June 19 - Units from Orange and surrounding departments were sent to Coleman Lumber Yard on Everona Road for a mulch pile on fire.  Chief 23 arrived to find the pile well involved with extension into the woods.  Companies 21, 24, 29, and 10 from Culpeper assisted and units remained on the scene for over 5 hours.  Pics

Photo by FF T. Melson & Story by FF M. Yancey

June 18-19 - Four OVFC members spent the weekend at the Farm Machinery Safety & Extrication class in Culpeper County.  Thanks to the Salem VFD for the hospitality (especially lunch both days) and to Tommy & Mike Harper for the instruction.  More Pics

Photo by FF T. Melson & Story by FF M. Yancey

June 16 - Co. 23 units worked with COFEMS, OPD, and several utilities to control the situation caused by an out-of-control vehicle on Rt. 15/Caroline St. on Thursday afternoon.  Photos.

Photo by LT S. Boyer & Story by FF M. Yancey

June 13 - OVFC Vice-President Clivie Cluff presented winner E.H. Altman with a check for $5000.00 on Monday night.  Mr. Altman graciously returned the check to the Company as a donation.

May 23 - Orange Volunteers responded to Lahore Rd. just off Constitution Hwy. for a motor vehicle collision. Firefighters checked the vehicle, which had run off the roadway and into a tree, while County of Orange EMS attended to and transported the two patients who had walked to a house not far from the scene. Orange Firefighters did manage to rescue a turtle that was inside the vehicle and set him free for one of the patients.  Pictures.

Photo & Story by FF T. Melson

May 21 - Orange Volunteers were sent to the 21000 block of River Rd. for a structure fire. Rapidan Chief 10 found a two-story single family dwelling with fire on the second floor. The crew from Wagon 23 joined a Rapidan Firefighter in the initial attack of the fire, which was contained to one room. The house also suffered significant smoke & water damage and the resident was transported to UVA with burns that occurred while trying to extinguish the fire.  Pictures.

Photo by FF W. Jacobs & Story by FF T. Melson

May 19 - Orange Volunteers were dispatched to the 3000 Block of Zachary Taylor Highway for a reported three vehicle collision involving a tractor-trailer with patient entrapment and all vehicles on fire. First arriving units discovered a passenger car and tractor, minus a trailer, fully engulfed; luckily, all patients were able to escape their vehicles prior to heavy fire involvement. Tanker 23 established two handlines to attack the blazes along with Rapidan Firefighters and also tackled the ensuing diesel fuel leak after the fire was extinguished. Orange Firefighters remained on scene for over three hours dealing with the early morning incident that closed State Route 522 for an extended period of time. The lone patient was transported by county EMS personnel to CRH.  Pics.

May 14 - OVFC held an Open House on Saturday May 14, 2005.  The community was able to visit with local firemen and see how things go in our world.  Special thanks to the local business and organizations who helped us with a plethora of things.  See more pictures HERE.

Below left, Assistant Chief Jeff Moubray demonstrates the operation of a fire extinguisher.  Below right, FF Robert Kelley assists Smokey the Bear (Grahame Duncan) with greeting the public.

Photos by FF T. Melson

& Story by FF M. Yancey

May 1 - Personnel from throughout Orange County participated in a Vehicle Rescue Awareness and Operations course held at OVFC on April 30 and May 1.  The two days of training were a great learning event for all involved.  Many thanks to VDFP HTR Instructors K. Black (Virginia Beach FD), B. Barksdale (Arlington County FD), and T. Kisner (Ret. Alexandria FD) for the knowledge they passed on.  Pics.

Photo by FF T. Melson & Story by FF M. Yancey

April 26 - Units from Orange and Gordonsville handled this garage fire on Tuesday evening.  First arriving C24 found the structure well involved and W23 arrived shortly after and placed two hand-lines in-service.  Units cleared after the fire was out and returned to service shortly after.

Photo by FF E. Amos & Story by FF M. Yancey

In August 2004, the Orange Volunteer Fire Company learned that it had been awarded funds from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program through the Department of Homeland Security. The Fire Company had submitted the application the previous March requesting grant money for Fire Operations & Firefighter Safety and that the grant would go towards the purchase of a new set of vehicle extrication equipment. The Fire Company used the $57,087, along with some of its own matching funds to purchase TNT extrication equipment, high and medium pressure airbags, as well as jacks and other assorted equipment. The TNT tools include one set of spreaders & cutters, a pair of Combi-Tools (one will be carried on Engine 23), and several rams. Two power units, multiple hoses and reels were also purchased. The Vetter airbags include both high-pressure and mid-pressure airbags and the necessary regulators/controllers, and hoses. Most of this equipment will be carried on Salvage 23 until the fire company purchases a new Rescue Engine in the near future.

The equipment arrived in March and Orange Volunteers quickly jumped at the opportunity to train with their new toys. After several informative demos of the new tools, a training session was held in the back lot of the firehouse on April 11. Firefighters performed various extrication techniques on two automobiles that had been donated. The weekend of April 30 allowed Orange Firefighters, along with other county volunteer and career personnel, the opportunity to take the 16-hour HTR Vehicle Rescue course. Twenty-nine county personnel completed the two day course learning and applying various vehicle rescue techniques. A special thanks goes out to instructors Keene Black, Terry Kisner, & Benjamin Barksdale for teaching an excellent course, and Mine Run Volunteer Fire Company for providing their Rescue Engine and lunch on Sunday.

More details on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program can be fount at: http://www.firegrantsupport.com

Photos (by FF T. Melson):  hrt01.jpg   hrt02.jpg   hrt03.jpg   hrt04.jpg   hrt05.jpg   hrt06.jpg   hrt07.jpg   hrt08.jpg   hrt09.jpg   hrt10.jpg

April 17 - Orange Volunteers were dispatched to the 12000 block of Chicken Mountain Rd. for a motor vehicle collision. First arriving apparatus found a single vehicle through a fence with no injuries. Orange Firefighters checked the vehicle prior to turning the scene over the VA State Police.

