by Mike Sanders
Iron Gate, Virginia is a small community tucked away in the beautiful mountainous area of Alleghany County. Iron Gate is located just off Interstate 64 not far from Covington and Clifton Forge, Virginia.
The Iron Gate Volunteer Fire Department operates four primary response vehicles. Wagon 1 is painted in a unique gray and red and is a 2005 Emergency One Cyclone II equipped with a 1250 gallon per minute pump, 1000 gallons of water, and two twenty gallon foam tanks. Take a close look at the uniquely painted cab.
Engine 1 is an unusual 1996 International 4900 that was built by Smeal and has a top mounted pump panel. It is equipped with a 1000 gallon per minute pump and carries 850 gallons of water.
Tanker 1 is a 1987 International Navistar that was built by Slagle’s and carries 1800 gallons of water with a 500 gallon per minute pump. Finally, Truck 1 is the department’s utility vehicle and is a 1994 Ford F Super Duty built by Northeast Emergency Vehicles. The Ford is equipped with a small cascade system.
