Maryland Community Newspapers Online
In between the pizza and hand-dipped ice cream stands, two black-and-white sketches illustrate the reason why the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company Carnival exists.
Under the carnival's open food pavilion on Monday, the fire company displayed professional drawings of its newest equipment — a 2,000-gallon engine-tanker and a mini pumper that cost $805,864 in total.
Below the drawings, a type-written note from the company's fire chief, Matt Staley, explained that the fire company will pay for the engine-tanker and mini pumper in full upon delivery in the fall.
According to Vaughn Zimmerman, chairman of the carnival committee, Walkersville's carnival typically raises more than $80,000. This year's proceeds from the carnival will go toward the fire company's purchase of the mini pumper and engine-tanker, he added.
"We need to be able to do this," he said of the carnival.
On Monday, Zimmerman and a group of volunteers inside the banquet hall were busy loading hot slices of roast beef, fried chicken and ham-flecked green beans into trays for the carnival's $10, all-you-can-eat buffet dinner.
The carnival started Monday and continues through Saturday at the fire company's carnival grounds.
Now in its 70th year, the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company carnival is one of the company's many fundraisers throughout the year, including weekly bingo, commission from Martin's Catering, raffles and donations.
"Our fundraisers go to pay for all the other items we need," said Jim Graham, treasurer for the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company.
The company receives more than a third of its $300,000 budget from the county, according to Graham.
The county's fire and rescue services pay for fuel, insurance, breathing apparatus for fire fighters and maintenance on the company's vehicles, Staley said, while the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company pays for new fire engines, hoses, tools and a share of the building's utility costs.
The Walkersville fire company owns utility and duty vehicles, a fire engine and a ladder truck, known among the company's 55 active volunteer firefighters as a "quint" for its five capabilities — aerial and ground ladders, hose, pump and water, Staley noted.
The company previously had a 20-year-old, engine-tanker, he added, which they sold to a fire company in Pennsylvania.
According to Staley, the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company responds to an average of 600 calls a year throughout Frederick County and surrounding counties.
If you go
Walkersville Volunteer Fire Co. Carnival
4:30 to 10:30 p.m. today through Saturday
Carnival grounds, 79 W. Frederick St., Walkersville
All-night ride tickets: Friday
Fireworks at 10:15 p.m., today (rain date Friday)
Free parking
Call 301-600-9110
www.walkersvillefire.com
E-mail Katherine Mullen at kmullen@gazette.net.
