Outer Banks, North Carolina - Department profiles

[mnsand]

Once you reach Nags Head and want to continue visiting the Outer Banks, you have reached a "Fork in the Road". You decide to either head down Highway 12 to the southern beaches or you cross over a large bridge to the Roanoke Island area.



We will head to Roanoke Island, which will also take us to the Dare County airport, Manns Harbor, and Stumpy Point. We will come back and finish with the Southern beaches on Highway 12.



The Roanoke Island VFD consists of two stations - Manteo and Wanchese. At one point, these were two different departments. In 1974, they joined together to form the Roanoke Island VFD.



This is a nice place to visit. The island is about 12 miles long and 3 miles wide. Some of the sites include The Elizabeth II (old sailing ship), Manteo is the Dare County seat, numerous shops, a small harbor, the acquarium, etc. Wanchese is more of a fishing and boat building area with little tourism. Lots of history because Roanoke Island played host to the first English speaking colonists in the New World (Sir Walter Raleigh). The first English speaking child born in the New World was Virginia Dare, thus the name of Dare County, North Carolina.



Ever since I have visited the Outer Banks I have visited the Roanoke Island VFD. With two stations, they have a bit of apparatus. My first visit was when some of the older trucks were just being sold. In addition, they have gone through a variety of color revisions and changes.



I will show the Roanoke Island VFD apparatus in radio ID order. It will give you a good feel for what has been in service and what is presently in service.



First up is old Engine 1702, a two door 1990 International/Emergency One 1250/1000. You will see that Roanoke Island had a strong like for the International cabs.



Engine 1702 was sold to Engelhard, North Carolina in Hyde County.





Mike Sanders

Ashburn, VA