Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department
Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. 1 is located on Second Avenue in Marlinton, WV. The Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. houses six trucks in their station and are operated by a fully volunteer, professional team of members. They were established in 1906, and have been saving lives and property ever since.
Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department covers an area of AbOUT 300 square miles in the middle to lower part of Pocahontas County. With around 65 calls a year, they respond to structure fires, brush fires, motor vehicle accidents, and any other fire related incidents.
About The Area
Marlinton is located in Pocahontas County, WV. The county is very rural, with Marlinton being the largest city (pop. 2000). The entire county population is just over 10,000. Pocahontas County is the third largest county in WV with 942.8 square miles. Eight rivers form their headwaters in Pocahontas County. This often leads to flash flooding problems in The Spring and fall. In 1985, the Town of Marlinton experienced a devastating flood which destroyed all of the department's apparatus. They again had severe flooding in January and May 1996, however, the department did not lose any equipment in those incidents.
Marlinton is 26 miles south of Snowshoe Mountain Resort, and has many year-round tourist attractions such as Monongahela National Forest, Watoga State Park, Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cass Scenic Railroad, Greenbrier River Trail, Seneca State Forest, Beartown State Park, Cranberry Wilderness Area, Highland Scenic Highway, and other local attractions. Marlinton is also host to two large annual celebrations, Pioneer Days in July, and the Autumn Harvest Festival and Roadkill Cookoff in September. Marlinton is also very popular with several motorcycle groups including Harley Owners Groups, who have regular conventions and shows in the area.
Current Fire Apparatus
Marlinton Fire Department houses six fire fighting vehicle's along with 3 rescue vehicles (Listed Below).
Ladder 105
Ladder 105 or "Ladder 5" is a 1974 Oren-TeleSquirt. It is the oldest of all Marlinton's apparatus. It has a 55 ft ladder. It holds 300 gallons of water, with a 100 gallon per minute pump.
Personnel Carrier 118
Better known as just "118" this truck is a 1985 GMC-AEV Suburban. It was originally outfitted with a removable rear seat, and made to house a stretcher. This made it capable out transforming into an ambulance. Now this truck just has permanent rear seat, as it was no longer capable of carrying the needed supplies to be considered an ambulance.
Rescue 119
Rescue 119 is the newest engine, and second newest truck in Marlinton's fleet. It is a 2005 HME-Smeal Custom Rescue/Pumper. It has a 400 HP Cummins ISL. It holds 1000 gallons of water, and has a 1500 GPM Waterous Brand Pump. This truck is the first due truck on all structure fires. It also is a rescue truck. This meaning that it holds all needed equipment for extrication. It stores the much favored brand Hurst hydraulic rescue tools or "Jaws of Life."
Engine 120
Engine 120 was formally the first due truck on all structure fires, recently to be replaced by Rescue 119. "120" is now a third due engine. Engine 120 is a 1986 Mack-Grumman Custom Pumper. It hold 1000 gallons of water, and pumps with a 1250 GPM Waterous brand pump.
Tanker 121
Tanker 121 is a second due truck. It is a 1986 Mack-Grumman Custom SUPER Tanker. It holds an impressive 1250 gallons of water, and pumps with a 1250 GPM Waterous brand pump. Originally the truck was fitted with a steel tank that held 2500 gallons of water. Over time the original steel tank developed a leak and was replaced with a 2250 gallon poly tank.
Attack 122
This 2007 Chevrolet 3500 series is the newest truck in Marlinton Fire's arsenal of fire fighting vehicles. This truck features a slide in unit that stores 300 gallons of water. This truck was fitted with an all LED emergency lighting system. It has an 8.1 gas engine, that is uncommon in most fire apparatus. This truck was designed to be used as a "Speedy" way to get to fires, and also is smaller and more able to reach fires that bigger trucks cannot reach. Along with that, it is also fitted with equipment to fight brush fires, Making this a "Mini Pumper/ Brush Truck."
History
1906 - 1931
In April of 1906, after a disastrous fire on Main Street of Marlinton, a group of citizens appeared before the Town Council stating that the Town needed a better organized Fire Department, with good leadership and training; they requested that the Council form such a Department. The Town Council took the request under advisement until more information could be obtained. Up until this time the Town had some firefighting equipment, but still relied heavily on “bucket brigades.” Which ever citizens got to the limited amount of firefighting equipment would use it, most of the time not knowing proper procedures for extinguishing a fire.
