Station 3

Station 3 is the flagship station of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, known to the RVFD members as “The Rock,” and/or “The Big House.” All of the administrative and operations functions that control the RVFD are centrally located out of Station 3. Built in 1966 it has served as the home of multiple pieces of apparatus when it replaced the old, original station located on Perry St., that was demolished to make way for the Rockville Mall, now itself demolished. Currently it houses Engine 703, Rescue Engine 703 (E703B), Tower 703, Rescue Squad 703, Ambulance 703 and 703B and Medic 703, and staff vehicles.

Located in Downtown Rockville, Station 3 has a large and diverse area that its units respond to. The first due response area covers business, commercial, light industrial areas, as well as a large residential portion. Station 3 units are first due to the newest developments in Rockville, the King Farm section and the Falls Grove area. Station 3 also has many health care facilities located in its first due including nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Station 3 was designed in 1965 as a primarily home response station, with a small bunkroom for members who may want to stay the night and be on the first piece of apparatus out the door. As Rockville grew, home response declined due to increased traffic, delays in reaching the station in an emergency, and increasing housing costs. Now most of Station 3’s apparatus is staffed with in-station personnel who participate in our standby system. Although bunk beds have been added to the bunkroom to increase the number of members who can stay the night, the room itself has not changed since 1966.

Station 3 is often a packed house. Many weeknights and weekends, apparatus is staffed with up to 6 firefighters on each piece of apparatus and up to 4 on each EMS unit. Currently the Bunkroom contains 18 beds, with almost all being full seven nights a week. It is not uncommon to have multiple persons sleeping on the couches because the bunkroom is full. One of the primary reasons for the planned renovation is to expand living facilities.

Station 3 also houses members who live in the firehouse. These members staff apparatus multiple nights out of the week and contribute greatly to the training, staffing and overall atmosphere at Station 3. The “bunkroom crew” has been noted in the past as the most qualified and  aggressive group of firefighters in the RVFD. Their closeness contributes to the feeling of one big family at the RVFD.

The majority of our Chief and Line Officers have been Live-Ins at Station 3 at one time.