Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad

Yesterday…
The McKay’s Beach Volunteer Fire Department was organized by the community in April 1951 to provide fire protection to the community. At the time, the closest fire protection, located in Leonardtown, was over 20 minutes away. Our grassroots start was the beginning of a volunteer driven membership that in 6 months raised enough money to buy the materials needed to start construction of a Fire Station. This original site was three miles away in a small community called McKay’s Beach. The Ladies Auxiliary, organized in 1952, provided yearly funding to the Department through dances, dinners, and oyster scalds. In 1959, the McKay’s Beach VFD was renamed the “Second District Volunteer Fire Department” and by 1961, the Department saw a need to build a larger Fire Station in a more central location. Its current site on Drayden Road saw its first New Year’s Eve dance in 1964. Finally, in 1973, the Rescue Squad was incorporated into the Fire Department, becoming the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad.

Today…
Our first due district is 55 square miles with a permanent population of nearly 8,000 residents. We operate an engine, pumper, squad, 2 brush trucks, a fire-rescue boat, 3 ambulances, and 2 utility units with approximately 50 active members who volunteer their time and talents to provide Fire, Rescue, and EMS services to the Second and Ninth Districts. In 2020, our Department responded to over 2,800 emergency calls, and while roughly 85% were EMS-medical calls, we still handled over 440 Fire & Rescue runs. The Auxiliary continues to provide support by holding monthly breakfasts, quarterly dinners, yard sales, and craft shows, and numerous raffles.

Tomorrow…
The future of the SDVFDRS is bright! Our foundation of experienced members are committed to our community. Their volunteerism attitude and positive reputation in the community continues to encourage young citizens to join the Department.

In 2013, just as they did 52 years before, the Membership determined that our station did not meet our current and future space requirements. Seven years after establishing a New Building Committee, the SDVFDRS broke ground for its new station located along side our existing location. The new Station will provide the space needed to support the Community for the next fifty plus years including administrative, training, and conference room spaces; properly sized apparatus bays; additional EMS, Fire, turn-out gear, and administrative storage; and DECON and exercise rooms.

The entrance to the new station will be paved with bricks, engraved with the names of community members and supporting businesses. This is a beautiful and everlasting way to show your support of our community’s Fire, Rescue, EMS, and Auxiliary service.