A History of the Christiansburg Volunteer Fire Department
1911-1986

If the group of men who formed the Christiansburg Volunteer Fire Department in the Fall of 1911 could have foreseen the department's growth and development over the next seventy-five years they would have been truly amazed.  Moreover, if the future innovations and improvements in firefighting techniques and specialized equipment could have been revealed to them, their amazement would have risen to an even greater degree.

Virginia was just passing from the greatest recovery period in its history.  Barely forty-five years had passed since the end of the War Between the States; newspapers were few and present day information media -- telephone, radio, television -- was all but nonexistent.

It was then that the community leaders worked to form an organized fire department.  Prior to that time there had been "bucket brigades" used to fight fires in the town.  Buckets hung on a rope in the old town hall building and, when fire broke out, citizens rushed to the scene carrying the buckets.  Two lines would then be formed -- one line of men from a well, creek, cistern or other source of water -- a second line, usually made up of women and children, from the fire back to the water supply.  Full buckets of water would be passed along the line of men and put on the fire then passed, empty, back through the second line to be refilled.  These efforts were sincere, and it was hard work for all involved, but they were usually far less than successful.  The bucket brigade probably stood its greatest test when the Episcopal Church and Johnson & Janney Store burned on January 13, 1903.  This occurred at the corner of West Main and Hickok Streets, where Scottie Pharmacy now stands.

In those days Christiansburg had no water works.  Another sad defeat was handed the bucket brigade when fire destroyed the Aaron Graham Lumber Yard and Planning Mill in 1907.  This large business stood between North Franklin and College Streets not far from where the local ABC store is located today.  Frantic messages and calls for aid were sent to Roanoke when it became evident that the fire was far out of control.  The Roanoke City Fire Department sent a horse drawn steam fire engine here by special N&W train to fight the raging flames, but, when it arrived, there was not enough water in the near-by creek for it to pump!

From 1909 to 1911 the Town of Christiansburg planned and constructed a water works system consisting of a reservoir, pumping station and distribution mains.  Water was secured from two large springs located about two and one half miles west of downtown, not far from the present day Round Meadow Country Club.  A "ram" was used for about four years to pump the water from the springs to the elevated reservoirs, just off Radford Street.  Afterward, a gasoline engine and piston-type pump replaced the ram.  A couple of years later the gasoline engine was replaced by an electric motor for operating the pumps.

In September, 1911, town council appointed Mr. William Beecham to serve as Christiansburg's first fire chief and authorized him to organize a volunteer fire company with two captains and two or three lieutenants.  With the new fire department organized, council purchased 1200 feet of fire hose, two hose reels, two shut-off nozzles, a Siamese hose coupler and several small fire extinguishers.  Part of this equipment is still in the possession of the local department.

Records are not available to reveal the charter members of the Christiansburg Volunteer Fire Department.  Those records were lost when fire spread through the Spindle Building on the SW side of the Town Square in 1915.  The town records were housed there and a number of them perished, including minutes of town council meetings of that time period.

In 1912 the town fathers gave police powers to the Fire Chief, Captain and Lieutenants during a fire and also provided that when fire broke out, any team of horses on the street could be pressed into service to pull the hose reels to the scene of the fire.  For this, the owner would be paid the sum of fifty cents for each service rendered.  So far as can be determined this action has not been rescinded and remains in force.

In August, 1912, Fire Chief Beecham resigned his post and Mr. Charlie S. Charlton was appointed to serve as fire chief.

The hose reels were used until 1923, at which time the town purchased a forty gallon chemical fire extinguisher with hose, two small fire extinguishers and additional hose and mounted this equipment on a Model T Ford truck.  This was not a true fire engine - it had no pumping capability - but simply a motorized unit for hauling some equipment.  En route to a fire, firemen would many times have to jump off the truck and help it through the mud on Main Street or push while it struggled up a hill.

About 1926 a Cadillac touring car, confiscated for carrying "bootleg whiskey" was turned over to the fire department and the equipment was mounted on it.  Now the men could ride to the fires (and with some speed!), but they still had limited equipment to work with when they got there.  Soon afterward, in 1927, the Cambria Baptist Church was destroyed by a spectacular blaze.

