Strasburg Volunteer Fire Department

The Strasburg Fire Department first started in1906 with the formation of a hose reel team known as the Massanutten Hose Co. This team was housed on present day Holliday St. It was noted that the two major factors a man had to possess was a strong back and long legs for running and pulling. In 1908 the Massanutten Hose Co. won first place and became World Champions in a hose team race held in Harrisonburg, VA.

In 1921, with the birth of motorized vehicles, the organization changed. The hose reel was replaced with motorized Fire Equipment and the name was also changed. The organization was then named the Citizens Fire Co. Shortly after their formation, the Co. placed4 motorized fire trucks in service. Two of these were home made. During this time the Co. also purchased its first coats, boots and helmets. Other Equipment bought in this era included a generator, portable pump and respirator

In1938 the organization changed its name again. The Strasburg Fire Department was formed. The company built a building in1952 which was completed and dedicated debt free on April 26, 1953. The department is housed in the same building today. The building was built in Memory “To the soldiers of all foreign wars from Strasburg and the Davis district residents.”
     
In March of 1940, the Ladies Auxiliary was formed. This group of women formed to assist the firefighters, by helping to raise money and supplying food and drink on the scene of major fires. This organization is part of the Virginia State and Northern Ladies Auxiliaries. The Ladies currently have 25 members on roll. The firefighters are very proud to have these women assist them. Enough cannot be said nor can’t they be thanked enough for their assistance they have given us over the past years.
      
In the later part of 1974, the junior organization was formed. This group was organized to assist the senior firefighters on the scene of fires and routine duties around the station. Comprised of young men from ages 16-18, they can perform many tasks on the scene. They are not permitted to enter burning structures nor work in Hazardous situations where harm exists.
           
           
Rolling Equipment

The Strasburg Fire Department, since organizing, has owned and used many different pieces of motorized equipment.
The first was a 1934 Ford pumper. It is still owned by the department, and after sitting, out of service from 1971-1981; the “Antique” fire truck received a face lift and was restored as much as possible to its original condition. This pumper attends many parades and has appeared on the White House lawn in Washington D.C. for the annual Easter egg hunt given by the president of the U.S.  Most of all the restoration was done by members of the department.
      

The second pumper owned was a 1939 Ford built by Oren Roanoke Corp. In 1971, with the addition of the new ford pumper, this piece of equipment was donated to men in the Star Tannery area who soon formed the Star Tannery Fire Dept. In 1983 the pumper was returned to its original owner and is presently in storage.
      
The third pumper owned was a 1953 International pumper built also by Ore Roanoke Corp. This pumper was sold to South Warren Fire Department in Bentonville, VA., and is in service today as one of their front line pumpers.
           

The Strasburg Fire Department has in service today 4 pieces of apparatus. The oldest being a 1964 Ford Tanker. This piece carries 1200 gallons of water and has a 300 gallon per minute pump. The tanker first started out as a 1937 Chevy and 1500 gallon oil tank. In 1964 the chassis was replaced with a Ford and in 1974 the tank was replaced with a 1200 gallon tank. The tank work was done by Broadway Sheet Metal, which also built cabinets around the tank for storage of equipment. With technological Advances in firefighting the tanker soon became outdated. In 1978, instead of replacing the Tanker, the department once again did a refurbish job. This time the truck was sent to Clearbrook Welding, where it had extensive pump and tank work done. Additions at this time included a 10’’ quick dump valve and portable tank which allows the truck to dump its 1200 gallons of water in a portable tank in less than 1 minute. Then the truck can seek out an addition source of water.
      

The tanker is a vital piece of apparatus which runs all out of town fires and most large commercial fires both in and out of town. The second oldest piece of apparatus is a 1966 Ford Pumper. This piece has a 500 gallon per minute front mount pump and carries 500 gallons of water. This pumper was bought new in 1966 from Marion Body Works in Wisconsin. The department had the same problem with this piece as the tanker. So in 1978 this piece was sent to Clearbrook Welding where it too was completely refurbished. New Cabinets were added and extensive pump overhaul and piping was done. This pumper is known as Engine 51. It runs all grass and most auto fires. It is the second pumper to be dispatched in town and usually hooks up to the hydrant to supply the other equipment.
       

In the early part of 1971 the department ordered another pumper. It is presently the Dept's front line pumper, built by Oren Corp. near Roanoke, VA. The pumper cost $47,000 new, when it was delivered in December of ’71. Due to its age, this piece of apparatus also needed repairs. In 1982 the pumper was sent to Clearbrook Welding for tank repairs and an addition of 4500 watt generator. This pumper also received several new items shortly there after. A 1000 gallon per minute deluge gun, quartz scene lights, emergency horns and foam equipment was added. This pumper known as Wagon 51 has a 750 gallon per minute pump and a 500 gallon tank. It is first dispatched on all Structure related fires, all truck fires, Industrial accidents and mutual aid calls. It is equipped with a Frederick County radio for communication with Middletown units during mutual aid calls. The pumper is designed so firefighters can don breathing apparatus on the way to fire calls.
      
The latest addition to Strasburg fleet is a 1978 Chevy step van. This truck was purchased for $9000. It was the first of the equipment to receive a Red/White paint job as opposed to the traditional all red equipment. The unit was designed by the department and all compartmentation was done by members. Known as Salvage 51, the unit is designed to lighten the load on all other apparatus by carrying the extra equipment needed on the fire scene. This unit runs all fire calls and is the last unit to leave the station. This enables the Dept. to transport manpower to the scene and alleviates firefighters from taking their personal vehicles to the fire. It handles most public service jobs such as pumping basements, which allows all firefighting apparatus to stay in quarters.
           
Over the past five years, much of the department’s equipment has been redone, in one form or another. Until 1978 all apparatus was the traditional red color. Salvage 51 was the first to break this tradition with the white over red color scheme. The wagon was next to receiving a white top on its cab and both the engine and tanker were completely repainted after being refurbished. All this equipment was repainted by Bills Service Center. Mr. Ray Stokes was the painter, Spikes Supply was the supplier and Al Sonner did the lettering, on all equipment
           
Specialized Equipment
           
With the addition of the salvage unit, the department invested in some specialized equipment. A 4 bottle cascade system was placed in service. The system, which is carried on the salvage unit, is capable of refilling up to 26 air bottles on the scene of a fire. This is the only unit in Shenandoah County capable of doing this job. The salvage unit also carries 2 acid king suits which enable firefighters to enter hazardous environment for rescue. These suits were donated by valley milk products and Automotive Industries, both of Strasburg.
           
In 1983 the department changed breathing apparatus. Before, the organization used Survivair equipment, but due to high cost of parts on these units, the co chose to change to MSA units. These units were purchased second hand from Alexandria Fire Department. After overhauling the units and extensive training the units were placed in service. The department has16 complete SCBAs. The department also owns an explosimeter, a metering device which measures the amount of gas in a certain area. This is used on gas leaks to determine the percentage of gas and its chance of explosion. Along with the explosimeter is a radiological detector which is used to determine radiological materials. These 2 units are carried on Salvage 51.
           
The department also owns a 10 kwatt generator. This unit was given to the department by the civil air patrol. The unit is presently mounted on a trailer and someday plans will be made to use the unit as an auxiliary power supply for the fire station and dispatch center.

Strasburg Volunteer Fire Department Co. 51, Inc.

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