by Mike Sanders   mnsand@visuallink.com

Any idea what Virginia department runs the longest ladder in terms of aerial or platform length?  The size of the aerial ladder on Virginia’s trucks/platforms come in a variety of sizes.  55′, 75′, 100′, 105′, 110′, and other sizes all make up ladder trucks across the Commonwealth.

Berryville, Virginia Truck 1, the 1984/1997 Emergency One Hurricane 135’ that was previously Truck 10 in Fairfax County. “Longest Stick In The Valley”.

In 1983, E-One began production of the StratoSpear 135 foot aerial ladder, which became the tallest ladder available in America.  It was a five-section ladder with a 200 pound tip load and at the time had the same jack spread as E-One’s 95 foot platform.  A pre-piped waterway was also available at the tip of the fourth fly section.

Fairfax County Truck 10 – a 1984 Emergency One Hurricane 135’. Photographed in 1987 at Bailey’s Cross Roads Station 10.

In 1984, E-One introduced its Hurricane custom chassis, which became popular with a wide variety of Virginia fire departments.  Also in 1984, Fairfax County purchased two 135′ rear mount ladder trucks which were built by E-One on the Hurricane chassis.  Both were built one after the other at the E-One plant, with one assigned E-One serial number 3520 and the other serial number 3521.  These two ladder trucks were assigned to areas with taller buildings in Fairfax County.  Serial number 3520 went to Truck 10 at the Bailey’s Cross Roads station and Truck 29 in Tyson’s Corner received serial number 3521.

Fairfax County Truck 29 from Tysons Corner. This 1984 Emergency One Hurricane 135’ was rebuilt in 1996 by Emergency One to include a four door cab. Truck 10 had a similar rehab. Photographed in 1996 at Fire Station 29 in Tysons Corner.

Some other information you might find interesting regarding Fairfax County’s two 135′:

• The two Fairfax County 135′ were the fourth and fifth 135 foot ladders built by E-One.
• Fairfax County was the only jurisdiction at the time to have two 135 foot ladders in service.
• The aerial’s were prepiped to the 110′ level and equipped with 1000gpm nozzles.
• Both trucks had unique windows in the cab roof above the driver and officer positions.  These windows allowed the officer and driver to view the upper floors when arriving on the scene.  The windows could also be covered with a panel to keep out sunlight.

Both Fairfax County ladder trucks went through an extensive rebuild to further their service life.  In 1996, Truck 29 was returned to E-One for work which included the addition of a four door cab.  In 1997, Truck 10 from Bailey’s Cross Roads had similar work completed.  Truck 29 was removed from service in Fairfax County around 2003.  I do not know where this truck ended up once leaving Fairfax County.

Schaumburg, Illinois Truck 1, a 1990 Emergency One Hush 135’ painted in the traditional black over red in the Chicago area. This ladder truck was later obtained by Namozine, Virginia. Photo courtesy of Bill Friedrich.

Truck 10, on the other hand, joined the apparatus roster of the John H. Enders Fire Company in Berryville, Virginia.  Fairfax County sold the 1984/1997 E-One Hurricane 135′ to Berryville in 2002, and today it continues to provide protection to Berryville and the surrounding Clarke County area.  As depicted on the front cab, it is definitely the “Longest Stick In The Valley”.

Namozine, Virginia in Dinwiddie County currently operates the old 1990 E-One 135’ from Schaumburg, IL and had it repainted to their department colors of red and white. Photographed in 2008 behind the Namozine fire station.

Across the country in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois a 1990 E-One Hush 135′ rear mount was delivered.  Painted in the traditional black over red that a variety of departments in the Chicago area had adopted (after the Chicago FD), this E-One ladder was assigned serial number 8006.  In approximately 2002, Schaumburg sold their 135′ ladder truck and it was obtained by the Namozine VFD located in Dinwiddie County, not far from Richmond.  The E-One was repainted in red and white and today serves as Truck 4 for Namozine.

So Berryville and Namozine take the honors.  I believe these two 135′ ladder trucks are the “longest” aerials in the state of Virginia.  Am I correct?  Please comment to this article or email me with additional information.

Virginia’s Unusual Apparatus, or Going Back in Time – Greater Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad – Manassas, VA

By Mike Sanders mnsand@visuallink.com

VaFireNews.com has profiled Virginia apparatus in our on-going series of “Going Back in Time” and “Virginia’s Unusual Apparatus”.  This time, we will combine the two and profile a most unique rescue truck.

