Apparatus Profile – Sperryville, Virginia
by Mike Sanders

Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just below the entrance to Skyline Drive and the Shenandoah National Park is Sperryville, Virginia. The Sperryville VFD is Rappahannock County Station 2 and operates a unique apparatus fleet.

A very recent addition to the apparatus roster is a well designed “Attack 2″. Built on a 2010 International 4×4 by 4-Guys, this urban interface unit is equipped with a 1000 gallon per minute pump, 500 gallons of water, and 30 gallons of Class A foam. Other features of Attack 2 include a CAF’s system, pump and roll, a front bumper turret operated via a joystick in the cab, and an air operated hose bed cover. A booster reel with a 150′ is located on the officer side under the rear four door cab.

Attack 2 is designed for off road and inclement weather, as is Engine Tanker 2. This unique truck is a 2005 Spartan Gladiator 4×4 built by 4-Guys and delivered in 2006. It has a 1500 gallon per minute pump, holds 1500 gallons of water, and 30 gallons of foam. There are three 10″ electric dumps located on both sides and the rear.

Rescue Engine 2 was purchased from the Oceanside Fire District in Long Island, New York. It is a 2005 Pierce Lance equipped with a top mount 1500 gallon per minute pump and holds 500 gallons of water. Sperryville purchased the Pierce in 2007 and added a hose bed cover.

Brush fire duties are handled by Brush 2, a 1983 Ford F250/Reading/Crenshaw that was once owned by Hartwood VFD in Stafford County, Virginia. Last year, Sperryville purchased a 1988 skid mount equipped with 200 gallons of water and placed it on the 1983 Ford. This skid mount once belonged to Fairfax County, Virginia. In the near future, the department plans on placing another skid mount on a utility vehicle operated by Sperryville, a 1996 Ford F250 pick up that was originally owned by the OWL VFD in Prince William County, and then Dale City VFD in Prince William.

Still owned by Sperryville but not in active service is the former Brush 2, a beautiful 1970 Dodge Power Wagon with a Stahl body. The Stahl body was added in the mid 1980′s. Originally, the 1970 Dodge was joined to a very old fire truck body.

Rounding out the apparatus roster at Sperryville is a 2010 Ford F350 pick up truck that runs as Utility 2.

Chief Richie Burke was a tremendous resource to me in photographing the apparatus and gathering information on the trucks at Sperryville. The fire department operates an excellent web site. Check it out at www.sperryvillefire.com.