Damascus, Virginia Fire Department - Firehouses on Waymarking.com

Obtaining the first new fire engine for DVFD was not easy. During the early through mid 1940’s the USA was under wartime restrictions and no new vehicles were being built for the general public.

On May 11 1945, representatives from the Oren and Howe Fire Apparatus Companies made separate offers to the membership of DVFD. The Oren Company offer was to build the engine for $3,013 with no large hose or nozzles except for the 4-inch section hose. The DVFD would have to supply its own chassis. A secret written ballot showed 14 members favoring ford and 13 favoring Chevrolet chassis. Then B. M. Woodfield Ford co. of Damascus moved to make contact with the Oren Fire Apparatus company of Roanoke, VA. with the understanding that certain things not carried by Oren may be purchased from the Howe Fire Apparatus Company.

In about a month, word came from the Ford Motor Company, that they would be able to supply a chassis with dual rear wheels and larger tires.

At the July 27, 1945 meeting, it was told that John Green had taken the new truck to Roanoke. It was then decided that the department would send some of the ladders that they had to be fitted for the truck. This would save the department $78 but a siamese hose fitting was to be added for a cost of $10 and a tool chest for $6.

By the August meeting, the chrome material restrictions had been lifted and $120 was added to the cost of the pumper to install a chrome grill and accessories. Final payment of $1,007.50 was made to the Oren Co. on Aug. 30, 1946. Previously, the department had used a Civil Defense Pump mounted on a flat bed truck. A short time later, a military surplus four-wheel drive vehicle was purchased.

By December 1945, construction was under way on the first Damascus firehouse. The building would consist of 2 engine bays, a hose drying tower, and a place for the Montgomery County Health Clinic to operate.

On April 25, 1946, the DVFD organized a Ladies Auxiliary. These ladies were on call to assist in serving food and drinks during working incidents.

A fire department, like a community, does not sit still; it grows. In order to better serve the community, the department purchased an "Reo Speed Wagon" fire truck, to join the two it already had. With this new purchase, more space was needed and tow new engine bays were added.

The need for fire protection was not the only one to be met. There was also a need for some sort of emergency medical service. Therefore, the department purchased a used Buick Ambulance for one dollar.

Community growth continued and so did the need for more fire protection equipment. By 1953, this need was very evident to the department. They purchased a seven-man sedan cab ford pumper with a 750gpm pump.

In 1956, a new Chevrolet ambulance replaced the original ambulance. Next, the "Reo Speed Wagon" was replaced by a new 1956 Chevrolet, four wheel drive combination brush and rescue truck. Shortly after, another military surplus vehicle was purchased to haul men and equipment.

In 1961, the house facilities of the department were enlarged with the addition of a kitchen, a lounge area, some storage areas, and an additional apparatus bay to the rear of the building. A year later, a Peter-Pirsch cab forward pumper was purchased.

In 1963, the Montgomery County Government established an Emergency Operations Center (911) to answer all emergency calls and relay them to the stations. In 1965, our in-service apparatus included a 1953 Ford seven-man pumper, a 1956 Chevy four wheel drive brush/rescue truck, a 1962 Peter-Pirsch pumper, and a Chevy Ambulance. A 1965 Cadillac ambulance then replaced the ambulance. The old military surplus pumper was also replaced with a new Chevrolet pumper.

You may wonder where all the money came from to purchase all of this equipment? Shortly after the organization of the department, a farm was purchased that adjoined the firehouse lot (Lewis Drive runs approx. through the center of this lot). Over the years, lots were sold for homes and businesses to help pay for the new equipment.

On May 1, 1969, DVFD, as well as the community, suffered a severe loss, the death of Della Beall Burdette. Mrs. Burdette was instrumental in activating the house siren from her home before the central alarm system was installed. The first firefighter to arrive would run across the street get the address, return to the firehouse and write it on a chalk board which was donated by the Browningsville School.

1971 was a busy year for DVFD. The department retired the 1945 Ford/Oren pumper after 24 years of faithful service. It was later restored to its original condition. In mid 1971, the membership decided to purchase a new 1972 "MAXIM" 1000 gpm Pumper and a 1972 Miller-Meteor Cadillac ambulance. The department also housed one of Montgomery County’s foam trucks, which was used on incidents involving hazardous materials. (Montgomery County Hazardous Incident Response Team was not yet in service.)

Much to the member’s surprise, 1972 did not slow down, for calls, that is. The members were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the MAXIM and Cadillac. Finally, in November 1972, the big day arrived. Both the MAXIM and Cadillac were equipped with the latest firefighting and EMS equipment. The total cost of the MAXIM was $38,931 and the Cadillac price is unknown. Since approximately 70% of the calls were EMS related, 2 ambulances were needed to keep up with the demands of the growing community. The 1965 ambulance was sold. The 1969 Chevrolet Station Wagon Chief’s vehicle was used as the "second due" ambulance and Chief’s vehicle until the box-type unit arrived, the kept on as a back up unit.

In 1975, DVFD purchased a 1975 Chevy Van which was to be used as the "second due" ambulance and Chief’s vehicle until the box-type unit arrived, then dept on as a back up unit. Arthur German, one of our former members, had converted the van to an ambulance.

November 1977 brought about a lot of changes. A new Chevrolet Utility truck, a 1977 Chevy/Swab ambulance, and a donated rescue boat/trailer were placed in service. Time takes its toll on just about everything and the house siren was no exception. It became old and worn out. A new house siren had to be purchased.