After serving for 16½ years Chief Charlton was replaced in 1928 by Mr. James S. Childress as fire chief.  Mr. Childress held the office for eight years.  He also served for a number of years as sheriff of Montgomery County.

During the next few decades the department began to grow into an accomplished, well-trained fire fighting unit.  Christiansburg insured its equipment and provided insurance for all firemen.  In September of 1929 the amount of $1,000, the first operating appropriation for the fire department, appeared in the town budget.  On July 29, 1930, the town council appointed Fire Chief Childress, Mr. Lilburn Dunlap and Mr. G.C. Jones to confer with the Town of Cambria and Montgomery County and see what they would be willing to pay toward a true fire engine.  Cambria joined with Christiansburg and agreed to pay $1,500 toward the purchase of new equipment and assumed ¼  of the operating expenses of the fire department.  Montgomery County declined to participate.

On August 11, 1930 town council and the firemen met with a representative of the American la France and Foamite Fire Equipment Company of Elmira, New York at Silver Lake, just west of town, for a demonstration of a new fire truck.  So impressed was council that on August 20, less than ten days later, they voted to purchase the new American la France 500 GPM (gallon per minute) pumper, complete with a 200 gallon booster tank for water, chemical extinguishers, handlights, floodlight, etc. for $6,500.  They also placed $500 in the 1931 budget for the department.  Late in 1930, an additional 1500 feet of fire hose was purchased by Christiansburg and Cambria.  The new fire truck was lettered in gold leaf: "Christiansburg Cambria Fire Department."

That same year, fire destroyed the Evans & Flannagan Furniture and Hardware Store on the present site of the First National Bank.  The new pumper supplied plenty of water, but the fire had too much of a start to be stopped.  On December 16, 1932, an early morning fire consumed the old grade school on Stone Street where the rescue squad headquarters stands.  Fireman braved cold winds and frozen hoses during that all night battle.  School children returned to school after New Year, 1933 above the old Bank of Christiansburg building, where they finished out the school year.

The first complete listing of members of the fire department appeared some 53 years ago, in 1933.  The firemen were:

In 1935 the department considered raising the membership, but due to the lack of coats and other equipment, and the absence of funds with which to purchase them, the matter was tabled. In 1936 another school, this one in Cambria, was destroyed by fire.  Firemen had no protective clothing or gear, other than what they could furnish for themselves.  During the Cambria School fire, Fireman A. Parker Jones was struck on the head by a falling brick and knocked off a ladder.  He was knocked unconscious, but fortunately was not seriously injured.  The firemen began trying to raise more money to buy themselves helmets, coats, boots and gloves.

Another problem, from the beginning, was that of cramped quarters.  In the Spring of 1934 the town rented space from the Richardson Funeral Home, which had just moved into new facilities on East Main Street, to house the fire truck.  IN May, 1937, town council moved to acquire the present municipal building, with the rear of it to serve as the fire house.  In October of 1938, the Town of Cambria began paying for the rental space for the truck - five dollars a month.  That same year, Christiansburg allocated $450 for operation of the fire department.  The total town budget that year was $39,000.

In an attempt to raise funds during the Great Depression, the department held a Masquerade Ball at the Silver Lake Nite Club, which according to reports, was well attended.  Later, a baseball game was held between the firemen and members of the local American Legion Post with proceeds being divided between the two organizations.  Tickets were sold for twenty-five cents each and refreshments were sold.  According to the Montgomery News Messenger there were no home runs hit, buy "Grayson, Mannoni and Jones hit triples for the fire department..." as the firemen won the game by a score of 12-11.  A little over twenty-seven dollars was raised for each group!

Records show that through the 1930's many calls were received from residents out in the county for the fire department.  On March 1, 1934 the fire department requested Montgomery County, in writing, to purchase "a light fire truck with pump, booster tank and hose for the fighting of fires in this county."  They went on to say that they had been taking the town fire truck "out in the county and this leaves our town helpless in case of fire".  The request was turned down by the Board of Supervisors and on April 12, 1939 a large editorial appeared on the front page of the Montgomery News Messenger urging the county to purchase a fire truck.  By this time, insurance companies has become unwilling to extend their schedule of rates in Christiansburg "if the local fire truck is taken outside the corporation limits, leaving town property unprotected."  The editorial said that the Christiansburg firemen were most willing to answer fire calls in the county and had even taken some equipment and gone out in their automobiles to try to assist at fires.  Christiansburg instructed the firemen to take the fire truck up to one mile outside the town limits, but most of the county was without fire protection until the county government finally bought two 500 GPM 1942 model Ford fire trucks which were delivered in July, 1942.  One of these trucks was placed in service in Christiansburg and the other one in Blacksburg after the fire fighters agreed to "house, man and operate" them at fires in the county as well as in town.

