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On the Fourth of July 1925, six residents met and each donated $1,000 toward the beginning of a fire department.
Bethesda FD began with one station in 1925.
At a mass meeting on May 24, 1926, a plan was approved to create the Bethesda Fire Board and establish the Bethesda Fire Department, Inc.
The company bought two 1926 American LaFrance pumpers that were put in service.
In 1930, construction began on the original fire house.
That single fact binds our members today to the founders of our department in 1930.
In 1937, area resident Don Dunnington recognized the dire need for ambulance service in Chevy Chase.
From its founding until June 30, 1939, the department was manned by volunteers.
On July 1, 1939, Bethesda became a fully paid fire department and Angelo J. Bargagni was the first Fire Chief.
On July 1, 1939, Bethesda Fire Department became a fully paid company with Angelo J. Bargagni as its first Fire Chief.
After a three-year interruption during World War II, the group reformed in 1945 as the Bethesda-Chevy Chase First Aid Corps and began operations using an ambulance donated by the Bethesda Civitan Club.
INTERNATIONAL FAME By 1946, the organization–now renamed the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad–began to capture national and international attention.
In 1950, the United States Department of State produced a film about the Squad entitled “Wisconsin 1000 Rescue Squad,” named after the Squad’s 24-hour emergency telephone number.
In October 1957, Fire Station 20 was put into service on the corner of Cedar Lane and Old Georgetown Road.
The growth and development of the Potomac area which was experienced during the 1960’s made it apparent that further fire protection services were needed.
In 1970, Station 30 was opened at its present site at 9404 Falls Road.
In 1978, current and former members of the Rescue Squad founded the Alumni Association of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad to preserve the Squad’s history, to support the operations of the Rescue Squad, and to perpetuate the bonds of friendship among long-time Squad members.
A POINT OF LIGHT In 1990, President George H.W. Bush visited the Rescue Squad to help celebrate its 50th anniversary of volunteer service to the community.
And so it is in 1990, with firefighters and EMS [emergency medical service] personnel today 1 million strong.
To provide expanded service to the community, the Rescue Squad also operates an ambulance from the Democracy Boulevard station of the Bethesda Fire Department, and in 2021 added service from the Chevy Chase Fire Department station on Connecticut Avenue.
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