I will finish up this group of updates with this random photo.
Ambulance 6 at Shenandoah Farms, Virginia is probably the tallest ambulance I have ever seen. I wish I had a photo of someone standing next to it so you could get a better impression on just exactly how tall the ambo is.
Nice shots from Arlington. I stopped down just before my trip to Florida to get a couple of the new engines. Choice Fire will me marketing an Arlington Series in the very near future. I'm hoping to get down soon and finish up the 4 I still need.
05-07-2010, 10:28 PM (This post was last modified: 05-07-2010, 10:30 PM by VFN102.)
I made a spur of the moment trip to Charles City County on Thursday. This is a very rural locality just east of Richmond International Airport. There are three fire stations in the county and I was fortunate to catch someone at the main building on Adkins Rd. Several of these units were lacking a builder plate, thus some missing information. Most of their apparatus is painted this dark blue color. Not sure why, but this first rig is lettered as an Engine rather than a Tanker.
05-07-2010, 10:36 PM (This post was last modified: 05-07-2010, 10:48 PM by VFN102.)
I suspect this mini pumper is now handling most of the brush fire duties. Fellow Firepixer firemag told me it was purchased used from Slagle's Fire Equipment in South Boston, VA.
05-07-2010, 10:45 PM (This post was last modified: 05-07-2010, 10:59 PM by VFN102.)
This is the department's extrication truck. The box has no identification plates of any kind, but "Priority One" is listed on the mud flaps. I did a Google search of that name but the closest match was for a medical instrument supplier.
Charles City purchased two ambulances after years of relying on New Kent, Henrico, and James City Counties for EMS transports. I neglected to ask before I left if the radio designation is "Ambulance 11" or "Rescue 11" (or it could be neither!).
05-07-2010, 11:25 PM (This post was last modified: 05-08-2010, 10:58 AM by VFN102.)
Speaking of New Kent, after I left Charles City I rode over to Providence Forge VFD which is Company 1 in New Kent. This station has 24/7 career staffing, albeit 2 people per shift I was told. Several of the career folks are part timers. This Pierce Squrt was purchased by Henrico County to protect "Henrico Jail East", a second Henrico jail actually located in New Kent. It originally ran from Weir Creek VFD as Engine 3. It has now been relocated to Providence Forge and is the first out piece. The reason it's lettered as Engine 5 is it will eventually go to a future fifth station in the area of I-64 & Rt 106. The actual Engine 1 was in the shop, but that rig will go to Station 4 (as Engine 4) currently being built in the Lanexa area of the county. The former Brush 1 plus an ambulance will also run out of Station 4.
This next engine although lettered as "Engine 5" is actually Engine 8....confused? It was purchased from James City County where it ran as Engine 5. The guys at the station said it's like new and the best pumper in the county. It's used as a reserve, for training and parades.
05-07-2010, 11:42 PM (This post was last modified: 05-08-2010, 10:52 AM by VFN102.)
My last post for now. You have to see this beast in person to appreciate it's size. When the Virginia Air National Guard 192nd Fighter Wing in Sandston was relocated to Langley AFB as part of the BRAC base closures, it was sold to New Kent for $1.00 (I think that's correct). It's not really used as a traditional tanker, but is being set up as a Wildland Interface Support unit. The concept being to carry extra forestry hose, rakes, bladder tanks, foam, chain saws, etc and to be driven into fields allowing brush trucks to refill closer to the incident.
05-08-2010, 11:07 AM (This post was last modified: 05-12-2010, 11:32 PM by VFN102.)
On Friday, Firepixers Fire175, firemag and myself made a trip through part of Buckingham County. Here is a tanker from Arvonia sporting some neat flames. Note the save made on the chimney in the background, it was a 3 story building at one time!