by Mike Sanders mnsand@comcast.net

Organized in 1927, the Elkton Volunteer Fire Company is located in the northeastern corner of Rockingham County. Harrisonburg is the closest city, and you can get to Elkton by taking Route 33 from Harrisonburg – just under 20 miles. Elkton is located near a part of Skyline Drive and is a primarily rural and mountainous area. It is also near the Page County line.

Elkton has an interesting apparatus roster with some nice trucks. Engine company operations are handled by two Seagrave engines. Engine 35 is a 1992 Seagrave TB model equipped with a 1500 gallon per minute pump and carries 1000 gallons of water. It is the departments first out piece for calls outside of Elkton. Engine 36 is a 2001 Seagrave TB, equipped with a 2000 gallon per minute pump and also carrying 1000 gallons of water. Engine 36 is first out for calls in Elkton, Massanutten Mountain, and Skyline Drive. It also carries extrication equipment.

Joining the Seagrave roster is Elkton’s newest fire truck, a 2006 Seagrave heavy squad. Squad 33 carries a variety of equipment and is also equipped with a light tower and air cascade system.

A unique tanker also runs from Elkton. Tanker 30 began as a 1981 Duplex that was completed in 1982 by Grumman-Howe. It was painted red and equipped with a 1250 gallon per minute top mount pump. It carries 2,500 gallons of water. This tanker was originally ordered by a fire department in Pennsylvania who never took delivery of the truck. Several years later it was purchased by Elkton. In 1996, M&W refurbished the tanker which included new warning lights and a red and white paint job.

Two fire trucks are equipped to handle off road calls. Attack 37 is a 1997 Freightliner 70 built by S&S. It is equipped with roll up compartment doors and has a small monitor on the front bumper. Attack 37 is a multi purpose vehicle, set up for both structural firefighting and brush fires. Brush 34 is a 1999 Ford F350 that was completed by Fouts Brothers and is equipped with a 250 gallon per minute pump and carries 250 gallons of water.

A variety of support vehicles round out the roster at Elkton. EMS first response calls can be handled by SERV’s (Specialty Emergency Response Vehicle) 31 and 38. SERV 31 is a 1994 Chevy Blazer and 38 is a 2004 Chevy Tahoe. Utility 39 is a 1989 Ford F350 pick up truck.

Elkton has had some nice apparatus in the past. Some that stand out include an interesting 1977 KenWorth/Grumman-Oren 1000 gallon per minute engine that was later rehabbed and then sold to a department in Alabama. For Oren fire truck fans (Oren’s were built in Roanoke), Elkton once ran a neat 1974 Ford F/Oren 300 gpm mini pumper. When I visited, this was at a local Elkton business. Finally, although I am not certain if this Mack is still owned by the department or privately owned, a nice 1949 Mack engine was at the station when I visited back in 2007.

Several departments are located in and around the Elkton area. The Elkton Emergency Squad runs a variety of ambulances and EMS support vehicles. Also located near Elkton is a unique fire department operated by Merck and Company, a world wide pharmaceutical company that produces medicines and vaccines. Watch for a profile on their interesting apparatus in the near future.