By Ceoli Jacoby
The Frederick News-Post
FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. — At first glance, a truck serving hot meals may look out of place at the scene of a fire or other large-scale emergency.
But the canteen, as it is affectionately known by local first responders, serves an important purpose.
Based out of Frederick’s Independent Hose Company, the canteen is part of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services’ response to any “greater alarm incident” — any time the initial crews on scene request additional resources or a specialized task force.
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Greater alarm incidents tend to involve more first responders working for a longer period of time. The canteen ensures that the emergency personnel remain fed, hydrated and rested for the duration of the incident.
The canteen is not authorized to operate as a food truck, so all of the items there are given away for free.
In an interview at the scene of a recent multi-structure fire in Ballenger Creek, volunteer firefighter John Patton said that between eight and 10 people are authorized to drive the canteen, and a few others can staff it.
Patton was operating the canteen that day with Mark Nelson, another volunteer firefighter from Independent Hose.
Both Nelson and Patton are retired career firefighters who met while working at a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service station in Germantown. They put in 32 and 36 years there, respectively.
Nelson, interviewed as he was preparing chili dogs, said he retired from career firefighting two years ago.
“I missed hanging out in a firehouse,” Nelson said, which led him to volunteer his time to Independent Hose and the canteen.
While Patton said that Nelson is “a really good cook,” Nelson was less sure of his culinary prowess.
“Firefighters are finicky,” Nelson said, adding that he will often cook several identical meals but only hear positive feedback about some of them. “They want something different every shift.”
The canteen’s menu fluctuates based on the time of day, the season and what’s in stock. For early morning incidents, volunteers keep frozen breakfast sandwiches in the canteen freezer. On hot days, they reach for ice pops.
Common dinner menu items include chili and Italian food (the latter is one of Nelson’s personal favorites).
Packaged snacks and cold drinks like water and Gatorade are always available, but Patton said the canteen doesn’t offer sodas because they can be dehydrating.
For colder days, the canteen keeps instant soup on hand. Hot coffee is donated by Dunkin’, Patton said. Any leftovers are delivered back to Independent Hose.
According to Patton, a version of the canteen has been in operation for about 20 years. Prior to operating the canteen, firefighters used to load cold drinks into the back of a pickup truck and transport them to the scene that way.
The current truck is just a few years old and features amenities such as a grill and a warming drawer, enabling volunteers to cook almost any dish. The only thing the new truck doesn’t have is an oven, Nelson said, so everything has to be “a quick fix.”
Patton said he likes to think of the canteen as a “public safety support resource.” It is the only such truck in Frederick County, but neighboring districts like Howard and Montgomery counties have them, too.
In addition to greater-alarm incidents, the canteen can also be found at other festivals and events that have lots of first responders onsite, including the city of Frederick’s annual Fourth of July celebration at Baker Park and the recent National Fallen Firefighters Memorial weekend in Emmitsburg each May.
“The thing I like about this is,” Patton said, “even though I’m retired, I still get to take care of the firefighters and bring them a hot meal.”
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