December 24 - Orange Volunteers had to "do work" in the Burr Hill section of the County on Christmas Eve.  Personnel arrived to find a fire in the basement of a split-level log home.  One crew from Tanker 23 put a knock on what was left of the fire and began opening up with the rest of the crew operating above.  Truck 23's crew checked for extension, performed ventilation, and worked on overhaul with the Tanker's crew.  Pictures

Photos by FF T. Roby  - Story by LT M. Yancey

December 20 - The boys were out of bed early on Wednesday morning to tend to a fire on the second floor of a newly renovated residential over commercial occupancy on Railroad Ave.  First arriving firemen found the flooring and a wall on fire in the second floor hallway, and a floor sander on fire in the first floor stairwell landing.  Crews put a quick knock on it and performed overhaul in a short amount of time.  Pics

Photos by LT T. Melson  - Story by LT M. Yancey

December 10 - First arriving units encountered heavy fire from what was reportedly a two story garage.  Tanker 23's crew stretched a 200' Mattydale to protect the adjacent two-story SFD and began extinguishing the involved building.  Next arriving Engine 23 picked up the bumper line and placed it in-service to assist with extinguishment.  The house suffered cosmetic damage to the siding, but the garage was a total loss.  Pics

Photos by FF T. Roby  - Story by LT M. Yancey

December 9 - Orange Volunteers were sent to Constitution Highway just before Jacksontown Rd. for a motor vehicle collision with entrapment.  Engine 23 arrived to find a pickup on its side, head-on into a tree with two occupants entrapped, the driver and their pet.  A deputy was on scene to help get the dog, which was ok, out of the truck before patient contact could be established.  Orange Firefighters went to work stabilizing the vehicle before cutting the roof off the truck in order to extricate the patient.  The patient was transported by EMS to a landing zone near Somerset, where the patient was flown via Pegasus to UVA Hospital.  Gordonsville Firefighters were also on hand to assist with the extrication and landing zone.  Pics

Photos by FF T. Roby  - Story by LT T. Melson

December 7 - ...will get you Orange Volunteers.  While cleaning the chimney, an employee from Jake's Chimney Sweep appears to have knocked debris or construction material down onto the protective "shelf" that connects the flu pipe to the chimney.  Engine, Truck, and Chief 23 handled the "private call" by removing the burning material from the box and accessing the roof to drop extinguishing agent into the chimney.

Firefighters on the scene reported this incident was extraordinarily similar to fires in the past that may have been caused by the Sparks Chimney Sweep...  Pics

Photos by FF E.A. Fox  - Story by LT M. Yancey

December 6 - Units arrived at Mount Sharon Rd. and Constitution Hwy. to find one over an embankment.  Personnel from Engine and Salvage 23 stabilized the vehicle and gained access to the patient, who was uninjured.  Pics

Photos by FF T. Roby  - Story by LT M. Yancey

November 22 - Units were sent to the area of Somerset Center Store for a motor vehicle collision with entrapment.  Orange Volunteers arrived on scene and quickly began stabilizing the vehicle that contained the entrapped occupant.  They then “popped” the door of the sedan with the combi-tool off Engine 23 to allow the room needed to extricate the victim.  A total of two vehicles were involved and three patients were transported to area hospitals.  This is the second vehicle extrication Orange Firefighters have performed within the past three days.  Pics

Photos by FF W. Jacobs  - Story by LT T. Melson

November 19 - Orange Volunteers responded to Old Gordonsville Rd. just past Woodcrest Dr. near midnight for a motor vehicle accident.  Units arrived to find a pickup truck on its side off the roadway with one occupant entrapped.  Orange Firefighters went to work stabilizing the vehicle and safely extricating the patient from the truck.  Gordonsville Firefighters helped with the landing zone at the Orange Firehouse, where the patient was flown to UVa Hospital via Pegasus.

