs.
The Ladies’ Auxiliary — fundraisers, feeders of firefighters, and the backbone of early operations.
c. 1958The Ladies’ Auxiliary — fundraisers, feeders of firefighters, and the backbone of early operations.
Auxiliary officers at the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association.
c. 1958Auxiliary officers at the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association.
Dianne Cox, Fair Queen, 1959.
1959Dianne Cox, Fair Queen, 1959.
Company 3 · 1941 – 2024

The Riva Company

Riva ran as Anne Arundel’s Company 3 for eighty-three years before the 2024 merger made two companies one. From the Riva albums: the original hand-built firehouse and the iron that kept south county wet.

The original Riva firehouse — two bays, built by the members’ own hands, engines nosed out in the snow.
1940s–50sThe original Riva firehouse — two bays, built by the members’ own hands, engines nosed out in the snow.
One of the company’s earliest engines, from the era of the hand-built Packard.
c. 1940sOne of the company’s earliest engines, from the era of the hand-built Packard.
The International ten-wheeler — 1,000 gallons, 500 GPM, delivered September 1954 at a cost of $18,678.
1954The International ten-wheeler — 1,000 gallons, 500 GPM, delivered September 1954 at a cost of $18,678.
Engine Co. No. 3 pumper.
c. 1950sEngine Co. No. 3 pumper.
The brush truck — Engine Co. No. 3 lettering on an International pickup.
c. 1960sThe brush truck — Engine Co. No. 3 lettering on an International pickup.
Riva’s International Travelall.
c. 1970sRiva’s International Travelall.
The tanker-pumper on the road.
c. 1960sThe tanker-pumper on the road.
Engine 3 in the modern red and white.
c. 1980sEngine 3 in the modern red and white.
1960 – 1969

The Sixties

The firehouse becomes the center of community life — Halloween parties, majorettes, trophies — while the fleet grows into real depth.

Accepting the Jess Fisher trophy — awarded for the most man-hours of University of Maryland fire training.
1960Accepting the Jess Fisher trophy — awarded for the most man-hours of University of Maryland fire training.
The department majorettes — when the firehouse was the center of community life.
1960The department majorettes — when the firehouse was the center of community life.
Halloween at the firehouse.
1960Halloween at the firehouse.
Graduates of the 1961 firefighting course, in front of the engine.
1961Graduates of the 1961 firefighting course, in front of the engine.
Squad 7 — the 1953 Mack.
1950s–60sSquad 7 — the 1953 Mack.
The 1957 light-duty rescue truck.
c. 1960sThe 1957 light-duty rescue truck.
Rescue Service — the International.
c. 1960sRescue Service — the International.
An early Arundel pumper, dressed for work.
c. 1960sAn early Arundel pumper, dressed for work.
Engine 73 — the 1965 Ford.
1965Engine 73 — the 1965 Ford.
Brush 7, ready for the field and woods.
1967Brush 7, ready for the field and woods.
1970 – 1979

The Seventies

A new Station 7 opens on Route 424 in 1971, the first ambulance and first EMT class arrive in 1977, and the first heavy squad in 1979 — the modern all-hazards company takes shape.

The new Station 7 on Route 424, opened 1971.
c. 1975The new Station 7 on Route 424, opened 1971.
Engine 71 in the lime-yellow years.
1975Engine 71 in the lime-yellow years.
The Super Squad — the 1968 Ford, a fixture for two decades.
1968 FordThe Super Squad — the 1968 Ford, a fixture for two decades.
The first ambulance — AVFD enters the EMS era.
1977The first ambulance — AVFD enters the EMS era.
The first EMT class.
1977The first EMT class.
Basic fire training, class of 1977.
1977Basic fire training, class of 1977.
Jeep 7 — small truck, big usefulness.
c. 1970sJeep 7 — small truck, big usefulness.
The first heavy rescue squad — a 1969 Ford bought from Pikesville for $40,000.
1979The first heavy rescue squad — a 1969 Ford bought from Pikesville for $40,000.
The squad rolling.
1979The squad rolling.
Engine competition day — pump-and-ladder contests kept crews sharp.
1979Engine competition day — pump-and-ladder contests kept crews sharp.
Miss Arundel rides in the parade.
1979Miss Arundel rides in the parade.
E. Francis Jones — founding secretary of Arundel VFD, 1954 — beside the engine.
c. 1980sE. Francis Jones — founding secretary of Arundel VFD, 1954 — beside the engine.
The morning after on New Windsor Court.
1979The morning after on New Windsor Court.
1980 – 1989

The Eighties

Thirty-year proclamations, life-member awards, a new squad christened with champagne — and busy fireground years in a fast-growing Crofton.

