
The Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department is continuing to provide emergency fire and EMS services to the Sykesville-Eldersburg area, despite a catastrophic roof collapse and fire that heavily damaged the fire station February 11.
WJZ-TV aired a news report about the department's recovery on Sunday, February 21. To read the story and watch the video, please click here.
If you would like to leave your thoughts on our guestbook, please click here.
A message from SFDFD President Kevin Shiloh and Chief Eddie Ruch, Jr.: "The Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department is deeply grateful and appreciative of the overwhelming support and offers of equipment and other assistance in the wake of the fire that heavily damaged the fire station. At this time, our immediate needs have been addressed, and we are working with our insurance provider and other entities to determine our future needs. If we do require future assistance, we will post the specific need on our website. Again, a heartfelt thank-you to everyone for their support and friendship. It is most welcome during this difficult time."

Sykesville Assists At Mt. Airy House Fire
FEBRUARY 26
- In the early morning hours of February 26, Sykesville's Rescue Squad 12 was alerted for a house fire with a report of people trapped in the 4000 Block of Twin Arch Road. Responding units from Mt. Airy Fire Department arrived on the scene and advised that they had a working fire and the incident was going to be located in Carroll County. As Rescue Squad 12 was arriving the back half of the house ... (Full Story & Photos) |
Squad 12 Assists At Mount Airy Fire
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Basement Fire
FEBRUARY 23
- The Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department made quick work of a basement fire at a Sykesville home, Tuesday afternoon, February 23. Firefighters were dispatched to the home in the 4300 block of Spout Hill Rd. at approximately 1:30pm for an "investigation" of smoke in the house. E124 was first to arrive and reported heavy smoke from the rear of the house. Upon further investigation it was discovered ... (Full Story & Photos) |

Out Of The Ashes
FEBRUARY 23
- As the cracked, framed painting of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial was placed on a table next to a salvaged clock, Dennis Beard had to turn away, overcome with emotion. He headed to a chair in the large, tented social area of the Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department's "make-do" accommodations to regain his composure. "I gave them that painting," Beard said, motioning to the table. "Some ... (Full Story & Photos) |
Photo: Brendan Cavanaugh
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Sykesville Fire Company Begins To Rebuild Following Roof Collapse
FEBRUARY 18
- Sykesville's fire company hopes to be in a rebuilt home within about a year, after a fire devastated parts of its station during last week's blizzard. The Sykesville-Freedom volunteer fire company would like to begin demolition of the station's social hall and other damaged areas within the next 45 days, after deciding on a demolition contractor, said Dennis Beard, a spokesman for the company. The ... (Full Story & Photos) |
Hank McCauley washes the road salt off the Sykesville-Freedom fire company’s ladder truck after returning from a call Wednesday. The company’s social hall was destroyed Feb. 11 when the roof collapsed and the building caught fire. The emergency equipment was not damaged.
Photo by Ken Koons, Carroll County Times
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"Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work. Firemen do not regard themselves as heroes because they do that the buisness requires"
Chief of Department Edward F. Crocker FDNY
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