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Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department

Protecting the Mt. Aetna and Beaver Creek communities for 55 years

Since 1969, Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department has provided fire and rescue services to Fire District 16 in the eastern part of Washington County, MD. Mt. Aetna VFD volunteers are dedicated to keeping our community safe. Join the team! Learn more about becoming a member here. Or make a tax-deductible donation today.

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Have you contributed to the Spring Mail Fund Drive?

Mt. Aetna VFD is dedicated to serving our community. But we need your help during our our Spring Fund Drive. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we rely on tax-deductible contributions to provide essential fire and rescue services. Residents and businesses in the Mt. Aetna fire district, please consider making your annual mail-in contribution today.

If you did not receive your Spring 2024 Fund Drive Mailer, click here for a copy.

News from Mt. Aetna VFD

Digital Alerts to your car

New units go in service

Are you ready for a challenge?

Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department is excited to announce that we’re the first fire company in Washington County to add HAAS Alert's Safety Cloud® digital alerting to our fleet. This advanced service connects our emergency lighting systems to connected vehicles and popular navigation platforms, enhancing safety for our firefighters and the broader community.

Washington County drivers will now receive preemptive digital alerts via in-dash systems in multiple brands including Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Chrysler vehicles, as well as through Waze and Apple Maps mobile applications. These alerts, activated when our vehicles' emergency lights are in use, help facilitate adherence to Maryland’s Move Over laws and can significantly reduce collision risks. We thank you for your support in maintaining road safety for all.

Mt. Aetna VFD has placed two emergency response units in service.

- UTV 16 is a new Kawasaki Mule off-road vehicle that will allow greater access to wildfires and medical calls in some of the rugged, mountainous terrain of the Mt. Aetna district.

- Engine 16-2, a well-maintained 2004 E-One Cyclone fire engine formerly serving Breckenridge, Colorado, has temporarily replaced Engine 16-1 as our frontline pumper while 16-1 is in for some major repairs and rehabilitation work. Engine 16-2 will then become our primary backup pumper once Engine 16-1 returns to service.

We encourage you to consider becoming a member of Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department. Volunteering for your local fire company is not only a great way to give back to the community; it's truly the experience of a lifetime. Want to be part of the action? It’s exciting and rewarding. Physicals, training and gear are provided at no cost. We also need help in other areas. If your expertise is finance, fundraising, administrative management, or you're just handy with tools, we need you! Stop by the fire station at 10305 Crystal Falls Drive in Mt. Aetna and pick up an application or download a membership application here.

Local foundation grants support your volunteers

Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department is the recipient of several generous grants from local foundations this year. Recent awards include $14,607 from the the Alfred E. and Naomi B. Sinnisen Foundation that will go toward the replacement of personal protective equipment (PPE). These specially constructed -- and expensive! -- coats, pants, helmets, hoods, gloves and boots protect our firefighters from the dangers inherent in the work they perform.

Our fire department also received funding from two local organizations to help us upgrade the fire station, making it more comfortable for our dedicated volunteers and providing an improved space for training and rest between calls for service. Sunrise Rotary of Hagerstown awarded $1,437 to Mt.Aetna VFD for a new kitchen range and new washer/dryer for the station. The Nora Roberts Foundation has announced a $5,000 grant to our department to help us upgrade bathrooms and other areas in the station.

And, the Hagerstown Rotary Club has informed us that they will be awarding $1,500 to Mt. Aetna VFD for additional wildland firefighting equipment on our UTV.

The members of Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department are so grateful for the generosity of these local organizations. We would not be able to provide fire-rescue services in our community without the support of individuals, businesses, and organizations like these.