Fountain’s first fire call responding in it’s pride and joy a 1947 Reo Speedwagon Pumper came on xx-xx-xx. This pride and joy pumper called unit 1 remained in service as a front line piece of apparatus until late 1994.  It was later renamed 39-12 before being sold not due lack of want but due to lack of space.  39-12 -the number was retired and is being antiqued by it’s new owner.

      Soon a tanker was needed, but first the building had to be expanded.  A second bay was added to house the tanker.  Then came the problem of what to do with all the equipment.  Soon the need to park 3 trucks in 2 holes had to be figured out.  It was done and an equipment van was added. 

    Cash became tight.  How are we going to put gas for the trucks became a big concern.  But the community did not fail the fire company, and the cash came in.  At this time looking back, things were rough.  Just how rough were they, let’s look at a few areas;

1.      ALERTING--If Fountain got a call, Keyser PD would receive the initial call and would sound Fountain’s siren.  If you lived close enough to hear the siren, the firefighter would get up and go to the call and his wife would get up and start making phone calls to notify other members.  Soon the entire company would be alerted.  Then more modern technology arrived, and a few members purchased their own plectron.  Still the phone system was used to alert all members.  By the late 70’s early 80’s all members had either plectrons or pagers and the  wife got to sleep during the calls because the phone lists were gone.

2.      COMMUNICATIONS--The first firefighter at the station would pick up the hot line to Keyser PD and would write on the board what and where the call was.  As other members arrived and a vehicle was enroute, all 3 vehicles and the station was equipped with a CB Radio.  Along with help of other Cbers in the community, all communications were done.  Fountain’s units 1,2, or 3 would get the job done.  Finally came the FM 46.14 West Virginia Fire Radio.  Again one was placed in units 1,2 and 3 and the base.  These remained in operations until about 1 year after the Mineral County 911 Center was started.  Not long after the FM radios the company’s number took place of unit 1, 2, and 3.  Company 39 was now Fountain’s ID number.

3.      PERSONAL SAFETY--Cotton duck running gear with 3/4 length boots and red  basically plastic helmets,  top of the line

   2-pair of gloves one brown jersey and one red water proof pair top of the line. Breathing apparatus-Survivaire 30 minute steel bottles and on demand only again only the best.

      Responding on calls went that the tailboard was always full.  Rain, snow, sleet, hot or cold.  Near or far the tailboard was full.  We knew that it would always be full, we had no choice.  Most of the time we needed the full crew to push the trucks from the hall so we could drift start them.

   As the late 70’s approached,  The Community of Fountain was growing and old unit 1 was getting older also.  A new pumper was discussed and finally ordered.  One year till it arrives.  Now 4 trucks and two holes would not work so again the building was expanded to near its present shape.

    September 1980 unit 39-11 arrived.  I can remember hearing the late Melvin Spencer when he found out the $38,000 price on this truck.  “Oh my God how are we going to pay for it.”  A 10 year loan was secured and in 5 years the truck was paid off.  I often wonder what Melvin would have said in April of 1994 when we ordered 39-13 with a price tag of near $200,000.

      During the 1980’s no major changes occurred.  The building was remodeled and then re remodeled.  A new kitchen was added, tankers and vans came and went.

           In 1994 the Department bought a Pierce Engine painted White with 3 blue stripes. In 1999 the department bought its next Engine from Pierce. This engine was placed in service as a rescue engine and was also painted white with the blue stripes. In 2003 the department bought 2 more pieces of equipment. The first was a new brush truck. The new brush truck is a 2003 Ford F-350 pickup. The tank, pump and all equipment were taken off the old brush truck and placed on the new one. Also in 2003 the department replaced its tanker. The new tanker was bought from the Shaft Vol. Fire Company in Allegany County MD. The tanker and brush truck where painted to match both Engines. In 2005 the department bought a 26 foot pull behind trailer to be used by the Haz Mat Team. The trailer already being white was sent to Frostburg for the decals and striping to match the rest of the equipment. For the first time in the history of the company all the equipment matches. Also were are glad to say that we own all four pieces as well. The next big thing in line for the Fountain Fire department is a new station. Plans are under way to get the design of the new station and start moving forward with it.   

     On December the 20th members made a trip to Winchester Va to look at what was going to a first for the Fire Company. Several members went to the Friendship Fire Company to look at and buy the ambulance that they were selling. After several months of talks between Valley Medical Transport and the County Commisoners about Valley staying in the 911 service, it was decided that Valley would be leaving the 911 service at the end of November. With this happening it would leave the Fountain area with no ambulance in its first due and the area would have to relie on the five ambulances that surround it. Members of Company 39 voted to house an ambulance if approached by the county. When this happened it was determined that the other squads in the county did not like the idea of losing one of the ambulances that they have so the ambulance autority gave the fire company $30,000 to buy the ambulance and stock it. On the 20th ambulance 39-70 was put in station by Chief 39. This is a first for the fire company in its 37 years of service. Ambulance 39-70 will be serivce in about 2 to 3 months baring there are no major problems.  On February 29, Ambulance 39-70 was put in service by Asst. Chief 39.