On May 4, 1906, the Town Council appointed Paris D. Yeager as Commissioner to organize a Fire Department. On May 17, 1906, Mr. Yeager made a report back to the Town Council in which he recommended that there be three hose companies. The West Marlinton Company, The East Marlinton Company, and The Marlinton Company. These Companies would shortly be renamed The Uptown Company, The Downtown Company, and The Tannery Company. Upon Mr. Yeager’s recommendation, the Town Council appointed the following citizens as the first organized firefighters and fire police.
|
The West Marlinton Company |
The Marlinton Company |
The East Marlinton Company |
Fire Police |
|
Andrew Price Calvin W. Price Dr. N. R. Price |
J. A. Sydenstricker Forrest Clark S. L. Hogsett R. M. Beard G. W. Ashcraft George Duncan H. W. Payne E. B. Hill Dr. Guilford N. W. Nickell J. D. Pullin George Eakle B. F. Willis Dwight Alexander R. A. Kramer S. B. Wallace John Wallace B. F. Wallace Boyd Siple J. V. Knight J. A. Sharp |
E. D. King Frank King Ted King Dr. Yeager A. D. Williams Clarence McLaughlin Willaim Gibson W. H. Wheelwright J. W. Hill Thomas Reynolds Steve Hiner E. M. Arbogast T. S. McNeel |
G. W. Duncan J. A. Sharp J. D. Pullin H. W. Payne George Eakle E. D. King Frank King J. W. Hill E. M. Arbogast Andrew Price |
At the regular Town Council meeting in June 1906, the Council appointed B. F. Willis as the first Fire Chief and the rules and regulations recommended by the members were accepted. Thus, the Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department was organized. At this same meeting, N. C. McNeil, Calvin W. Price, and J. V. Knight were appointed to draft the first fire ordinance which was relative to any interference or hindrance of firemen in the discharge of their duties.
In these early days, the alarm was sounded according to the location of the fire. The men in that area of town would go to the location of the fire with other hose companies responding later, if needed. If the fire was severe, it was a common practice for the officer in charge to elicit bystanders to help fight the fire. Also, in the early years, the men had very little protective turnout gear and were lucky to have so much as a helmet.
In April of 1907, the Town Council approved the purchase of the first rubber firemen’s suits and ordered fire alarm boxes to he installed throughout the Town. The next month (May 1907), B. F. Willis, J. W. Hill, and John L. Wallace were appointed to a committee to estimate the cost of a hose drying tower and firehouse, and to buy additional firefighting equipment. The drying tower was built near where the American Legion Hall is today.
1932 - 1941
On October 17, 1932, the Department requested that Town Council buy a motorized fire truck. In 1933, the Department purchased its first piece of motorized equipment, at an approximate cost of $1400. Engine Number One was a 1933 Ford, with a 500 gallons per minute front mounted pump and was built by W. S. Darley Company. This unit was housed in the Marlinton Electric building on Third Avenue, at a rental cost of $4.00 per month. Engine Number Two was purchased in 1951 from Oren Roanoke Corporation for a cost of $11,209.94. Engine Number Two was a 750 gallons per minute pumper built on a 1951 Dodge chassis. This unit was used by the Department until 1984, when it was sold. This Engine was first housed in the Board of Education building on Fifth Avenue until 1954.
1942 - 1953
On April 7, 1942, a delegation of citizens from the Campbelltown area appeared before the Town Council and requested that the Fire Department be allowed to respond to fires in their area. The Council approved their request, with the following provisions: Only one engine would leave the corporate limits and if that engine was needed back in Town, it would disengage and return to Town. A limit of 15 miles was placed on out of town fires.
1942 - 1963
Since 1955, the Department has operated an ambulance service and rescue squad, Marlinton Rescue Squad 2
In 1954 the Department acquired the B. E. Smith, Sr. building on Second Avenue and converted it into Marlinton’s first fire station. Shortly before moving into the new fire station, on January 13, 1953, under the leadership of Chief John White, the Department was reorganized. This was the first step in becoming a separate entity of the Town of Marlinton.
