Yesterday: Items from the files of The Frederick News-Post

24 Years Ago
SATURDAY November 9, 2002

Thirty years ago, the Saturday night television show “Emergency” was religiously watched by would-be firefighters across the country.

Today, from noon to 4 p.m., firefighting enthusiasts can visit the Frederick County Fire Museum during Junior Fire Co.’s open house at 535 N. Market St. “‘Emergency’ did a lot to help boost the emergency medical technician program,” said museum chairman Chip Jewell, the vice president of Junior Fire Co. who has seen a lot of changes since he started dispatching back in 1971.

For example, he said, in 1971 the county responded to about 1,500 emergency calls. Nowadays, he said, county emergency crews responds to 30,000 per year.

Clarence “Chip” Jewell retired in 2017 as Deputy Chief/Director of the Division of Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services. He has been active in the fire service for 58 years, presently serving as president of the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department and is life member of the Junior Fire Co. No. 2. He is author of the book “History of Fire Companies in Frederick County, Maryland.”