County Firefighter John F. Balcer
County Firefighter John F. Balcer was killed on April 9th, 1970. While responding to a dwelling fire on Woods Road in Pasadena, the fire engine he was riding overturned at the intersection of Fort Smallwood Road and Hog Neck Road. Firefighter Balcer was riding in the rear of the apparatus and was trapped underneath the engine.
Chief Edwin Raynor
Chief Raynor dedicated 44 years to the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company, serving as Fire Chief for 20 years.
In 1964, he guided his team to victory in the Heavy Rescue Championship of the World held in Miami Beach, Florida. He also worked as a rescue and firefighting instructor with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and was a Veteran of the United States Army.
Chief Raynor responded to a brush fire at the junction of Bayside Beach Road and Bellhaven Road. The blaze escalated and ultimately became a three-alarm incident. While assessing the fire’s perimeter, he began to feel unwell.
He was taken to North Arundel Hospital (now known as Baltimore Washington Medical Center), where doctors diagnosed him with a major heart attack. Two days later, he was moved to Mercy Hospital in Baltimore but did not recover from his injuries. He passed away there one month after the fire, on May 1, 1986 , at the age of 59.
On May 27, 1986, the extension of Tick Neck Road (now Edwin Raynor Boulevard) was opened and dedicated to Chief Raynor. The Riviera Beach Volunteer Company vehicles were the first to travel the newly opened road.
Chief James Barton
Chief Barton was killed on July 11th, 1932. He was responding to a reported house fire when his apparatus overturned.
