The College Park Volunteer Fire Department is located at 8115 Baltimore Avenue (Route 1). We are directly across the street from the University of Maryland campus. Our members work, enjoy, and live in one of the finest fire stations in the region. Built on campus property in 1994, the station was a joint venture between the University of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and the CPVFD. More then three times the size of our previous station, its features include two brass fire poles, an advanced alerting system, and the finest student dormitory in the state.
The apparatus bays are flanked by a watchdesk, which is the heart of station operations, as well as a shop and storage area. The kitchen has commercial stoves, ovens, refrigerators and freezers. Food storage space is provided for all live in members. Next to the kitchen is our lounge which has a big screen TV, plenty of seating, and a pool table. Offices for the Chiefs, Executive Committee, career Captain, and paramedic staff, as well as a conference room, are also on the first floor.
The second floor is composed of three wings joined by a common atrium. Directly above the apparatus bays is the one of a kind John L. Bryan Fire Service Dormitory. Designed like a college dormitory, it provides one and two person rooms for up to twenty-four full time student volunteers. In the south wing there are three bunkrooms, with fifteen additional bunks, for non-live in members. The career paramedic crew is assigned the fourth bunkroom.
Across from the bunkrooms are large men’s and women’s locker rooms. The north wing has a well equipped exercise room, laundry facility and study room. In the center of the second floor is the Theodore “T.C” Clarke Training and Meeting Room. Mainly used for company meetings and classes, it can seat sixty and is equipped with white boards and audio-visual equipment. Two brass fire poles ensure our members have quick access from the second floor to the bays.
The College Park Volunteer Fire Department truly enjoys one of the finest fire stations in the region.In addition to the building’s features, the station has a large parking lot and areas where members often enjoy recreational activities. Located across from the main University of Maryland entrance, students volunteers have easy access to all of campus. The world renowned Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI)is also located on campus and is just a few minutes from our station. Across from the MFRI complex is the College Park Airport; the oldest continually operating airport in the world.
When it is time to relax, all of the best College Park nightspots and restaurants are within an easy walk. If we run out of things to do in College Park, the Metro train can quickly get you into downtown Washington D.C. Our station is designed and located to benefit all of our members operationally, academically, and socially. Come visit Station 12, we’ll leave the lights on.