Since the early history of the Fire Service, communication between firefighters and command staff has always been essential in firefighting. In the 19th century a means of communicating during fire incidents was a device called a Fireman’s Trumpet, also known as a speaking trumpet. 
Command officers would relay instructions to firefighters or citizens by speaking loudly through this device. As time past communication became more advanced. In the early to mid 20th century a communicating device was developed called a Radio Telephone. In 1949 the first radio telephone was installed in Westphal’s Hose Company #5 engine. It was a 1944 Chevy fire truck and is shown in one of the pictures. A Special Operators Permit was issued by the Federal Communications Commission in April of 1949 in the Name of Merle C. Fellers thus allowing the Martinsburg Fire Department base station to speak with Engine 5. The base station was located at the fire station on East Burke street, also known as Central station or Ryneal Fire Company #1.
In the late 60’s, a new Motorola Radio system was installed at Central station thereby allowing for a central dispatch system for all Volunteer and Paid fire departments in Berkeley County. Shown in one of the pictures is Fire Chief Merle C. Fellers operating the dispatch system.
The Radio Telephone was the beginning of a mobile communication system that has now advanced to where every piece of fire and rescue apparatus has a communication system. All firefighters are also assigned portable radio devices thus allowing all staff on an incident scene to communicate with each other. Additionally, firefighters are assigned a portable radio receiver to be carried while off duty. This receiver is activated in the event of a major incident so that firefighters are recalled quickly.