Earlier, in April, 1941, Christiansburg's town council agreed to purchase a second town fire engine.  A Dodge chassis was purchased for $739 and Roanoke Welding and Equipment Co. delivered the truck back to the town in later October, 1941 completely outfitted as a factory-built fire engine with a 500 GPM pump, a 400 gallon water tank and other necessary equipment, all for $3,061.  Total cost of the new fire truck was $3,800.  Today, a new, well equipped pumper costs about $150,000 - $175,000!

With the delivery of this new town truck and a few months later the new county engine, the firemen were again "rooted out" of their headquarters by the equipment.  A committee had been appointed in April, 1936 to look into building a new station, but with the Depression, world events as they were and, finally, World Word II, a new station was long coming.

Until the delivery of the second town fire engine, all firefighting had been done with just the one fire truck.  Now that the department had two trucks they began to engage in training exercises, using both trucks together at fires.  Such was the case one Sunday afternoon in December, 1941 when firemen had taken the trucks on a training session, practicing pumping from the creek with the old truck to supply the new engine with water.  Upon their return to the fire house that afternoon, December 7, they learned that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.  And so came the second World War and with it changes for the fire department, the town and county, along with the rest of the world.

Immediately the department made preparation for organizing an Auxiliary Fire Department and began special training through the Department of Civil Defense.  Additional officers were selected, civic leaders were appointed to act as emergency telephone operators and drills were held so the department could be ready in the event of an enemy attack.  Firemen went off to war.  The Constitution and By-Laws of the fire department were amended so that a man entering the armed forces was assured that his place in the department would be awaiting him on his return from fighting.  The War Years were hard on fire departments across America.  All the fire fighting equipment manufacturers worked full steam to supply War Effort demands.  Cities and towns had to wait until after the war for equipment.  This department was able to weather the storm well, however, having just received two new fire trucks and equipment.

On February 27, 1942 Christiansburg suffered its most disastrous fire up to that time.  At 1:30 AM that Friday morning fire broke out on the third floor of the Shelton & Walters building located across the Square from the Courthouse in downtown.  Shortly after firemen arrived the entire third floor was a mass of flames, fanned by an icy wind.  It soon became evident that the building was doomed and the fire fighters focused their efforts on saving adjoining buildings and buildings across the street.  Assistance was requested from the Radford Fire Department and they responded very quickly.  Efforts were hampered on every hand.  First, the water supply was running dangerously low and with both of Christiansburg's engines pumping from the town water mains there was not enough pressure for Radford to hook to the system.  Secondly, the temperature was 16° at 3 AM with a high wind.  The firemen were without adequate protective clothing and the fire report said they "...looked like Eskimos after about 15 minutes on the hose."  But, even with all that was against them, they were able to save the surrounding buildings and homes and spent over twenty-four hours at the site in the cold.

Sirens were used in those days to alert the firemen of an emergency.  As time passed, additional sirens were installed over the town and until 1959 they were the only means of summoning the members.  Upon hearing the sirens (which were activated by the local telephone operators, or "central girls" as they were known) the firemen would rush to the station, call the operator and, by using a code number, would be told the location and nature of the fire.  Today the sirens are still used, but only as a back-up system and as an alert to the general public that firefighters will be answering an emergency call.  All firemen now carry pagers with them and keep alerting radios in their homes and businesses and are alerted immediately of fire, regardless of the time and day or where they may be.

