by Mike Sanders mnsand@comcast.net

The Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department was organized in 1944 after a house fire near the community claimed the lives of several children. Shortly thereafter, Station 6 was built on Ashburn Road and modifications to the station have been completed over the years.

Working in conjunction with the Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management, a second station (Station 23) was opened in 2004 in the Moorefield area. Recently, Loudoun County and the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department began construction on the new Fire Station 22 in the Lansdowne area.

Ashburn’s first engine was a used 1928 American LaFrance, followed by a variety of commercial cab fire trucks. Prior to 1974, all apparatus was painted red. A 1974 Dodge Power Wagon built by Stinebaugh of West Virginia was delivered in the department’s new colors of yellow, with future apparatus painted yellow and white. Ashburn’s old 1974 Dodge continues to provide fire protection at the Bergton Volunteer Fire Department in Rockingham County.

The department’s first custom fire truck was delivered in 1980 when Ashburn took delivery of a 1980 Hahn 1000 gallon per minute engine. The Hahn is still owned by the department and is used as a parade/funeral/public service truck.

In 1992, with emergency medical calls on the rise, the department placed into service their first ambulance, a 1992 Ford F350 built by Excellance. With the exception of one monster medic that was purchased in 1998, all ambulances have been Ford F’s with Excellance ambulance bodies.

Today’s apparatus roster at Station’s 6 and 23 contain a variety of equipment. Station 6 has three engines, a tower, a ladder truck that also carries extrication equipment, brush truck, and a variety of ambulances and support units.

Station 23 houses two engines, the department’s 1980 Hahn engine, several ambulances, a Loudoun County ambulance, and the Loudoun County Mobile Air Unit.

Ashburn Station 6 and 23 have a combination staffing of volunteers and career staff providing protection around the clock.

Photo Captions
· Ashburn purchased four engines and a tower from Ferrara between 2003 and 2005. Engine 6 and Engine 23 are 2003 Spartan Gladiator/Ferrara’s complete with 1500 gallon per minute pumps and 500 gallon water tanks. Reserve Engines 6 and 23 are 2005 models. Tower 6 is a 2005 Spartan Gladiator/Ferrara 100’ equipped with a 1500 gallon per minute pump and a small 50 gallon water tank.

· Engine 23 and Reserve Engine 23 photographed shortly after Reserve Engine 23 was placed into service.

· Tower 6’s pump panel is located on the roof of the Spartan cab, so the operator can easily manage both the tower controls and the pump panel.

· Truck 6 was originally “Quint 6”, a 2001 Spartan Gladiator/Smeal that was equipped with a 1500 gallon per minute pump and 400 gallon water tank. In 2008, Ferrara removed the pump and tank and added large compartments for extrication equipment. In addition to being the department’s reserve ladder truck, Truck 6 runs automobile accidents with entrapments.

· During 2008, two new ambulances were placed into service at Station’s 6 and 23. Both are 2008 Ford F450’s with Excellance ambulance boxes.

· With emergency medical calls on the rise, an additional ambulance runs from Station 23 during the hours of 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. seven days a week. Loudoun County assigned a 2005 Freightliner M2/Medic Master as Ambulance 23-3.

· Ashburn’s “Ceremonial” fire truck is this 1980 Hahn engine. During 1993, the Hahn received an extensive rehab, including a new fire truck body.

· Eight mobile air units were delivered to Washington D.C. metropolitan area fire departments during 2005. Mobile Air Unit 23 is a 2005 Freightliner built by Hackney.

· The older apparatus bays of Fire Station 6. Originally a two bay station, two additional apparatus bays were later added.

· Three additional bays and a social hall were added on to Fire Station 6.

· Fire Station 23 is located in the Moorefield area of Ashburn and is a temporary station until a new station is built. It is in a warehouse complex.