Another year has come and gone for the Mechanicsville Volunteers. We just want to take a minute to give a quick review of our call stats for the year, and some major headlines the department accomplished/handled in the year.

2016 was the departments busiest year to date.
• Total Incidents: 931
• Busiest Month- April, 94 runs
• Total Working Fires: 20, Units had to be assigned to work in an IDLH
• Total Extrications: 18
• 37.95% of runs overlapped
• Average Dispatch to Enroute: 3:43
• Average Dispatch to On Scene: 10:45
(We cover 75+ square miles as well as run mutual aid in Charles, Calvert, and Prince Georges Counties)
• Engine Company Runs: 404
• Rescue Runs: 258
• Tanker Runs: 53
• Support Unit Runs: 296
• Mutual Aid Given:156
• Mutual aid received: 130

Major Accomplishments During the Year:

The Department purchased a new Engine from Pierce Manufacturing in 2015, however the unit was completed in May, and placed in service in July of 2016. Many members were involved with the build process and several trips were made to Wisconsin by the committee for various inspections of the unit during the build. Once the unit was received, many hours of training were held to turn all the members off to drive, operate, and use the equipment on the new Engine 23. The Engine is first out of Station 2.

In June, the Department went to the Maryland State Fireman's Association Convention and made a statement. The department "dumped house" and brought home the Chief Marvin A. Gibbons Trophy for the Best Appearing Department in the State. The company took 12 units, leaving 3 back to protect the Mechanicsville area and surrounding jurisdictions. There were over 30 members that participated, with two crews remaining in Mechanicsville to staff the apparatus left behind. This was the first time this has ever been done in the History of our Department.

In 2016 our firehouse project has continued, replacing much of the original firehouse that was built in 1976. Evaluation by an architectural firm determined that replacement was more cost effective than remodel. The mebership has also had to deal with "unfavorable" conditions during the construction of our new fire station. As many of you have seen, passed, or heard, we are building a new fire station that has been slated to be completed by early spring. The company has had to overcome having no running water in our temporary structures and the membership has handled the inconveniences the construction has caused with remarkable attitude and performance.

The firehouse will have six pull thru bays and one half bay with radiant heat. There are ten individual bunk-rooms as well as a large common bunk room. We will also have a training tower for standpipe, hose, ladder and rope evolution's. There is a apparatus maintenance bay and offices for both operational and administrative positions as well as a new fitness room.

Continue to check back through this year to see incidents, important news, the station opening, and other major accomplishments.