Gamber & Community Fire Company

Training on pulling hose lines. Orange helmets indicate probationary firefighters. Photo by Jacob Smith

Checking face masks and hoods before entering the burn building. Photo by Jacob Smith

Gamber training officer Frank Smith. Photo by Jacob Smith

Checking gear before entering the burn building. Photo by Jacob Smith

Saturday morning training participants pose in front of the burn building after the drills. Photo by Jacob Smith

Inside the burn building prior to the first burn scenario.

Checking face masks and hoods before entering the burn building.

Observing fire behavior inside the burn building.

Preparing to exit the burn building.

Exiting the fire scenario.

Getting ready to extinguish the fire.

Preparing to advance a hose line into the building.

Sunday's Open House participants observe the Fire Marshal's demonstration.

Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire and his K-9 partner "Kachina" prepare to conduct a demonstration. The K-9 is trained to search for accelerants.

Gamber members and families enjoy dinner on Saturday evening after the day's training events.

Senior Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire and his K-9 partner "Kachina" search a vehicle for traces of accelerant in an "arson" case.

Gamber members prepare to do a car crash rescue demonstration.

Gamber members prepare to do a car crash rescue demonstration. The are using a rescue tool to remove one of the car's doors.

Special guests at the Open House: (l to r) Carroll County Sheriff Cpl. Scott, Bridget Weishaar, Commissioner Weaver, Carroll County Sheriff Cpl. Fitzgerald, and Flash Max.

Carroll County Sheriffs deputy Martin role plays the "bad" guy for K-9 Bali.

Carroll County Sheriff K9 Handler Deputy Shue and his K-9 Bali prepare to do a demonstration.

Carroll County Sheriff's K-9 is named Bali and is a Dutch shepherd from Hungary.


By Firefighter/EMT Todd Tracey
April 8, 2019

The members of Gamber & Community Fire Company spent the weekend logging hours at the station. Drills, training, and new member orientations were the highlight of the duty weekend. Our duty event started Friday afternoon, April 5, and went long into the evening when members practiced hose deployment techniques and reviewed hose packing skills. The newer members of the company received an orientation that covered the history of our company, policies & procedures, and how to get the most out of their membership. Saturday, members took various apparatus to the Carroll County Public Safety Training Center in Westminster to engage in live fire drills. Fire behavior, working with ladders & tools, and general firefighting skills were the main focus. Later on that evening members gathered in the engine bay to break bread together. Our auxiliary members cooked a wonderful meal of baked ziti and spaghetti with some other sweet treats involved. The weekend culminated with the Company's Open House on Sunday from 1-4pm. Various public safety agencies had displays and our company offered an inside look at how our fire department operates. Between Friday April 5th and Sunday April 7th, our members logged over 450 hours of volunteer time. Our next duty weekend is schedule for July 2019. Editor's Note - Firefighter/EMT Todd Tracey who is also chairman of the Recruitment & Retention Committee, coordinated the Duty Weekend events. EMS Lieutenant Bridget Weishaar coordinated the Open House. She is also the chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee.Training Officer Frank Smith, Lieutenants Shawn Chenoweth, Joel Caple, and Dickie Yingling, and Sergeant Jeremy Hutton coordinated and supervised the fire training on Saturday.