Soon after World War II, fire department personnel and others began to dig away the large earthern bank behind the Town Hall to make room for a new fire station.  In 1950 the fire department moved to its new station - a study, two story, five bay building - the present site of the Christiansburg Police Department on East Main Street at Roanoke Street.  Samuel P. Richardson had been elected fire chief in 1936 and he was hired to look after the equipment when the department moved into the new station.  Mr. Richardson continued to serve as chief through 1953 at which time C. Fred Blount was elected fire chief.  He served in that position for 15 years.  In 1978 Mr. Blount, then serving as Assistant Fire Chief and Mayor of Christiansburg, became the first (and to date the only) person to have served fifty years as a member of the Christiansburg Fire Department.  He was honored by the department and presented a gold badge in appreciation of his many years of excellent leadership and unselfish devotion to his department and community.  Fred Blount suffered a fatal heart attack while attending a regular weekly meeting of the fire department in October 1980.  His influence and the influence of dozens of other men who have served their fellowmen through this organization remains strong and will serve as an example for generations of firefighters to come.  We offer thanks to Almighty God for these men; we do not attempt to list them here, but He knows and we know and remember them.

In 1955 the company, using its own funds, purchased a small, light-weight 250 GPM pumper for use in both the town and county.  This smaller fire truck responded as the "first out" unit to fires and was able to arrive ahead of the heavier, slower trucks and "hold" or even extinguish the fire.  In 1968 Christiansburg and Montgomery County together purchased a new, small pumper to replace the '55 model and this truck was replaced last year with a new, state-of-the-art "quick response" pumper.

Action was initiated by this department in 1958 to secure a tanker truck for use in areas without adequate water supply for fire fighting.  A used, 1938 model milk tanker, which carries 2,600 gallons of water, was obtained.  This old tank continues in service today, although we have hopes that the county will soon replace it with a new unit.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property have been better protected from fire by this type of fire equipment.

In 1957 Montgomery County replaced the 1942 model pumper with a new 750 GPM engine.  The old truck was taken to the newly organized department at Riner and continued to serve several more years there.  The 1957 truck remains in service at Christiansburg as a reserve pumper, the county having replaced it in 1973 with another 750 GPM truck.

The 1930 American la France truck was replaced by the Town of Christiansburg in 1959 with a new 750 GPM pumper.  The 1941 Dodge was replaced in 1967 with a large 1000 GPM engine, although it remained as a reserve engine until 1979 when the town purchased a new 1250 GPM engine.  The 1930 model and 1941 model trucks, the first factory built fire engines used by the department, have been privately restored and are now owned by one of our members.

Currently operating our of the Christiansburg station are the following pieces of firefighting equipment:

1 - 1250 GPM pumper
1 - 1000 GPM pumper
3 - 750 GPM pumpers
1- 2600 gal. tanker
1 - 250 GPM pumper
1 - 200 GPM brush truck
1 - 4x4 carry-all
1 - equipment truck
1 - fire chief's car

In 1968 Paul J. Hall was elected fire chief, becoming the sixth man to hold that position in the history of the fire department.  He served in that position through 1971.

Since 1972, James W. Epperly has served as Chief.  Firefighting techniques and related equipment have probably changed more during the past 15-20 years than in the previous 55-60 years of the existence of this company.  Chief Epperly has led, and continues to lead, the Christiansburg department through these changing times.  He devotes countless hours to the fire service.  In addition to serving as fire chief, he has served as president of the Southwest Virginia Fireman's Association, president of the State Firemen's Association, has served as a certified state fire inspector, and is a member of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association, where he has also served on the board of directors.  He currently is chairman of the Montgomery County Firemen's Association, a group which this department helped to form in the 1960's, and serves on the Virginia Fire Board.

The Christiansburg Volunteer Fire Department has a way of turning out leaders. James H. Blount, Jr., a former assistant chief here, has served as president of both the Southwest and State Firemen's Associations.  Harold D. Akers has, in addition to serving as secretary-treasurer of this department for some 28 years, served as president of the Southwest Association and is the secretary of the Virginia State Fireman's Association, a position he has held for 16 years.  He has also served as a member of the Joint Training Committee in the state association.

Andrew A. Hawkins, who will celebrate 50 years of membership in this organization in 1987, is a member of the Executive Committee and serves as a Trustee for the insurance program of the State Association.  His wife, Eleanor D. Hawkins, is a charter member of the Ladies  Auxiliary to the Christiansburg Fire Department (which was formed in 1954) and has served as president of the States Ladies Association.  Phyllis C. Williams, wife of Christiansburg's current assistant fire chief, has served as treasurer and was recently elected President of that association.  Danny Yopp is a past president of the Southwest Association; Roy Redd serves as treasurer of that group; Marvin Reed, a 29 year veteran fireman and now an honorary member of the local department, has served as treasurer of Southwest and for 24 years was the assistant secretary-treasurer of our fire department...and the list goes on and on!!