In 1958 Engine Number Three was purchased at a cost of $8,090. It was a 500 gallons per minute Howe Pumper built on a Ford chassis. Engine Three was replaced in June of 1964 by Engine Number Four, a 750 gallons pumper built by Oren Roanoke Corporation on a 1964 Chevrolet chassis. Engine Number Three was sold to Cowen Fire Department for $5,000.
1964 - 1972
Also in 1964 the Department purchased its first two-way radios, one mobile unit for Engine Four and one base unit for the Fire Station. In 1968 a base radio was also located at the Pocahontas Memorial Hospital. Today the Department has radio communications between all of its units and is dispatched by the Pocahontas County 911 Emergency Center.
On October 31, 1965, the Department purchased a 1939 American La France ladder truck from Ocean City, New Jersey for $950. This truck was equipped with wooden extension ladders, ranging up to fifty feet, which enabled the Department to reach the upper levels of several buildings in town.
By 1960 it became apparent to the members and Chief Fred Burns, Jr. that the Department would someday require larger quarters, so late in 1960 a program was started to develop a future building plan. In 1967 the first stage in the building program was completed when the Department purchased two lots adjoining the fire station on Second Avenue from Clark Brumagin. Also in 1967 a preliminary building plan was drawn up, which included the Town offices, fire station, and space for community activities. After several denials the building program was 100% funded in late 1972 by EDA and demolition of the Town Office, Fire Station, and the two buildings purchased earlier by the Department was started that fall, mostly by volunteer labor. Construction of the new building was started in early 1973 with completion in late 1974. During this period of time the Department again housed its equipment at the Board of Education building on Fifth Avenue and Richard Barlow’s garage, located between Second and Third Avenue. In June 1975, the new Municipal and Fire Station building was dedicated and Senator Jennings Randolph was made an honorary member of the Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department.
1974 - 1980
On February 7, 1973, the Department incorporated and became the Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.; this completed the movement from the Town of Marlinton’s jurisdiction to an independent organization of the Town.
In 1974 the Department received a pair of two ton cargo trucks through the County Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Government excess property program. These trucks were repainted fire department colors and one was fitted with a 1500 gallon tank and pump, which was used as a tanker on out of town fires, as well as some in town. It was frequently used for brush fires and carried forest fire fighting equipment on it. It was also used to evacuate citizens during floods. It was numbered Tanker Seven. The other one, Utility Number Eight, was fitted with a cover over the bed and was used for evacuation and movement of equipment in rough areas. These two trucks were sold in the summer of 1986.
In 1975 the Department purchased a tele-squirt ladder truck with a 50 foot hydraulic ladder, 500 gallon tank, 1000 gallons per minute pump, and other necessary equipment, that was developed to meet special problems facing many small fire departments of that time. A pumper/tele-squirt is one answer for any small department trying to protect residential and industrial areas. With the fingertip controls it is possible for one man to operate this many functional truck. The pumper/tele-squirt is Ladder Number Five and is still in use by the Department.
In 1977 the Department received two weapons carriers, Unit Number Ten and Unit Number Eleven, and an ambulance under the same program as Tanker Seven. All three were painted fire department colors and were used for flood work or other rough area work. The ambulance, Squad Nine could carry four patients, had a winch and was four-wheel drive, which made it ideal for getting to emergencies in the rough areas of Pocahontas County. All three units were sold in the spring of 1986.
In December of 1978 the Department purchased Rescue Twelve, a mini pumper and rescue/crash truck. Rescue Twelve was built on a four- wheel drive Chevrolet chassis with a heavy duty winch. It was built by Emergency One of Florida for the first response unit on highway accidents and rural fires. This specially built truck was the first of its type to be partly funded by the Governor’s Highway Safety Committee in West Virginia. Rescue Twelve was equipped to handle almost any type of emergency due to highway connected accidents. Rescue Twelve was sold in 1986.
1981 - 2005
Around 1981, the Department purchased Engine Number Fourteen. This additional engine was purchased in order to maintain the standards that were required by the Fire Service. Engine Number Fourteen was a true Mack Fire Engine. These engines are no longer produced.
