Stop this ride I want to get off.

This has been a cycle for the record books. The middle day we got zero sleep. No not one of those get up 3 or 4 time in the night for EMS runs, I really mean zero sleep. We left #7 at about 16:00 on Sunday and rolled back into the lot at 06:00 on Monday morning with bloodshot eyes, bad attitudes (At least I did) and a mess for B-shift to clean up. We spent the entire night on Poor Mountain searching for the lost 19 year old fellow that was on WSLS channel 10 this evening describing his ordeal. And the worst part about the whole deal was that the steak and shrimp dinner that Craighead was supposed to get on his last day turned into a chicken sandwich in a box on the tailgate of a pickup truck. No worries though, he left yesterday morning with a raw steak still wrapped in plastic headed for Franklin County. Sure hope you enjoyed your steak buddy.

Toady was the day for the double skidder fire. Yea, double skidder fire. When you get dispatched to a brush fire and round the corner to see a column of thick black smoke coming up from the side of the mountain you know that nothing good can come of it. I have got to give credit where credit is due. LT Altice should give up his NASCAR affliction and take up SCORE/BAJA the way he took Wagon 7 up that logging road. I actually have video of it.

One stuck skidder on its side being pulled by another skidder + wheel and tire of the stuck skidder break off and go rolling down the mountain = One big mess in the middle of the woods.

That's about all the fun I can stand for a while. I hope B and C shifts get to share in all of this excitement. We'll be back on Pasta Sunday. Be safe out there .

September 11, 2001

Please take a few minutes today to remember the 343 brother firefighters from the New York City Fire Department that gave their lives trying to help others in need. I know that it has been 9 years, but I can still see the images as clearly as if it happened yesterday.

First day Back for A-shift

It has been a bit since our last post, but by popular demand I am going to make an attempt to keep the blog a little more up to date.

The vacation season is in full stride. I was off last cycle for a well deserved and much needed break from the heat and chaos. Several days on Phillpot floating around the boat in the cool water did the trick. Craighead is off a couple of days this cycle so that should keep us from traveling someone out this week.

Anyway, back to the grind. Fairly busy first day back for A-shift. The usual first day truck checks and station maitenence. We spent a little time getting our hands on the shiny new Hurst high pressure tools on Wagon 7 this morning as well.

We caught a car fire near a residence with the crew from #3 around lunch time.

Not much left of the Beamer upon arrival. Lt Martin and Pops Spradling off of Wagon 3 made the knockdown and Tuck and Meagher mopped it up. The car was about 30' from the residence, but the fire was confined to the car. Other units on the scene included Medic 7, Ladder 3, Medic 31, and EMS-2.

At some point while taking up lines the rookie decided that she needed to freshen up her make up. ( I think she may have had some help) Just because it's 95 degrees and you are hot ant sweaty you still have to look your your best. You never know when when you might have to smile for the camera.

Well so far that was the highlight of the day. We did have some impressive lightning dropping around the Station this afternoon that resulted in a short ride to Cave Spring for a fire alarm.

We finished off the evening with a nice chicken fajita dinner and a bath for the Wagon and the Medic unit. Now off to bed with hopes of a quiet night. Be safe out there......

EMS HERO

Congrats to A-Shift EMS Captain Jeff Lawson. The recipient of the Regional award to the outstanding pre hospital provider. For thirty plus years of dedicated service as an EMS professional. Way to go "Superman without a cape"

Attack of the cake pan licker

We were invaded today by the one know only as McLovin. Funny how Medic 6 shows up around dinner time on Pasta Sundays, and as a final insult the last of Nana's eclair cake was licked out of the pan. Yes; licked out of the pan. We would have stopped him if it wasn't for the fear of his "TDTS" disease (Transient Dancing Terets Syndrome). He was last seen heading toward Yellow Mountain road.

Welcome to Probationary Firefighter Rachel Meagher

Well today was the first day on the job for the newest addition to A-shift. Probationary Firefighter Rachel Meagher joined us today fresh from Recruit Academy #13. She started off with a bang and caught her first working fire today. Not a big deal, but it had potential. A little job with Company #3 over on Meadowlark. Started around a leaking gas meter on the Charlie side and extended into the attic. Good work today troops, and welcome Rachel.

