Bel Air Firefighter Hailed As Hometown Hero At Ravens Game

Bel Air MD

11 October, 2021

12:59 PM

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BEL AIR, MD — A Bel Air firefighter was honored as a hometown hero at Monday night's Baltimore Ravens game against the Indianapolis Colts. Richard Pressbury has been a member of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company for 49 years and answered over 35,000 calls for service. "People needed help, and I had time to give, so I joined the fire company," Pressbury said. "I was the first African American to join the fire company" in 1970 as an ambulance lieutenant. He said he was voted in as an ambulance captain and named ambulance crewman of the year. "I keep saying I'm going to hang it up, but the people are so great that I work around, so I just keep doing it," Pressbury said. "It's something you get in your blood, and you just keep doing it," Pressbury said. "I guess I was raised that way … you help everybody." The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company shared news of the honor on the department's Facebook page, stating: "A well-deserved honor for a great man who has given close to 50 years of volunteer fire and EMS service to the citizens of Bel Air and Harford County. Congratulations Richard!!" Watch the video honoring Pressbury as a Baltimore Ravens hometown hero.