DC’s Oldest Firefighter Is Named Honorary Chief

June 2, 2003

Alan Etter

Two blocks West of Engine 23’s firehouse, a crooked fire hydrant marks the spot where, 60 years ago, Wilbur Carmalt nearly lost his life.  It was at the intersection of 23^rd & G Streets, NW that the fire engine in which Carmalt was riding was struck by a passenger vehicle.  The engine flipped, pinning Carmalt’s arms under it.  As he felt fuel leaking onto his clothing and body, he worked as best he could to pull his limp arms from under the apparatus and get away before the machine caught fire.  Unfortunately, two people in the other car were killed, and all the firemen on the truck were hurt.  This event would mark Carmalt’s last as a DC firefighter.

One day after his 95^th birthday, Sgt. Carmalt (retired) was named Honorary Fire/EMS Chief of the District of Columbia in a ceremony at the quarters of Engine 23.

“It was our honor to have you in the service then, and it is an honor to have you here today,” said Fire & EMS Chief Adrian H. Thompson as he handed Carmalt a plaque announcing his honorary designation.

Carmalt beamed as he shook the hands of the current crew of Engine 23 and told them stories of what it was like to do their job in the 1930s and 40s.  “We actually had to crank the engines to start them then,” said Carmalt, standing next to the 2001 Seagrave pumper that is currently used by firefighters.

After healing from his injuries, Carmalt went on to a successful federal career, serving as the fire prevention chief for the Military District of Washington.  He also served for a time as a deputy sheriff in Fairfax County, Virginia, where he lives today.

Carmalt’s career is a virtual time capsule of firefighting and law enforcement.  One of the first people in the country to use a Two-way radio with the DCFD in 1943, Carmalt was active as a volunteer and officer with the Mt. Vernon Volunteer Fire Department for many years after retiring, and has been an avid outdoor sportsman from childhood. Always active as fisherman, hunter, and competitive skeet shooter, he won the Virginia Veterans Skeet shooting Championship in his Eighties and is now fully retired and living with his youngest son and daughter-in-law.