Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the Dedication Ceremony for the new Ladder Truck 715
Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department
13900 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring
As prepared
Let me start by congratulating the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department on your beautiful new ladder truck.
That is quite an accomplishment. This ladder truck represents more than 1 million dollars of which a significant portion was generated with the assistance of the community with carnivals and other fundraising events.
The history of the department where we are this afternoon – in a part of the County my wife, Catherine, and I have called “home” for many years – tracks the development of both life in Montgomery County and the evolution of the Fire and Rescue Service.
Like Burtonsville, you started modestly and expanded – in capabilities and most importantly … people!
When you stop to think what Burtonsville was like in 1947, and what the state of firefighting was back then, you can see that you and the County have come a long way in the 69 years of your service.
We know you were active from the start – buying equipment when, back in 1947, 26 people recognized the need for a fire truck; and they made that possible.
This story has been replicated many times over. Local residents saw the need for fire protection and rescue services and stepped forward. It is precisely that spirit that makes our County so great.
Now that Burtonsville, specifically, is getting taller, you recognized that you needed a more technologically advanced fire truck added to the mix.
Because it takes dynamic, evolving equipment to get the job done effectively, you knew you needed newer and better capabilities to accommodate the growing population and transformative environment in which we live.
To meet the demands of our County’s ever-changing landscape, your equipment needed to become more complex; and you adapted, adding rescue and emergency-medical services.
Along the way, Montgomery County has been your partner, as it has been a partner with each of the 18 other volunteer departments, contributing funds and sharing costs.
These partnerships have been crucial over the years, and will continue to be crucial as we move forward.
Volunteer Fire Departments are an integral part of our public safety network in Montgomery County.
You have more than 120 volunteer and career personnel on staff at this station alone – one of the top 10 busiest stations in the County, answering more than 5 thousand calls each year!
You provide services at times and in places that we couldn’t do otherwise.
Your dedication is unmatched; your bravery unparalleled.
And now, with this rear-mounted, “straight stick” truck, with a smaller wheelbase, specially designed - working closely with County Fleet - for greater accessibility in the tight environments that are found throughout Burtonsville and the surrounding areas, you will be able to take your performance, figuratively and literally, to new heights.
So in your 69th year, I salute all that you have done, and will continue to look forward to what you will do.
Thank you.
Release ID: 16-028July 10, 2016; 1 p.m.