North Mountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue Apparatus Profile
by Mike Sanders

The North Mountain Volunteer fire and Rescue Squad is Station 19 in Frederick County, Virginia in an area called Mountain Falls. Organized in 1973, Station 19 is located in western Frederick County at the base of the Great North Mountain. A local farmer donated the land to build a station to the fire department and except for the addition of additional apparatus bays and a banquet hall, the original building remains the same.

The apparatus at North Mountain include two engines, an attack truck, brush unit, two ambulances, and a unique search and rescue team.

Wagon 19 and Engine 19 are both Freightliner’s built by Pierce. Wagon 19 is a 2000 Freightliner FL106 model equipped with a 1250 gallon per minute pump and carries 1000 gallons of water. Engine 19, which also has a 1250/1000, is a 1995 Freightliner 80 model. At one time, North Mountain operated a tanker truck. Wagon and Engine 19 now handle those duties with their 1000 gallon tanks and the department can call upon nearby tankers from other departments when needed.

A variety of Frederick County fire stations operate small mini pumpers designated as “attack” units. Attack 19 at North Mountain is a 1986 Ford F350 built by Pierce and equipped with a 400/250. Brush 19 once originally operated in Fairfax County, Virginia as Jeep 11 in Penn Daw and then later as Jeep 12 in Great Falls. Brush 19 is a 1985 Jeep Scrambler equipped with a 60 gallon per minute pump and carries 100 gallons of water. It was recently upgraded by the members at Station 19 and is designed to take a beating in the mountainous area.

North Mountain operated a first responder program until the late 80′s/early 90′s when they purchased their first ambulance. The department now operates two ambulances as 19-1 and 19-2. Ambulance 19-1 is a newer 2008 Ford F450 built by Horton and 19-2 is a 1994 Ford E350 also built by Horton.

The members at North Mountain operate a unique Search and Rescue Team (SAR). Organized in the early 1990′s, this team serves Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and other areas as needed. Two trucks consist of the SAR team. An unusual 1993 Ford B600 bus has been equipped as a Mobile Command Center for extended operations. This bus once served as a school bus for Loudoun County, Virginia. A support unit (1995 Ford F150 pick up truck) also operates as part of the SAR team and came from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Department.

Rounding out the apparatus at North Mountain is SERV 19, a 2005 Chevrolet 2500 pick up truck and Utility 19, a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria obtained from the Sheriff’s Department.

My thanks to Chief Josh Taylor of North Mountain for organizing the photo shoot of the North Mountain apparatus.