By Mike Sanders mnsand@visuallink.com
The Ruckersville Volunteer Fire Company is Station number 2 in Greene County Virginia. The fire department is located just off of Route 29 between Culpeper and Charlottesville. Formed in 1948, Ruckersville has a variety of interesting apparatus.
Two engines handle engine company duties and the fire department is also restoring an older antique engine. Engine 22 is a four door 1989 Pierce Lance equipped with a 1250 gpm pump and carries 500 gallons of water. It is painted red and white. Engine 23 is another Pierce, this one a 1999 Quantum equipped with a 1250/1000. Engine 23 has unique graphics of a hose line connected to a hydrant running along the length of the engine. Engine 20 is no longer in active service however the department is restoring this nice 1960 Chevrolet C60 built by Oren. It is used as a parade piece.
Tower 27 was originally ordered by Chesterfield County, Virginia and painted in Chesterfield’s yellow color. Ruckersville purchased the tower and had it repainted to red and white. Tower 27 is a 1979 Mack CF 75’ aerialscope.
Other apparatus at Ruckersville include Tanker 25, Brush 29, Utility 26, and Command 20. Tanker 25 is a 2003 Freightliner 112 built by S&S and carries 3000 gallons of water in addition to a 1000 gpm pump. A unique feature of the tanker is a cab controlled small monitor on the front bumper. Brush 29 was also built by S&S and is a 1999 Ford F550 equipped with a 250 gallon per minute pump and carries 200 gallons of water. Utility 26 is a 1983 Chevrolet Step Van and Command 20 is a Dodge Durango.
The tower at Ruckersville must be the old Truck 3 (Bensley). If it is, it saved my hide (and 3 others) somewhere in the middle 80′s. We (Manchester Co.2) were on the roof of Cloverleaf Mall during a working fire and could not get off. I threw my helmet over the roof and a truckie noticed it. Truck 3 put the tower up and almost made it to the roof’s edge. I had to jump and a volly named Tommy ( a really big guy) grabbed my sorry self. After that, it was just a ride. The old gal still looks good. Your article was throughly enjoyed. Thanks, Robert Wade, Ashland Engine/Truck One, Hanover.