Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department History

The first organizational meeting of the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department was held at the law office of Hutt and Robertson, in Montross, Virgina on December 15, 1971, at 11:00 a.m. Present were the six directors of the organization: Carl F. Flemmer III, R.M. Pollock, Chris B. Bowie, Eugene Bowie Jr., C.W. Bryant, and W. Wilson White Jr. At this meeting Flemer Fletcher was appointed temporary chairman and Chris Bowie was appointed temporary secretary. It was announced at this meting that through the efforts of Mr. James T. Robertson, the State Corporation Commission of Virginia had issued a certificate of Incorporation to the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department. The directors then appointed the Corporation's first officers to serve until the next elections were to be held. Appointed were:

C. Fletcher Flemer III        President
Eugene Bowie Jr.              Vice President
Chris B. Bowie                   Secretary
W. Wilson White Jr.           Treasurer
C.W. Bryant                         Chief
Robert "Bob" Olive             Assistant Chief
Woody Hynson                   Captain
W. Wilson White Jr.           Chaplain

Also discussed at this meeting was a 1.27 acre lot on Route 205 near Oak Grove being donated by Mr. Allen C. Byers of Camar Corporation. This parcel was accepted by the Oak Grove Directors as the future site for the Oak Grove Fire House. In September of 1972, construction of a 40' x 60' two bay block and brick firehouse began. Thanks to a loan from The Bank of Montross and help from volunteers, the construction was soon completed.

Along with the responsibility of keeping our residents safe, was keeping the Birthplace of George Washington, the 1st president of the United States of America and one of the most famous Generals in U.S. Army history, safe as well.

The new building would house the first apparatus Oak Grove ever had, which was a 1955 Ford FMC Pumper that was bought from Colonial Beach Volunteer Fire Department for $1.00! This unit stayed in service until February of 1994.

In April of 1974, a second pumper was purchased from Lorton Volunteer Fire Department for $11,000.00. This unit stayed in service until May of 1984. The charter for the auxiliary organization at Oak Grove was also created in 1974.

The following year a 1,250 gallon Ford Tanker was purchased from Callao Volunteer Fire Department for $1,000.00. This provided Oak Grove with a mobile water source for almost 11 years.

The 5th anniversary of Oak Grove VFD was in 1977. This year Oak Grove got a loan to buy 12 brand new self contained breathing apparatus from Draiger Corporation. Colonial Beach VRS also stopped performing vehicle extrication this year, so Oak Grove VFD sold a 1981 30' Penn Yan cabin cruiser boat donated by Mr. and Mrs. William P. Sale. The proceeds from the boat enable Oak Grove to purchase the CBVRS's extrication equipment. The Board of Directors also borrowed more money to add a 1,600 sq. ft. addition to the 40' x 60' two bay building they had originally. This added a kitchen, meeting room, and an office. A Chiefs car was also donated this year to the department by Mr. and Mrs. Forest Bullock Sr.

In August of 1978, Oak Grove bought its first new truck. a 1978 Ford truck was purchased from Purvis Ford and outfitted as a brush truck. This apparatus was known as Truck 43. This unit was in service for 15 years.
The famous Oak Grove siren was also purchased this year. It can still be heard today alerting volunteers that help is needed for an emergency.

In 1981, a new 1981 Ford Tanker/pumper was purchased. This unit was known as Truck 46 but was later changed to E43. This unit was in service until the late 90's.

In 1987, Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department sold their 1968 GMC 1,800 gallon tanker to Oak Grove for $5,000.00. This unit was known as Tanker 47 and replaced the old Ford Tanker that was used before this.

In 1988, Oak Grove purchased a 1968 Ford Pumper from Colonial Beach Volunteer Fire Department for $20,000.00. This unit was used for 5 years before being retired.

In 1990, Oak Grove signed its first mutual aid agreement. This was a pact between Colonial Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, King George Volunteer Fire Department, and Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department.

In 1993, a 1968 Mack 4,000 gallon tanker was purchased from Beecher Falls Volunteer Fire Department in Beecher Falls, Vermont. With the help of Lee's Auto Body, Oak Grove refurbished the Tanker to place it in service as Tanker 4, where it remained until the early 2000's. This tanker replaced the old GMC that was presently in service.

In 1994, Ira Marks was elected as the new Fire Chief for Oak Grove. Two replacement pumpers were purchased as well. The first was a 1972 THI Bault Pumper bought from Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department for $11,000.00. This pumper was in service for 2 years before it was sold to Fairview Beach Volunteer Fire Department. The second pumper was a 1975 Mack, 6-man closed-cab truck. This was purchased from Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department for $10,150.00. This pumper was named Engine 41 and was in service until the late 90's.

A fireman's lounge, new bathrooms, and a new roof were added to the fire house during the summer of 1994 with money raised by the intensive fundraising of Mary Marks and her coworkers.

A 1972 Maxim Pumper from Riverdale Heights Volunteer Fire Department was purchased in 1996 for $13,000.00 to replace the THI Bault Pumper that was sold to Fairview Beach Volunteer Fire Department two years prior. This Engine was known as Engine 42 and was in service until the late 90's.

In March of 1996, Oak Grove VFD acquired a 1988 Ford Ambulance from Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad. This unit was equipped through a generous donation from the Levi Strauss Company of Warsaw and was used to help CBVRS with medical emergencies in Oak Groves first due area. This unit was put into service in 1996 as a basic life support and non transport unit. This unit was known as Support 4. Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department also donated a 1985 Chevrolet car to Oak Grove that was put into service as a utility car known as Car 4.

In September of 2009. Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department applied for a loan and grant through the Rural Development Department. Oak Grove received a $50,000.00 grant and a loan of $130,000.00 which were used to purchase the first brand new custom fire truck in OGVFD has had in decades. The truck was completed and delivered on December 10, 2009.

Apparatus in service as of 2009 are Response 4 (1997 GMC Suburban), Brush 4 (2003 Ford F-350), Engine 4 (2009 Ferrara Intruder II), Wagon 4 (1988 Pierce Lance), Tanker 4 (2006 International E-One), and Rescue Boat 4 (2006 Jon Boat). Response 4 is first out for all medical calls. Brush 4 is first out for all brush/field fires. Engine 4 is equipped with extrication and firefighting equipment and is rotated first out with Wagon 4. Wagon 4 is set up the same as Engine 4 and rotates first out With Engine 4. Tanker 4 is second out on all structure and brush fires and is first out on all mutual aid fires.

Today, Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department, the dream of a few, the reality of many, continues to grow and thrive. Today we have 80 members, of which 44 are active members who currently run calls. On an average call we have approximately 14 members who respond to calls. Our average response, from the time tones drop to the time our first truck marks up responding to the emergency, is 5 minutes.