Photo & Story by FF T. Melson

March 29 - Orange Volunteers were called on to assist Madison County for a reported structure fire on Deer Crossing Rd. First arriving Madison units found a working fire and Wagon 23 established the initial attack on the blaze. Volunteers remained on scene for the next four hours battling the stubborn fire and conducting overhaul.  Pictures.

Photo & Story by FF T. Melson

March 26 - It wasn't a very happy Easter weekend for eight victims of a head-on collision on Zachary Taylor Hwy. in the Rhoadesville area of the County.  An engine from MRFD and area EMS units were sent with Orange Volunteers to the crash just prior to True Blue Rd.  First arriving Firefighters found a two vehicle accident with at least six Priority Red  patients.  After a quick triage, three helicopters were called to transport four of the eight victims from the scene.  Units worked cohesively to package everyone for transport and the last units cleared when the roadway was open.  Pics.

Photo by FF R. Rankin & Story by FF M. Yancey

February 20 - Firefighters from Orange and Mine Run were dispatched to 9305 Black Walnut Run Road on Sunday morning for a chimney fire.  Numerous calls reported several different situations, the last being that the roof was on fire with four occupants suffering from smoke inhalation.  E23's Officer completed the assignment for a structure fire which ended up bringing units from Lake of the Woods and Rapidan.  E23 pulled in ahead of W21 and reported smoke showing from the roof and sent a crew of three plus one from Mine Run in to get at it.  Interior crews pulled ceilings and extinguished the bulk of the fire in the attic.  The inside work coupled with great work on the roof put the fire out and left a moderate amount of overhaul to be performed.  Units cleared the scene in just over two hours.  More Pictures.

Photos by COFR Diliddo

& Story by FF M. Yancey

February 13 - The Orange Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to the dumpster site on Jacksontown Rd. for a dumpster fire. Tanker 23 arrived to find a single dumpster ablaze. The Orange Volunteers quickly extinguished the fire and responding Engine 23 was placed in service prior to arrival. This was Company 23’s second dumpster fire in as many days.  Pics.

Photo by LT P. Fitch & Story by FF T. Melson

February 6 - Crews from Orange were automatically added to the assignment for a MVC with entrapment on Ridge Road in Barboursville's first due.  Engine 25 arrived first and found 1 trapped in the drivers seat of a van head-on into a tree.  Both Companies worked together to free the patient who was flown by Pegasus to UVA Hospital.  A split crew from E23 as well as C23 handled the landing zone nearby.  Pics

Photo by FF T. Melson & Story by FF M. Yancey

February 3 - Orange Volunteers rolled out to a motor vehicle collision on Rapidan Road on the snowy Thursday.  Chief 23 found a pickup truck off of the roadway and into a tree, no injuries.  Engine 23 continued on to the scene to assist with checking the vehicle and traffic control.  More Pics.

Photos by LT S. Boyer & Story by FF T. Melson

February 2 - Units were requested to Food Lion parking lot for a diesel fuel spill from a tractor-trailer. Chief and Engine 23 contained the spill with absorbent before the situation was handed over to the Orange County Hazardous Materials Coordinator. Salvage 23 stood by before it was determined that the County’s Haz-Mat trailer would not be needed.  Photos.

Photos & Story by FF T. Melson

January 23 - While returning from another emergency, the Orange Volunteers were dispatched to Cox Mill Rd. just prior to Madison Run Rd. for a motor vehicle collision. Salvage 23 arrived to find a pickup truck on its side in a steep ditch with one occupant on top of the vehicle. Crews from Engine and Support 23 arrived moments later to assist in retrieving the patient from his vehicle. Both occupants of the truck denied injury and crews remained on scene to assist the VA State Police with traffic on the snow covered roadway.  Pics.

Photos & Story by FF T. Melson

January 14 - Truck 23 responded with 6 men to Marquis Rd. at the Louisa County/Orange County line for a vehicle in the water.  First arriving units from Louisa County found what was reported on their side with the occupant on top of the car.  A crew from Truck 23 entered the water and safely brought the victim to the Orange County side of the bridge.  More Pictures.

Photos & Story by FF M. Yancey

January 7 - Orange Volunteers were sent to assist Mine Run Engine 21 with a motor vehicle collision just North of Zachary Taylor Hwy. An SUV had struck a utility pole, toppling lines onto the roadway. Firefighters were forced to close Constitution Hwy. for a while until VA Power arrived to ensure that there were no electrical hazards. There were no injuries in the crash.  Pictures

Photos by FF N. Nickels & Story by FF T. Melson

January 6 - Units were requested at the intersection of Constitution Hwy. and Quarter Horse Lane for a motor vehicle collision. Engine 23 arrived to find a two vehicle rear-end collision, with the vehicles off of the road. The Orange Volunteers assisted COF&R Medic 23 with packaging the single patient for transport, as well as taking care of a minor antifreeze leak.  Pics.

Photos & Story by FF T. Melson

January 3 - Orange Volunteers responded to the 21000 block on Constitution Hwy. for a morning collision. Units found a passenger car that had collided with a tractor-trailer and a dump-truck before coming to rest off of the road. A single patient was extricated from the car by Salvage 23 and transported to the hospital by an Orange County career medic unit. Crews on scene also took care of a minor fuel and battery spill. Mine Run Fire Company, VDOT, and Orange Coordinators 1 and 2 also assisted in the incident.  More Pics.

Photos by FF W. Jacobs & Story by FF T. Melson

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