A-shift and C-shift tearin up the junk yard

We just wanted to say a big thanks to Captain Eddie Chitwood from C-shift. Ed lined up a day at a local junk yard for the two shifts to get together and tear up some cars. We all rolled in Saturday morning to a pile of wrecked cars, Ed provided a trailer full of tools and equipment an the rest was up to us. We spent about 6 hours cutting, sawing, and generally destroying about a dozen cars. These are just a few of the pictures. I will try to get all of them together in a video and post it next day.

Disclaimer: Capt. Chitwood - A-Shift can not be held responsible for any car parts that may be on, in, or around you house......

Putting things in perspective

It's funny how things happen at the strangest times. The ink had not even dried on the transfer list that was released today when Battalion Chief Sexton and I came across a box of old department documents. There was a lot of interesting stuff in this old box including a file on probationary Firefighter/Medic David M. Jones. Yes it had a lot of dust on it.....Also in this box was a station transfer list dated September 8, 1997. That's right 44 people. The entire Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Career Department. Of those 44 people, 21 have been promoted, 9 have retired, and 7 have quit. Another interesting fact is that of the 6 stations that were staffed in 1997, 2 were staffed 12 hours a day (#5 and #9). The rest were staffed 10 hours a day.


If my count is correct with the graduates of Recruit Academy #13 we will have 137 personnel in the field. This does not include Fire Administration, The Fire Marshall's Office, and the Training Division. In 12 years we have more than tripled is size. I can't wait to see what the next decade will hold. I feel very lucky to be a part of such an outstanding group of professionals. Keep up the good work guys and gals.....and be safe out there....

Best of luck Gil

The "list" is out.....

Well the latest round of transfers is out... sad to say that we will be loosing Firefighter John Gillespie to the Castle on Hershberger. He will be replaced by a recruit to be named at a later date. Otherwise there were a few surprises and a few that were not surprises. Oh well , that's the way the mop flops...

Ice Cream Social

We took advantage of this beautiful spring evening to celebrate McLovin's birthday at Maggie Moo's with our good friends on City Engine 8 and Medic 8. A good time was had by all, except maybe the guys on Medic 8. Unfortunately they had to get theirs to go.

I am McLovin !!!!

Yes, I mentioned another birthday. HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY to Firefighter Jarad Hall. Better known as McLovin. Jarad is currently detailed to Station 6.

PS - Thanks for the tip Brooke.

First day back for A-Shift and yet another birthday

Sounds like it has been a busy four days for the B and C shift boys. A couple of working fires while we were off, and it appears that the south county mulch fire season is in full swing. So far it has been quiet on this side of town today. A couple of EMS runs for Ollie and Craighead on the Medic unit that didn't amount to much, and due to some swapping around and DFP classes we were saddled with a couple of C-shift misfits for a few hours today. Always a pleasure to have Dick Williams and Tim Houffmeyer join us. (Not really) You will be glad to know that they represented their shift well. Pretty much stayed in the same positions you see them in here. Thanks Boss !!!!

Where's Lawson

Where is our beloved EMS Captain Today?

Happy Birthday to Lt. Don and Skippy

A-Shift would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! to Lieutenant Don Altice and Firefighter Zach "Skippy" Graybill.

Last day of the cycle for A-Shift

The last day of what will be known as the "Birthday Cycle" for the letter "A" shift started of with a little cut job on Electric Road in front of Wendy's. Not a big deal, but a good chance to use the 42's. I'm not real sure about the yellow round sling tied to the front of Wagon 3. Got to work with the tools you have I guess.

Welcome to the Station 7 Blog

Welcome to the first Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department blog.

Station #7 is located at 5342 Indian Grave Rd. In the Clearbrook community of Roanoke, VA. We are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by career firefighters and paramedics.
(Captain, Lieutenant, 2 Medic/Firefighters, and 2 Firefighter/EMT's)

Station 7 is home to Wagon 7 (2006 KME Rescue Pumper), Medic 7 (2005 Marquee type 1 ambulance). We also have in the house Brush 7, HTR 7 (Technical Rescue), and the collapse and mass casualty trailers.

Please stay tuned for more history and current happenings at Station #7