On November 4, 1985, the Town of Marlinton was engulfed by a record flood and nearly all of the Department’s equipment was lost or severely damaged; from the firemen’s turnout gear to the fire engines and ambulances. Most of the members also suffered severe loss or damage to their homes and businesses.
Chief Burns, faced with a major disaster, put the call out for help; departments from throughout West Virginia and other states responded, loaning equipment and supplies, until Marlinton could rebuild its Department.
Chief Burns, with the support of the members, started almost immediately rebuilding the Department. Engine Number Fourteen and Ladder Number Five were rebuilt. Rescue Twelve was replaced by a new 1985 mini-pumper. Engine Number Four was sold and replaced by Engine Number Twenty, built by Grumman on a Mack chassis. Tanker Twenty-One was purchased new, it was a super tanker built by Grumman on a Mack chassis. Rescue Nineteen was purchased new; Rescue Nineteen was a heavy duty rescue truck, which was designed to act as a command center when needed and was built by Ashley Emergency Vehicles of North Carolina. Squad Eighteen, a 1985 GMC Suburban, was purchased new.
2005 - Present
In 2005, Engine Number Fourteen was sold to Durbin and Rescue Nineteen was sold to a company in Illinois. These two vehicles were replaced by a rescue/pumper built by Smeal Fire Apparatus on an HME chassis. In 2007, the department purchased a 2007 Chevrolet 3500 to replace the 1985 Ford. This new mini pumper/brush truck has a 300 gallon tank, with a 300 GPM pump.
Currently the Department consists of over forty-five, well trained senior firefighters, junior firefighters and emergency personnel, with a total of over 500 years of experience. The average firefighter and emergency personnel spends better than 400 hours a year serving the citizens of Marlinton and surrounding areas, As much as two-thirds of these hours are spent in training and preparation for a fire or other emergency.
The men of the Department in 1906 concerned themselves with only fighting fires, but as the needs of the citizens became greater, the Fire Department had to expand into other fields of emergency training. As a well trained firefighter or emergency personnel, a member may be called upon to help with an automobile accident, cave rescue, floods, ice jams, plane crashes, search parties, or to respond to a mutual aid call from another department. During major emergencies the Department operates a Command Center and most members are trained in all aspects of the Command Center.
The Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. has grown in one hundred years to meet the needs of our times. The Department has some of the best equipment and a very dedicated membership, who put aside their personal needs to help those whose needs are greater, sometimes spending long hours or even days on a call, before returning to their homes and own families.
Every member prays that all the equipment and the many hours of training will never be needed, but if and when it is they hope they will be able to save a family’s home or a person’s life.
Marlinton Rescue Squad
Marlinton Rescue Squad is an all volunteer, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) provider. Marlinton Rescue Squad is a division of the Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. They have been serving Marlinton and a large part of Pocahontas County since 1955. The squad is staffed by 25 volunteer-professional EMS team members. They serve approximately 6,000 full-time residents and experience an influx of over 12,000 tourists traveling through their district to the Snowshoe/Silver Creek Resort and other tourists attractions in the area daily. They cover several thousand acres of the Monongahela National Forest as well as several large state parks.
They provide EMS coverage by volunteer call-out crews 24/7 as the only EMS provider in the area. From July 2005 through January 2007, STAT Ambulance Service of Pineville, WV had been in the county to assist with growing call volume and a declining number of available volunteers. STAT ambulance left the Marlinton area due to down sizing of their company.
All of the members are required to complete an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic class within one year of joining the Squad. All new EMTs are required to complete three evaluation calls, including medical, trauma and transport, prior to being allowed to respond alone. All drivers are required to successfully complete an EVOC class prior to driving an ambulance in an emergency response.
Apparatus
Marlinton Rescue Squad houses three rescue vehicles in the facilities it shares with the Marlinton Fire Department. A 2005 Chevrolet/AEV K3500 4x4 144" Type I Ambulance, a 2002 Ford/Marque E450 SuperDuty Type III 164" Ambulance, and a 2006 John Deere Gator that is fully equipped for off-road rescue. This unit is used to transport injured victims from remote areas where a large full size ambulance can not reach.
See also
- Pocahontas County, WV
- Marlinton, WV
External links
- Marlinton Fire Department Website http://www.marlintonfire.com
- Marlinton Rescue Squad Website http://www.marlintonrescue.com