A Historical Review: 1942-1999
The 1940's
The 1950's
The 1960's
The 1970's
The 1980's
The 1990's
Prepared by Andrew T. Eastman
The 1980's
The county moved a light unit to Company 13 from Company 29 in 1980. The IRS questioned the department’s tax-exempt status. Form 990s had not been filed for years and the IRS would have to make a new ruling. A special use permit for Bingo was issued to the department by the county with $50,000 cap on gross revenue. The department donated its siren to the Whitestone VFD. The board authorized the purchase of a steam cleaner, a range and ice machine, and re-paved the parking lot. The county’s volunteer battalion chiefs resigned in protest over the new rank structure and chain-of-command. To resolve the tax-exempt problem, the membership ratified a new corporate charter. The county issued new helmets for volunteers and new SCBA to the stations.
In 1981, a new chief’s car was obtained in a trade with JKJ Chevrolet. A parcel of department property adjacent to Gallows Road was deeded to the state for $27,033 in support of Gallows Road Improvement Project. A 1981, Ford F-350, Road Rescue ambulance was purchased for $40,300 and the 1974 utility was sold. The Fire Commission denied a request for a 24-hour schedule for paid firefighters. The station furnaces were rehabilitated.
The most significant event of 1982 was the fire at Wolf Trap Farm Park. This was the second time in the department’s history a major fire occurred at this entertainment complex. This was the year the county commissioned a report of the fire and rescue service resulting in a recommendation for reorganization. Dunn Loring rehabilitated one of the two Ward-LaFrance pumpers at a cost of $58,000. JKJ Chevrolet donated another station wagon to replace the chief’s car. A dozen lockers were ordered for the volunteers, while painting was accomplished throughout the interior. Ten new Motorola Minitors were purchased as well as a new Bingo machine. The roof was replaced at a cost of $10,000 and a new HVAC system for the living quarters and hall kitchen was purchased. Aware of the strain placed on the current livings quarters and 12 years of wear on the overall facility, a survey of the property was completed and plans for possible renovations began. Meanwhile the board granted an easement to the state to install a traffic signal on Gallows Road in front of the firehouse.
The planning continued in 1983 with an engineering study conducted of the firehouse to determine potential modifications. New exterior lighting and carpeting in the living quarters was installed. A second display board for the Bingo machine was purchased. The Fire Commission reorganized and Dunn Loring was now in Zone IV with Companies 1 and 12. The Jeep brush unit was retired and donated to the Fortsmouth VFD in Strasburg, Virginia. The Ladies Auxiliary at the cost of $12,000 purchased a new Jeep brush unit from Tyson’s AMC/Jeep. Work on the skid, warning lights and plow were to be accomplished by various vendors. The second Ward-LaFrance was retired and a new pumper from Seagrave was purchased at a cost of $143,000. The old utility was sold and the old chief’s car became the new utility. J&J/Conway of Pennsylvania rehabilitated the other of the Roadside Emergency Vehicle ambulances. The county raised the apparatus stipend from $6,500 to $10,000. Five new Motorola Minitors were purchased and additional shelving was built in the storage room.
In 1984, the county made some significant changes impacting the volunteer system. The tones that trigger the Minitor radios, which replaced the need for a siren, were discontinued. In addition, a new volunteer training program was implemented. All incumbent volunteers required certification within a year’s time. After a short battle, the county reinstated the tones, but due to problems, they didn’t work properly and ultimately the tone generator had to be replaced. The older Ward-LaFrance was sold for $40,000 to a department in Pennsylvania and the older Roadside Emergency Vehicle ambulance was sold to Fortsmouth VFD for $2,500. A Mobile Medical ambulance was purchased to replace it for $50,000. The traffic signal was installed in front of the station, the front ramp was sealed and a new HVAC unit was installed in the conference room. Chief Banks reports that there were seventeen certified volunteer firefighters actively involved in the department.
The canteen service was started in 1985 and run by the Ladies Auxiliary using the utility. The chief’s car was turned into the new utility when JKJ Chevrolet donated half of a new car with the other half paid by the auxiliary for $5,500. The auxiliary was given full responsibility for the annual banquet at their request and was granted a standing invitation to the department’s board meetings to help improve communications. New furniture was purchased for the day room, remote controls were installed for the traffic signals, a cage was installed in the hall storage room, and the steel exit double doors were replaced in the hall. The monthly membership meeting was permanently moved to the second Monday of each month.
In 1986, the county replaced Light Unit 13 with a new Emergency One Light & Air Unit. 100 chairs, 2 portable radios and 2 beepers were purchased. A safety cage was installed around the ladder in hose tower. The Ladies Auxiliary purchased a 1986 Chevrolet step-van for the canteen. A cost estimate and site plan for station renovations were commissioned by the board.
The first cellular phone was leased for the chief’s car in 1987. The Ladies Auxiliary purchased a new Bingo machine and two display boards. An application for a site plan waiver was filed and approved, however a zoning exception was required. The roof on the apparatus bay, hall and kitchen was replaced for $64,000.
When 1988 rolled around, a Chevy Blazer was purchased from JKJ Chevrolet for $10,000. In a major milestone, the note on 1968 mortgage was paid off. The department purchased a 1988, Ford F-350, Mobile Medical ambulance for $67,046. The Ladies Auxiliary split the cost of a new copier with the department. The Planning Commission approved the renovation plans. Cigarettes were no longer sold in the department and the operation of kitchen was turned over to the Ladies Auxiliary. The board, at a cost of $14,000, approved new apparatus bay doors, and gave the go-ahead to begin contracting and financing the renovations pending zoning approval.
The contract for building construction was signed with the general contractor in 1989. The county added three new radio channels requiring all radios to be converted; the volunteers paid for the volunteer radio change over. Construction began on the renovations. A new county program for volunteer physicals began. Sandy Werner became the first female board member. A major fire occurs at Fairfax Hospital. The county supplied a new refrigerator for the living quarters. The fund drive was turned over to a consultant. The department’s charter was changed to reflect eleven board members instead of ten, as they had been operating. The county recognized the Ladies Auxiliary for its canteen service. A new Bingo TV verification system was purchased. The renovations and addition were completed, resulting in the conference room being turned into the Ladies Auxiliary office.
More History: The 1990's