Thanks a bunch for all of the info Taylor! Definately a neat area to visit apparatus wise....assuming you can find someone to let you into the station and move the trucks around.
Micah Bodford
Fire Investigator
City of Winston-Salem Fire Dept.
Glad to help, Micah. Getting the posed photos took a lot of phone calls and planning ahead of time...and explaining our wierd hobby over and over at each stop.
Taylor Goodman Captain - Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire Fire Chief - Huguenot VFD, Powhatan, VA
Ray, that's the one that was wrecked? Wow, it was pretty twisted up, the guy driving it turned in front of a tractor trailer on I95 about 5 or 6 years ago. The other rig went to auction and was in working order and was last seen at a used car lot up here.
It sure was. They found it listed in the Fire Trader (or similiar magazine), picked it up for next to nothing because of the accident damage, and repaired it in-house. When seeing it in person, the accident damage and repairs are a lot easier to see.
Taylor Goodman Captain - Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire Fire Chief - Huguenot VFD, Powhatan, VA
I looked at my pictures as well as Warren G. We confirm it is old Engine 16 and later became Reserve Engine 70.Side note Engine 16 was using it when the accident occured. I drove that pumper a lot when i was there and I remember how much black smoke that little detroit would blow out when we would take off.
I wish we could have gotten pics of this one! This truck also served Newmansville VFD in Greene County, TN in between Corfu and Washington County. Saint Charles, VA is the only time I've ever been legitimately scared while taking pics. We were out of the vehicle no more than 2 minutes to shoot those Saint Charles rigs and get a quick station shot. I had no idea about the other trucks in the other building. Unless they get something cool (which they probably will), I never plan on visiting Saint Charles ever again!
So being that Saint Charles is a rural coal town whats the area like?.Ive been to alot of inner city fire depts and there are stations I dont even want to get out to get a station shot.
Saint Charles, VA is the only time I've ever been legitimately scared while taking pics. We were out of the vehicle no more than 2 minutes to shoot those Saint Charles rigs and get a quick station shot. I had no idea about the other trucks in the other building. Unless they get something cool (which they probably will), I never plan on visiting Saint Charles ever again!
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I'm very surprised by this. I found the people to be as nice as could be! They bent over backwards to help, and I never felt the least bit uncomfortable. In fact, in several of the articles I've done for Fire & EMS Virginia magazine, I've commented that the folks (and areas) in far Southwest Virginia were some of the nicest that I've ever met. Granted, they'll openly admit that they're 20 years behind the rest of the world down there, but even with the obvious lower incomes in the area, I never felt uncomfortable.
Taylor Goodman Captain - Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire Fire Chief - Huguenot VFD, Powhatan, VA
Finding these rural departments and the equipment they have must be a double sided sword. One on side, you are happy to find these departments running so many classics, often relying on donated equipment from thier more fortunate brothers. On the other side, you must be saddened by the fact that they can not afford to buy any new equipment, let alone put fuel in the trucks, keep them insured and maintained.
The fine print on the FIRE ACT grants specifically tell the department that the rig they are replacing cannot be used for actual fire-fighting duties again. Oh sure, they can be donated to fire-science programs, used soley as training rigs, or even for collectors. These departments shown on this thread, and I'm sure they are everywhere in small towns in rural america can use these often relatively new trucks. Having a brush truck as your first out rig because the rest of the fleet is unreliable is really sad. Kudos go out to one, these departments who make do with whatever is within thier budget, and two, those departments that are willing to help out these smaller departments. Just my two cents.....
Finding these rural departments and the equipment they have must be a double sided sword. One on side, you are happy to find these departments running so many classics, often relying on donated equipment from thier more fortunate brothers. On the other side, you must be saddened by the fact that they can not afford to buy any new equipment, let alone put fuel in the trucks, keep them insured and maintained.
The fine print on the FIRE ACT grants specifically tell the department that the rig they are replacing cannot be used for actual fire-fighting duties again. Oh sure, they can be donated to fire-science programs, used soley as training rigs, or even for collectors. These departments shown on this thread, and I'm sure they are everywhere in small towns in rural america can use these often relatively new trucks. Having a brush truck as your first out rig because the rest of the fleet is unreliable is really sad. Kudos go out to one, these departments who make do with whatever is within thier budget, and two, those departments that are willing to help out these smaller departments. Just my two cents.....
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I agree the Fire Act grants kinda suck because of the rules. However there is a "Loop Hole of Sorts" someone told me, that the Department can sell it to a "Private Party", but theres nothing that says the Private Party cant in turn sell it or donate it to a fire department for use.
I agree the Fire Act grants kinda suck because of the rules. However there is a "Loop Hole of Sorts" someone told me, that the Department can sell it to a "Private Party", but theres nothing that says the Private Party cant in turn sell it or donate it to a fire department for use.
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Look for a change in THAT policy now that it's been pointed out.
That's been the policy all along. One of the justifications is that the purchaser (ie: a broker or dealer) would have the means to make repairs to the vehicle to make it "safe" again. But, legally, there's nothing to keep a private individual from purchasing it one day, and turning around and selling it to a FD the next day.
Taylor Goodman Captain - Henrico County (VA) Division of Fire Fire Chief - Huguenot VFD, Powhatan, VA