Have you ever looked at a fire or rescue truck and wonder “how did that happen”?  Specifically, have you seen a truck where its cab and body were two unlikely companions and you kind of doubt that they were originally built that way?  Virginia has had (and I guess still does) its share of unique combinations where fire and rescue departments got creative to build a one of a kind truck.  I would have to say that my favorite in this category was a rescue truck that at one time ran at the Greater Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad and then finished its career at the Reynolds Store Volunteer Fire Department.

The Greater Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad at one time operated a 1973 Chevrolet C65 with a 12’ Reading built rescue squad body.  I suppose the department was having problems with the 1973 Chevrolet but liked the squad body itself.

1973 Chevrolet C65/Reading “Squad One” – Mike Sanders photo

In early 1991, the department started looking for a replacement for the aging Chevrolet chassis.  Keplinger Repair Service of Winchester had obtained a 1971 American LaFrance engine formerly owned by the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA), which operates the Ronald Regan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.   While in service at MWAA, the 1971 American LaFrance engine ran as “Red 327” and was assigned to both airports during its career.

Red 327 from MWAA – Mike Sanders photo collection

Red 327 after being taken out of service at MWAA – Mike Sanders photo collection

A unique combination was created in resolve the problem with the 1973 Chevrolet/Reading.  Over an eight month time period, Keplinger Repair took the cab of “Red 327” and joined it to the Reading squad body to create a unique truck for the Greater Manassas VRS.  In addition to the ALF/Reading match, Keplinger Repair completed a major overhaul of the entire truck, including new diamond plate, new lighting package, and the addition of a hydraulic winch.  For a fraction of the cost of a new truck, Greater Manassas VRS obtained a very versatile rescue squad.

Squad One is a 1971 American LaFrance/1973 Reading/1991 Keplinger Repair.

Squad One at Greater Manassas remained in service until approximately 1996, when the department took delivery of a new 1996 Spartan/American Fire & Rescue heavy squad.  As a result, the American LaFrance squad was ultimately sold and eventually purchased by the Reynolds Store Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company in Frederick County, Virginia.  While at Reynolds Store, it ran as Squad 20.

Squad 20 at Reynolds Store, VA

Reynolds Store sold the American LaFrance in approximately 2003 when they placed in service a large Pierce Quantum rescue engine.  Eventually, old age took over the squad body and it was scrapped.  The American LaFrance cab was used for parts to restore another American LaFrance engine.

I hope you enjoyed this unique combination of Virginia’s Unusual Apparatus and Going Back in Time.

There are numerous antique fire trucks throughout Virginia.  If you have an interest in Virginia’s antique fire apparatus, consider joining the Old Dominion Historical Fire Society (ODHFS).  You can get more information about ODHFS by visiting www.odhfs.org.

Virginia’s Unusual Apparatus – Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department
by Mike Sanders

Although a fire trucks pump panel can be found just about anywhere on the truck, pump panels are usually placed in one of two places. Most commonly the pump panel is found on the drivers side of the truck in close proximately to the driver. However, especially during the 1930′s through the 1960′s, many fire departments had the pump panel placed on the officers side of the truck. Another option is top mounted pump panels, and many fire departments have found this placement beneficial. Better visibility of the overall scene and safety are often the reasons why departments prefer a top mounted pump panel.

It is uncommon to find a pump panel on the cab roof of a fire truck. This unique set up can be found on Tower 606 of the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department in Loudoun County, Virginia. Tower 606 is a 2004 Spartan Gladiator that was built by Ferrara. It has a 100′ aerial and is equipped with a 1500 gallon per minute pump. A small pump panel, primarily used to operate the 1500 gallon per minute pump, is located to the rear of the Spartan cab roof. This unique design allows the driver/operator of Tower 606 to be in easy reach of both the controls to operate the 100′ aerial tower as well as the controls to operate the pump panel itself.

I have not seen this unique arrangement on any other Virginia fire truck – any others?

In addition to the Ferrara tower, Ashburn operates four Spartan Gladiator/Ferrara 1500/500 engines. Two are 2003 model’s and two are 2005 models.