On May 21, 1978 the utility truck was equipped with a 125-gallon tank, a pump, hoses and nozzles. A military surplus jeep was bought and equipped as a "brush truck" in August 1978. November of that same year, DVFD held its first money bingo game.

In order to keep up with the continuing growth of the community, a 1968 Jeep truck was placed in service in April 1979 and was designated as Brush 136. The need for advanced medical service became more evident. By June 1979, Ambulance 139 was equipped with advanced life support equipment and was know as MEDIC 8. DVFD was due to receive a 1979 Chevrolet Silverado Chassis with an Eagle 125 All-Aluminum Box in January 1980 to be designated as the new MEDIC 8. Firefighting and medical service was attracting more interest from the younger generation. It was evident that something had to be done. Sometime between late 1979 and early 1980, DVFD Organized the Damascus Junior Volunteer Fire Department (DJVFD). They were given the rescue boat to maintain and fun as part of their growing responsibilities.

The need for the services of DVFD continued to grow in 1981. In January, the siren on top of the hose tower had to be relocated in order to accommodate an administrative office and a watch office. March, the 1965 750-gpm Chevy/Howe pumper was rebuilt. In May, the siren was relocated on the pole next to the firehouse. In September, the 1965 Chevy/How pumper was sold to a firm from Brandon, Minnesota. Construction on the office areas was completed. Finally, in December, a five-bottle cascade was installed in the back of the utility truck.

1982, 1983 and 1984 were no exception for DVFD. In February 1982, the town clock was moved from the Damascus Band to the front of the firehouse. In July 1983, construction of the Activities Center, which is located on Lewis Drive, was under roof. It was completed in March 1984 and dedicated on May 12, 1984. In October 1984, the membership approved to purchase a new chassis for $23,500 to be placed on A-138.

Damascus was growing at a very rapid rate. DVFD realized that something else needed to be done to meet the community’s growth. In November 1985, DVFD approached Montgomery County Fire Commission with a proposal to approved funding for eight career personnel to be hired in order to man the station during the day and two paramedics to work around the clock on a 24 hour shirt. It took until February 1986 to obtain the approval of the Fire/Rescue Commission for career personnel to be hired. The first career person was hired in April. MEDIC 8 was retired as the last "all volunteer" MEDIC unit in Montgomery county. Career personnel took over the medic duties and renamed MEDIC 8 to MEDIC 139.

December 1985, an order was placed for a 1986 MAXIM pumper costing $122,655. DVFD was told that it would take approx. 18 months for delivery of this unit. The big day finally arrived in September 1987. It took until March 1988 to get the unit placed in service. The new MAXIM replaced the 1972 MAXIM as the primary responding unit. The 1972 MAXIM is still being used today.

DVFD had to grow right along with the community. In February 1986, plans to renovate the station were drawn up for a cost of $150,000 buy nothing could be done at that time. The 1962 Pirsch was sold to Wellborn Fire Department in Florida during the latter part of 1987 and the payment for this unit was designated for the "future" renovation of the firehouse.

The years 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991 brought about a lot of changes to the units of DVFD. DVFD received from Montgomery county a 1988 Chevrolet Caprice (Chief’s Vehicle), a 1988 Ford/Collins ambulance (MEDIC 139), 1989 Ford/Grumman Brush Truck, a 1989 4-door Chevy Suburban (Command Unit), a 1990 F-350 Ford/Collins XL ambulance, and a 1990 F-250 Utility Truck. All of these units were placed in service by the end of 1990. A 1991 Seagrave, 1250 gpm pumper and a 1991 International, 750 gpm, "Mini Pumper" was delivered in 1991. The Seagrave was equipped with state of the art equipment such as an Amkus Rescue Tool and placed in service in July. However, the International would have to be housed at the Activities Center because it was too big to fit into the bays of the firehouse.

It was five years after the first plans were prepared for station renovation that DVFD made final arrangements to take on this project. November 1991, temporary quarters were established behind the Activities Center. DVFD conducted business and responded to calls from two office trailers and one house trailer for 16 months. On December 21, 1991, a handful of DVFD volunteers and spectators were there to the beginning of the end of an era. Everything but the hose tower and watch office walls was torn down. During a violent storm the watch office walls came tumbling down. The foreman in charge of the demolition, Mr. Thomasenie, was quote din saying "I have never seen a group of people so sentimental about a building". On January 20, 1993, the infamous day had arrived. The building was officially ours, and the Banks. The total cost of this building is $1.2 million dollars. Our thanks for this project goes to Larry Lynch who was very instrumental in overseeing the project and making sure that all was on schedule. The new firehouse is 45,000 square feet with drive through bays, which are big enough to accommodate all of DVFD’s apparatus and more.

Tragedy struck the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department during this renovation period with the loss of Assistant Chief Larry "FUZZY" Johnson on March 22, 1991. Chief Roscoe Purdum passed away later that same year. Both men were two of the greatest assets to the Fire Department and community. They helped make DVFD what it is today. Assistant Chief Johnson and chief Purdum are sincerely missed.

On March 28, 1993, the dedication of the firehouse took place. Over on Hundred career, volunteer and public spectators turned out to see the long awaited new firehouse. Damascus Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 1994.

Paid or Volunteer: Volunteer EMS Involvement: yes Has 911 Dispatch: yes Has Emergency Call Box: yes Related Website: [Web Link] Physical Address: 210 W Laurel Ave Damascus, Va USA 24236 Rating: Has Emergency Siren: Not Listed Has Fire Pole: Not Listed Average Alarms Per Year: Not Listed Number of Firetrucks: Not Listed Number of Emergency Staff: Not Listed

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