Squad crew demonstrates vehicle rescue for the neighborhood.
1980Squad crew demonstrates vehicle rescue for the neighborhood.
County Executive James Lighthizer presents the 30th-anniversary proclamation.
1984County Executive James Lighthizer presents the 30th-anniversary proclamation.
Engine 71 — the 1984 E-One Pemfab.
1984Engine 71 — the 1984 E-One Pemfab.
"The Arundel Volunteer Fire Department NEEDS YOU!" — recruiting, 1985 style.
1985"The Arundel Volunteer Fire Department NEEDS YOU!" — recruiting, 1985 style.
The banner says it all: "Arundel Volunteer Fire Dept IS EXPECTING!"
1986The banner says it all: "Arundel Volunteer Fire Dept IS EXPECTING!"
Life Member Awards, 1986 banquet — including Ben Chaney, Marie Jorden, Kenny Jorden, Francis Jones, and Roy Sears, Sr.
1986Life Member Awards, 1986 banquet — including Ben Chaney, Marie Jorden, Kenny Jorden, Francis Jones, and Roy Sears, Sr.
The company, 1986.
1986The company, 1986.
Chief Art Spencer christens the new rescue squad with champagne.
1987Chief Art Spencer christens the new rescue squad with champagne.
"It’s a rescue squad!" — members and families celebrate the new arrival.
1987"It’s a rescue squad!" — members and families celebrate the new arrival.
Rescue Squad 7 in service.
1987Rescue Squad 7 in service.
Roof work at a Crofton house fire.
1987Roof work at a Crofton house fire.
James Bryan Housenfluck, all smiles after a working fire.
c. 1980sJames Bryan Housenfluck, all smiles after a working fire.
Christmas at the firehouse.
1986Christmas at the firehouse.
1990 – 1999

The Nineties

New iron, new liveries — and the company picnic tradition rolls on.

Engine 72 — the Spartan/Marion.
1992Engine 72 — the Spartan/Marion.
Housing ceremony for Engine 72.
1992Housing ceremony for Engine 72.
Super Squad 7.
c. 1990sSuper Squad 7.
Chief 7 — the 1996 Ford.
1996Chief 7 — the 1996 Ford.
Ambulance 79 — the 1998 Ford.
1998Ambulance 79 — the 1998 Ford.
Company picnic, 1991.
1991Company picnic, 1991.
2000 – TODAY

A New Century

White-over-red gives way to the modern fleet, and the mission stays exactly the same. The story continues at Stations 3 and 7 — and there’s room in it for you.

Engine 71 at the turn of the millennium.
2000Engine 71 at the turn of the millennium.
Engine 71 — the 2001 E-One.
2001Engine 71 — the 2001 E-One.
Ambulance 79 outside the bays.
2001Ambulance 79 outside the bays.
Station 7, flag flying, rigs out front.
c. 2000sStation 7, flag flying, rigs out front.
The company, in front of the rescue squad — same mission, new century.
c. 2000sThe company, in front of the rescue squad — same mission, new century.
First fire chief Joseph Klein with chief-elect Dave Ayres — behind them, the station Klein helped build 34 years earlier.
c. 1988First fire chief Joseph Klein with chief-elect Dave Ayres — behind them, the station Klein helped build 34 years earlier.
Station 3 on Riva Road — the house dedicated in 1967, still answering.
TodayStation 3 on Riva Road — the house dedicated in 1967, still answering.
Tanker operations drill — folding tanks and crews keeping south county’s water supply moving.
TodayTanker operations drill — folding tanks and crews keeping south county’s water supply moving.
The squad-door vulture: "Takin’ Care of Business."
UndatedThe squad-door vulture: "Takin’ Care of Business."
Help Us Fill the Gaps

Have photos of your own?

If your family album holds a piece of AVFD or Riva VFD history — especially Riva’s early years — we would love to scan and share it.

info@arundelfire.com