Outer Banks, North Carolina - Department profiles

[mnsand]

Wrapping up Currituck County stations this evening with apparatus from Carova Beach.



This is probably one of the most beautiful beach towns I have ever visited. It is located about 8 miles north of Corolla and is only a couple of miles from the Virginia border. However, there is no road from Virginia to Carova Beach.



Route 12 is the beach - yes, the main road is the beach. So you have to dodge beach goers, waves, stumps, washed up sea turtles, tide pools, and even horses. Carova Beach is home to about 70 wild horses and roam the town and leave their droppings in all kind of unique areas.



You must have a 4wd vehicle to drive. They say the richest man in town at Carova Beach is the tow truck guy who gets to pull out all of the tourists who think their 2wd little car can handle the sand.



There are very few paved areas in Carova Beach. The only two that I saw was part of the FD apron and a helipad located next to the apron. I had to laugh when I saw horse droppings directly in the middle of the helipad landing zone. All other roads are sand roads.



Obviously, the Carova Beach apparatus have to be equipped to handle driving in sand - and sometimes quite deep.



First up is Engine 739, a 1992 International 4800 4x4/Boardman 1000/1000. Boardman serial number F2885.





Mike Sanders

Ashburn, VA