HISTORY
- October
5, 1948 – A fire broke out in a hotel located on Route 11 at the
intersection of Red Hill Road. A kerosene heater started the fire
and the care taker of the hotel died in the fire. Lexington &
Staunton fire departments responded to the
fire.
- October
7, 1948 – A meeting consisting of the property owners in and near
Fairfield was held at the Fairfield School to discuss establishing
a formal means of fire protection. The Fairfield Volunteer Fire
Department was founded as a result of this meeting. The Fairfield
United Methodist Church bell would sound to alert firemen when
there was a fire. Fire Department meetings were held at Fairfield
School. Kenneth Althouse elected as First Fire Chief.
- November
1948 – Bought first fire pump for $315.00. Gas powered pump, 50
feet of suction hose, 1000 feet of discharge hose and other
accessories were bought for a total of $940.76. A wagon was built
in the AG shop at Fairfield School to carry the pump. Members
installed trailer hitches on their vehicles to pull the wagon to
fires.
- December
1949 – H. L. Engleman elected as Fire Chief
- January
1953 – The fire department received a charter from the state
corporation commission and is known as South River District
Volunteer Fire Department Inc. (the name change was because there
is a “Fairfield” Volunteer Fire Department already in
VA.)
- January
1953 – J. P. Arehart elected as Fire Chief
- March
1953 – First fire engine was bought. 1953 Ford F-750 bought from
Roby Motor Company in Buena Vista VA and sent to Elmira NY to be
equipped. The truck had a high pressure pump and 500 gallons of
water.
- April
1953 – Jeff Fitzgerald gave land to build a firehouse. Members
built the building and had it finished before the arrival of the
first fire engine.
- August
1954 – First carnival was held
- November
1955 – 2-way radios bought
- April
1956 – E. O. Huffman Jr. elected as Fire Chief
- September
1956 – First tanker bought. It was a 1952 Ford F-800 that carried
1000 gallons of water. It was sent to Rock Island Ill to LaFrance
Company to be equipped.
- February
1959 – The first ambulance was bought. A Dodge Plymouth station
wagon was bought from Lexington Motor Sales in Lexington VA for
$2500. The South River District Volunteer Rescue Squad was formed
and went into operation when the ambulance was
equipped.
- June
1959 – A decision was made for the fire department and first aid
crew to become two separate organizations. The two would still
operate out of one building. The fire department agreed to give
half of their money to the first aid crew for 10 years, and 1/3 the
profit from the carnival for 10 years.
- December
1959 – Two Motorola walkie talkies were bought for $
500
- April
1963 – Roosevelt Staton elected as Fire Chief
- May
1964 – Scott air packs bought for $250 each
- April
1966 – Donnie Fox elected as Fire Chief
- September
1968 – A new tanker placed in service. 1968 F-800, 250 GPM, 1000
gallons of water (Tanker #2, later changed to Tanker
72)
- September
1969 – A first aid building was built by members of the fire
department and first aid crew, on land given by the fire
department.
- November
1974 – A new fire engine placed in service. 1974 F-700, 750 GMP,
750 gallons of water (Engine #1, later changed to Engine
71)
- February
1975 – Sold the first engine and first tanker to Jack L. Slagle
Fire Equipment of South Boston VA for $ 2400
- April
1975 - Steve Wilmer elected as Fire Chief
- December
1981 - The position of Second Assistant Fire Chief was
created
- December
1986 – First brush truck placed in service. 1985 F-350, 250 GPM,
250 gallons of water (Brush 75)
- January
1988 – Utility vehicle placed in service. 1988 suburban (Utility
73)
- July
1988 – A new fire engine placed in service. 1987 F800, 1000 GPM,
1000 gallons of water (Engine 71)
- June
1993 - Moved into a new fire station (current location)
- October
1998 – Celebrated 50 years of service
- January
1999 - Upgraded all air packs to Survivair Panther 4500
psi
- January
1999 - Went to high band radio system
- April
1999 – A new fire engine placed in service. 1999 Freightliner
FL-80, 1250 GPM, 1250 gallons of water and 40 gallons of foam
(Engine 74)
- June
1999 – Obtained a BLS non-transport emergency medical services
license
- March
2001 – First hurst tools bought
- May
2001 – A new tanker placed in service. 2001 Western star 4900SA,
1250 GPM, 2500 gallons of water (Tanker 72)
- April
2002 – First Thermal Imaging Camera bought. Bullard
commander.
- April
2003 – Ben Wilmer elected as Fire Chief
- February
2005- New apparatus placed in service. 2004 F-250 (Response
73)
- March
2006 – New brush truck placed in service. 2005 F-350, 300 GPM, 300
gallons of water and 10 gallons of foam (Brush
75)
- February
2008 - First 5 inch supply line purchased. 1000
feet.
- March 2008 - New
fire engine placed in service. 2008 Sutphen rescue engine. 1500
GPM, 1000 gallons of water, 35 gallons of foam
- March 2008 -
Second thermal imaging camera bought. T-4 Bullard.
- March 2008 -
Second set of extrication tools bought. TNT combi-tool and a
telescoping ram.
- April
2008 - First female Assistant Fire Chief
- July
2008 - 54th annual carnival
- October
2008 - Celebrated 60 years of service
- April
2009 - Purchased first RIT packs
- July
2009 - 55th annual carnival
- August
2009 - Leo Clemmer 60 years of service
- July
2010 - 56th annual carnival
-
July 2011 - 57th annual carnival
-
July 2016 - We received a grant from the Virginia Office of EMS to
purchase $27,000 worth of extrication tools
-
November 2016 - New fire engine placed in service. 2016 Sutphen
rescue pumper. 1500 GPM Hale Q-Max pump, 1000 gallons of water, 40
gallons of foam (Engine 74)
-
February 2017 - We sold the 1999 Freightliner/KME (Engine 74) to
Goshen Volunteer Fire Company
-
Julu 2017 - We hosted our first truck & tractor pull at the
Virginia Horse Center
-
July 2017 - 63rd annual carnival
History compiled
by: Leo Clemmer, Steve Wilmer, Ben Wilmer, Jamie Wilmer, Lance
Rowsey, Kelly Snyder, Patrick Snyder, & Joseph
Bahhur