Submitted by Scott Fritz
Regional Sales Manager
Singer Associates

Town of Bluefield, VA

Pierce Velocity 100’ Sky Arm Articulating Aerial Platform
TAK-4 Independent Front Suspension
Side Roll Protection
Frontal Air Bags
6-Man cab
5 Hands-Free SCBA Brackets
Cummins ISM 500 hp engine
Waterous S100 2000 gpm pump
Husky 12 Foam System to 6 discharges
Hercules 200 cfm CAFS system to 6 discharges
300 gallon water tank/30 gallon foam tank
Safety Vision Backup Camera System
20 kW Harrison hydraulic generator
Havis Shields 120V lights
Whelen LED lighting package
Akron 3578 electric platform monitor with 2.5” discharge
Pierce paint and graphics

By Mike Sanders mnsand@comcast.net

For this column, we go back in time a bit to profile an unusual fire truck that ran from the Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia. Mount Vernon VFD was Station 9 in Fairfax County. The volunteers turned over their operations to the county in the 1970’s. Today, Station 409 in Mount Vernon continues to provide fire and rescues services to the citizens in Fairfax County.

In 1960, the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company (ALF) delivered a 900 series engine to the San Francisco, California FD. ALF called this engine the “Turbo Chief” and it was a 1000 gallon per minute open cab pumper assigned to Engine 14. A year later, a second Turbo Chief was delivered to Seattle, Washington. This, however, was a 100’ tiller truck. These two trucks were powered by Boeing 325 horsepower gas turbines built by a division of the Boeing Airplane Company. Although they were similar in appearance to other ALF 900 series fire trucks, they had one very notable difference. There was a large stainless steel exhaust stack that came out of the top of the engine compartment.

In 1962, the Mount Vernon VFD also received a turbine powered ALF 900 series 1000 gpm engine. Mount Vernon’s Turbo Chief was very similar to the San Francisco ALF engine except for one major difference. Mount Vernon’s had the pump panel on the officer’s side of the truck.

All three of the jet propelled ALF’s built developed major problems and became costly to operate. Braking problems, slow acceleration, and a very loud engine were some of the major issues. Mount Vernon’s shot fire directly at the roof of the fire station and the brakes were no match for the turbine engine so it was very hard to stop. Within a few years, each of the ALF’s were converted to conventional gasoline engines and continued to serve their respective departments.

Although the first three Turbo Chiefs were unsuccessful, ALF built one final Turbo Chief in 1972 for the IAFC Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. A noticeable difference was that this ALF had dual exhaust stacks. Again, it did not prove to be popular.

Virginia’s Mount Vernon VFD purchased a variety of ALF fire trucks. None were as unusual as the Turbo Chief.

Photos: Mike Sanders collection

By Mike Sanders mnsand@comcast.net

Some fire departments that operate in cold climate conditions have had their engines built with the pump panel enclosed within the four door cab. The pump operator will hook up the hoses to the pump and then move into the cab for pump operations. The Alta Vista Volunteer Fire Department’s Engine 1 appears to have been designed for cold weather.

Altavista is in Campbell County and is located between Lynchburg and Danville. Their Engine 1 is a 1998 Pierce Lance equipped with a 1500 gallon per minute pump and a 1000 gallon water tank. The pump panel controls are located to the rear of the Lance cab.

Engine 1 is “unusual” – are there any similar engines in Virginia?

Virginia’s “Unusual” fire apparatus
by Mike Sanders mnsand@comcast.net

Welcome to a new feature of www.vafirenews.com. Everyone has their own definition of what “unusual” might be. Virginia has had some unusual fire and rescue trucks in its history. In addition, through my travels, I have come across some interesting fire and rescue trucks. These are trucks that have been built for a specific purpose and ones you just don’t find in many stations across the commonwealth.

We invite you to submit your photographs of Virginia’s “unusual”…..fire and rescue trucks that is.

I will kick off this column with one of the most interesting fire trucks I have photographed. While returning home from a business trip several years ago, I had to make a stop for gas and food in Bland, Virginia. I also thought I would find the local fire station to see the apparatus; however the doors were closed tight. I found a local business where a volunteer firefighter worked, and he asked me if I was there to see “24”. Now he really had my interest. He made arrangements for a driver to meet me at the station and I was able to photograph “24”.

Large is a good description for this truck. Much of Bland County is wooded, so the fire department needed a truck capable of going off road and taking water with it. In addition, Bland County is the only county in the United States that is entered and exited via Interstate Tunnels. There are two tunnels, Big Walker Mountain located a few hundred yards from the Wythe County line and East River Mountain, which forms the Virginia and West Virginia border. “24” was also designed to respond to tunnel emergencies.

“24” is a 2005 Oshkosh MTVR/Pierce Hawk Extreme fire truck. It is equipped with a 500 gallon per minute pump, holds 2400 gallons of water, and carries 60 gallons of foam. The truck sits 10 feet 2 inches high.

I am glad I made the stop at the Bland Volunteer Fire Department to find this one of a kind in Virginia.