November 11 - While wrapping up a brush fire on Mallory’s Ford Rd., Orange Volunteers were called to the Town of Gordonsville for a structure fire.  Gordonsville Wagon 24 reported smoke coming from the structure upon arrival and Tanker 23 soon arrived to assist with an interior attack.  Using a thermal imaging camera, the fire was located underneath the floor on Side D.  The floor was quickly opened up and crews extinguished the fire before it was able to spread to the attic.  The fire originated from a pile of burning leaves spreading to the crawl space of the house.  Pics

Photos by FF T. Roby  - Story by LT T. Melson

October 21 - A vehicle was reported on fire around the Orange County Livestock Market on Rt. 15 around 0930 hours.  Orange Firefighters arrived to find an old oil truck ablaze in a field just beside Clore’s with little exposure concerns.  The Firefighters quickly doused the flames with foam and remained on scene for about half an hour for overhaul.  Pics

Photos by FF T. Roby  - Story by LT T. Melson

October 6 - Orange Firefighters were sent to assist Madison Co. with a structure fire in the Malvern subdivision.  Madison Fire arrived to find a working fire on the second floor that was beginning to vent itself through the roof.  The fire was quickly contained and crews remained on scene several hours with salvage and overhaul operations.  Pictures.

Photos by FF T. Roby  - Story by LT T. Melson

October 2 - Orange Volunteers responded to another severe motor vehicle collision (the third in the county within the past week).  Crews arrived on scene to find a single vehicle rollover with one patient still inside.  Personnel on scene worked to remove the victim, who was then transported to the Orange Firehouse to be flown via helicopter to the hospital.  Pics

Photos by FF M. Wilson  -  Story by LT T. Melson

September 28 - Orange Volunteers were called to the intersection of Zachary Taylor Hwy. and Everona Rd. for a three-vehicle collision with entrapment.  First arriving personnel found one patient entrapped in one of the vehicles.  Orange and Mine Run Firefighters extricated the victim, who was then taken to an awaiting helicopter for transport.  Pics

Photos by FF C. Melson  - Story by LT T. Melson

August 26 - After spending the morning with vehicle extrication training, as well as assisting with a skydiving accident, Orange Volunteers were called to South Main St. in Gordonsville for a structure fire.  Chief 24-1 arrived on scene to find a working fire in the upstairs apartment above the Pomme Restaurant.  Orange and Gordonsville Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze, containing it to the room of origin.  The restaurant below suffered extensive water damage.  One Firefighter was transported to the hospital with a heat-related illness.  Pics

Photos by LT T. Pope  - Story by LT T. Melson

August 12 - The OVFC Competition Team once again grabbed the William Packet Memorial Trophy as the overall points winner at the 120th VSFA Convention in Hampton, VA.  The team took 1st in the Six Man Ladder, 1st in the 5 Man Dressing, 1st in the 2 Man Air Pack, and 2nd in Motor Hose.  Final results will be posted when they're available.  Pictures can be found here, and additions will be made as photos become available to the Webmaster.

August 3 - Orange Volunteers responded to the 9400 block of Zachary Taylor Hwy. for a reported MVC with entrapment.  County EMS arrived to find a three vehicle collision with one patient still entrapped.  Orange Firefighters extricated the entrapped patient within seven minutes of Engine 23’s arrival.  Mine Run Firefighters were also on hand to assist with the extrication and traffic.  Three patients were transported to CRH.  Pics 

Photos by Fitch & Melson  - Story by LT T. Melson

July 22 - Shortly after returning from an auto crash, Orange Firefighters were punched out to the 21000 block of Constitution Hwy. for a vehicle fire.  A county deputy arrived on scene and reported a pickup fully involved.  Tanker 23’s crew pulled a side crosslay and quickly attacked the flames with Class A foam.  The fire was soon extinguished and units were able to clear up after overhaul.  Pictures

Photos by JBC T. Roby  - Story by LT T. Melson

July 21 - Orange Volunteers quickly responded to a reported structure fire due to a lightening strike on Old Rapidan Rd. just after a wicked thunderstorm.  Engine 23 arrived to find a two-story SFD with nothing showing on sides A & D.  However, they quickly discovered a smoke filled interior with no visible fire.  The fire was soon located in the crawl space under the house below the kitchen.  Firefighters were able to extinguish what was left of the fire that a busted water line from the lightening strike was unable to put out.  Rapidan Firefighters and COF&EMS personnel were also on hand to assist with overhaul and Gordonsville Firefighters filled Fire Station 23.  Pics

Photos by T. Roby  - Story by LT T. Melson

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