Fire

The Onancock Volunteer Fire Department Inc. traces its history to 1884 when a fire destroyed the barn and carriage house at Kerr Place. That fire prompted talk among the townspeople of organizing a fire company, but it would take a devastating fire in 1887, which left the business district of the town in ashes to make the fire department a reality. In April of 1887 the Town Council called for the establishment of a volunteer fire company. A resolution was passed directing council to purchase five fire extinguishers at a cost of five hundred dollars which would be paid for over a period of four years. This is believed to be the earliest attempt on Virginias Eastern Shore to provide for organized fire protection. In May of 1887 the volunteer fire company was established and Mr. G.G. Joynes was named fire commissioner and asked to recruit volunteers. He would become the first fire chief of what would later become the Onancock Volunteer Fire Department Incorporated.

                The town continued to be concerned with fire protection and in 1896 a decision was made to install a municipal water system. An elevated water tower was installed on Parker Street and a gasoline driven pump pulled water from wells during the day to fill the tank which then gravity fed the thirty four fire hydrants on two and one half miles of water mains. In 1897 the town purchased a hand pulled hose cart with fire hose and nozzles which could be connected directly to the fire hydrants to fight a fire. In 1899 another fire erupted on Thanksgiving night and quickly overwhelmed the gravity fed hydrants destroying the business district for a second time. In 1900 the town passed an ordinance that all buildings constructed in the business district shall be made of stone or brick.

                In 1925 the Sanborn Map Company listed the fire department as: volunteer, not organized with two hand hose carts and eight hundred feet of two and one half inch hose. Another fire in 1925 demonstrated that more modern motorized firefighting equipment would be needed to protect the growing town. The Onancock Volunteer Fire Department was formally chartered in 1928 with twenty three members. Later that year a red 1928 American Lafrance fire engine was purchased for 6,500.00. This motorized fire truck enabled the fire department to respond to calls for help from neighboring towns. The engine was stored in a garage behind the home of the chief engineer, Ran Finney. The engine was later moved to garage on King Street. A second American Lafrance pumper was added in 1930 and was the first white fire truck for Onancock.  In 1936 a fire station was constructed on North Street and the fire department moved all operations into that building where they would operate until 1980. An American Lafrance 500 series pumper would be added in 1938. On October 11, 1949 the Department voted to purchase another American Lafrance pumper which would become Engine #4 and was later sold to Greenbackville Fire Company in 1971. In 1955 the Department sold the 1938 American Lafrance pumper to a company “across the bay” and purchased a 1955 model American Lafrance which would become Engine #5. 1961 saw the purchase of the first Scott Air Packs. In 1963 a 1200 gallon tank truck body was donated by Kellam Distributing and mounted on a 1956 International chassis. This would become the departments’ first tanker. In December of 1966 a contract was signed for an American Lafrance Pioneer model pumper at a cost of 18,741.00. The pumper would be delivered as a 1968 model and featured jump seats which allowed the crew to don their Scott Air Packs while en route to a fire.  1967 saw the water truck (tanker) sold to Stockton, Maryland. In October of 1970 the 1968 American Lafrance Pioneer was involved in an accident on Town Road which extensively damaged the truck, placing it out of service. On November 19, 1970 the Department voted to purchase a 1971 American Lafrance Pioneer demonstrator pumper. This pumper would be the Departments first diesel powered engine and ran as Engine 96 until it was sold to the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company in 1995. In 1976 The Department voted to purchase the Pine Street property which would be the site of the new fire station. The new fire station was constructed at 9 Pine Street and occupied by the Department in 1981. It continues to serve the needs of the Department today. 1987 saw the purchase of the first non American Lafrance apparatus when a 1987 Seagrave engine was delivered. A brush truck and tanker were delivered in 1992 and 1993 respectively. In 1996 the Department took delivery of a Pierce Arrow engine with a sixty five foot telesqurt.  2007 saw the replacement of the 1987 Seagrave with a new Seagrave Marauder II engine which currently runs as Engine 95. In 2012 the Pierce Arrow Telesqurt was replaced when a Pierce Arrow XT 100’ Aerial Ladder was received. Department personnel are currently training on the Ladder and it will be placed in service in November, 2012 as Ladder 9.

                The first carnival was held in 1931 at the site of the current town square. On November 8, 1946 the fire department voted to purchase property on Johnson Street and the carnival was moved there the following year. The Allen Hershel carousel was also purchased in 1947 followed by the Ferris wheel in 1951 and the train in 1952. The Department sold the carousel at auction in 1985 and used the proceeds to purchase fire apparatus and newer amusement rides for the carnival such as the Black Spider, Tilt a Whirl and Scrambler. In 2005 The Department made a decision to close the carnival and sell the property. Increasing  insurance cost and operating expenses combined with the need for over sixty volunteers nightly to run the carnival made this difficult decision the right one for an organization whose first priority is providing fire and ambulance service to the community. The Carnival rides and buildings were sold at auction by Norton Auctioneers of Michigan who had also sold the carousel in 1985. The thirteen acre site is currently for sale.

                Ambulance service began with the purchase of the first ambulance in 1948. The American Red Cross provided basic first aid training to members who staffed the ambulance. The first ambulance was painted black and red. In 1955 a second ambulance was purchased from the Miller Coach Company. 1957 saw the purchase of an Oldsmobile ambulance. In 1962 a blue Cadillac ambulance was purchased for 7000.00 and the 1955 ambulance was traded in towards this purchase. Another ambulance was purchased in 1968 and 1969 brought a requirement for all ambulance attendants to be trained in advanced first aid. The first Emergency Medical Technician class was held in 1971. In 1974 a Miller Meteor Cadillac ambulance was purchased. In 1977 the Department was provided two daytime EMT- Firefighters who were paid by the Government CETA Program. This program would be absorbed by Accomack County when the Government funding ran out and would become the start of the Department of Public Safety in Accomack County. An IV Technician program was started in 1978 and would eventually become the EMT-ST (Shock Trauma) certification program. 1980 marked the delivery of the first box style ambulance from Horton. In 2000 The Department, with financial support from the Town of Onancock, entered into an agreement with the Accomack County Department of Public Safety to provide a Fire- Medic twenty four hours per day seven days a week  at the Onancock Station. This would become the first guaranteed 24/7 Advanced Life Support staffing in Accomack County. Although initially met with resistance from other fire and rescue agencies the program proved to be a success and several other Volunteer Companies later requested similar coverage from the County. The Department now operates two advanced life support ambulances and an EMS first response vehicle from the Pine Street station.

                The Onancock Volunteer Fire Department Inc. currently operates from our station at 9 Pine Street, Onancock, Virginia providing Fire and Advanced Life Support ambulance service to the Town of Onancock and surrounding areas. Our apparatus fleet consist of two Horton ALS equipped ambulances, Medic’s 91 and 92 and an EMS first response vehicle, Unit 99. The fire apparatus consist of Engine 95, Tanker 97, Ladder 9 and Brush 9. We also provide a utility vehicle for members to attend classes or provide ambulance duty staffing.  Our station is staffed by dedicated Volunteer professionals in cooperation with paid Fire Medics from the Accomack County Department of Public Safety, to serve the citizens of our community. Our Department is always looking for people who want to help us in our mission. If you are interested in a challenging but rewarding experience please contact us about volunteer membership opportunities.

                                                                                                                We remain, yours for service

                                                                                                                Onancock Volunteer Fire Department Inc.