In the early 1894, fire suppression in Oakland was a bucket brigade which was run by any abled body man. When this happened many structures burned to the ground. In late 1894 the mayor and Town Council of Oakland purchased a chemical fire engine, hose, and hook and ladder truck. On April 5 1894 the fire truck was used on its first fire when a spark fell on a roof of the D.M. Dixon's house in downtown Oakland. To begin with the mayor was not for purchasing the engine. Sometime between 1910 and 1921 the department moved in the building where the old city hall was. The department stayed in the building until there current station was built.
When department had its first business meeting they wanted to get a bell that could be sounded in the event of an alarm. This was purchased by the company from the McShane Bell Foundry of Baltimore. It cost $25.00, and weighed more than 240 pounds.
In 1910 the company was 100% volunteer, with 50 men, two stations, two hose carts with 500 feet of 2 1/2- inch hose; one single and one double barrel chemical cart; one ladder truck; an alarm put by the Electric Light Station, and a whistle. Then following documents say "no paid men, no volunteers, general public responded. A ford truck was purchased but not equipped properly." After some major fires in the town of Oakland they took the department and reorganized it, on March 2, 1925. In 1929 2 Amercian LaFrance pumpers were purchased and one was refurbished and is still owned today.
Numerous other vehicles were purchased and sold through out the years. In 1989 the fleet consisted of 2 Grumman pumpers each with 1,250 gallon per minute's pumps, and 750 gallon tank; a 100 foot American LaFrance aerial truck; and a new Emergency 1 tanker.
One of the largest fires in Oakland's history was the A.D. Naylor fire in 1975. An alarm was sound for a car on fire behind Naylor's. First arriving units on the scene found the entire back of the building engulfed in flames. In minutes the structure was engulfed in flames, and further units were called and the fire was put out. The other largest fire in O.V.F.D history was the second street fire in 1994. An entire block was burnt including the Chinese restaurant, and the Gonder Building. Many units responded to the fire including Oakland, Deep Creek, Deer Park, Terra Alta, Gorman, Frostburg ladder truck, and many other units.
The apparatus that run out of our station are 2005 E-One pumper, 1993 75 foot E-One ladder truck, 1995 1500 gallon E-One tanker, and a special response unit. There are over 40 members that are apart of the department. We hold many fundraisers including the Autumn Glory Festival, Oktoberfest, Texas Hold'em, and many others.