Kensington Volunteer Fire Department Hosts Family-Friendly Open House on Sunday, October 8

The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting its family-friendly open house on Sunday, October 8th at 10620 Connecticut Ave from 11am-3pm. The event will offer experiences for the entire family, including firefighter and EMS demonstrations, a DJ with music, clowns, temporary tattoos, balloon animals, gift basket raffle, blood pressure checks, fire prevention, fire hose station, fire safety bounce house, station tours, apparatus showcase, and more. Additional information in the flyer below.

Brief History of the KVFD: On October 26, 1899 a large fire was discovered around 6:00 AM. The bell at St. Paul’s M. E. Church was vigorously rung to alert the town citizens to the disaster. There was little that could be done however, and the fire destroyed the Montgomery Press office and the Town Hall. Realizing that the town needed protection from fire, the citizens met that night at the town library. Mr. Leslie W. Maxson was elected chief of the Kensington Fire Company and was instructed to organize a fire company immediately.

Over time, the Town acquired firefighting equipment and appointed members to the volunteer fire department. A hand drawn hose reel and pump were acquired, along with other equipment. The department needed a home to store this equipment, and based on anecdotal information it is believed that the first firehouse was a garage that was located at the corner of old Connecticut Avenue(now Armory Avenue) and the county maintained Bethesda-Wheaton Road (now Howard Avenue), across the Street from the current gas station.