On the evening of November 30, 1959, Lieutenant James Melton of the Branchville Volunteer Department and Rescue Squad responded to a house fire at 5440 Ammendale Road in Beltsville, while battling the fire he suffered a heart attack on the scene. Lt Melton was transported to a Prince George’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Lt Melton was President of Branchville in 1951 and from 1955-56 was the Fire Chief.