In addition to the fires already mentioned, the Christiansburg Volunteer Fire Department has encountered, among many others, the following major fires:

October 9 & 10, 1938: Fire broke out in the Rigby Mill and Southern Dairies in Cambria.  Christiansburg and Blacksburg firemen battled the fire through Sunday night and into the day on Monday.  The loss was estimated at $115,000, quite a loss back in 1938!

April 13, 1943:  Fire at the Great Valley Coal Company at McCoy.  This department assisted the Blacksburg Company at this $125,000 fire.

February 8, 1947:  Firemen fought what came to be called "The Cambria Fire."  Buildings housing Bane Coal Company, the Cambria Bank, post office, Mick or Mack, Cromer Grocery, Modern Plumbing, Mountcastle Bicycle Shop, apartments and the Bean home were destroyed.  Total loss in excess of $150,000.

November 17, 1947:  Assisted the Radford Fire Department at a fire in a downtown hotel and several businesses in Radford.

November 9, 1948: The Star Market on North Franklin Street, 3:04 AM.

February 28, 1949: At 7:20 PM, Hi-Way Theatre, two miles east of Radford on Rt. 11.

May 4, 1949: Great Valley Coal Tipple at McCoy.  Called to assist the Blacksburg firefighters at 12:40 AM.

May 13, 1949: Assist the Radford firemen at a fire at Dalton's Wholesale Grocery Company there.  Called at 6:20 PM.  Damage over $200,000.

July 5, 1949: Jewell Sawmill near Alleghany/Otey.

Then, for a few years no major fires were fought.  Then, beginning in 1954, the tide turned. Fire was reported at 2:35 AM Sunday, November 7, 1954 in the bowling alley under Rose's Department Store on West Main Street.  When the trucks arrived a few minutes later, heavy smoke was pouring from Rose's and Cavalier Furniture Store buildings.  Without present day breathing apparatus the firemen could not effectively fight the basement fire.  Soon after their arrival a heavy door blew out, injuring several firemen.  Aid was summoned from the Radford and Blacksburg departments and together firefighters kept the fire from consuming the entire block.  Christiansburg fireman remained on the scene until 10:30 Sunday night and returned again at 6:30 Monday morning, when "hot spots" re-kindled in the debris.  Loss from this fire was in excess of $250,000.

Less than two years later fire broke out at about 6 PM in the attic of the Royal Cafe on East Main Street.  Within a few hours, the cafe, City Market, Smith & Jones Department Store, Jennings Barber Shop, Ladies' Budget Shop, and Interiors by Richard had been burned to the ground.  Damage was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Our firemen were assisted at this fire by firemen from Radford, Blacksburg, Radford Arsenal, Dublin, Pearisburg and Salem.  Hose lines were laid as far at 3½ blocks to hydrants and a creek was damned behind the funeral home and the same water was used from the creek over and over again.  Hoses being fed by the pumper at the creek steamed and firemen's hands were burned holding the nozzles as the water running from the burning buildings, into the storm drains along the street and into the creek was very hot.  Soon after this fire, the Town of Christiansburg and the funeral home, working together, built a permanent flood gate and access covers over the creek so water could be obtained quickly in the event additional water was needed in future downtown fires.

Less than a year afterward, at 1:35 AM on March 9, 1957, the Jennings Barber Shop (which had been destroyed the previous May and had re-located to West Main Street) again burned, along with Simmons Shoe Shop.  The fire spread to the Shelton-Walters Building, but firemen were able to stop this fire before heavy damage was done to that building.

August 2, 1959 was a busy day for Christiansburg firemen.  They were first called, at 12:30 AM, to assist Radford firemen at a fire which heavily damaged Jamison Motor Company in West Radford.  They returned to Christiansburg just before 4 AM that day.  At 4:25 AM the alarm sounded for a fire on Cambria's Main Street.  Three buildings were destroyed before the tired firefighters returned to the station a little before noon.  This was the last major fire fought by Christiansburg's first fire engine, the 1930 model American la France.

Another fire on Christiansburg's Main Street occurred in the evening hours of January 20, 1962 when fire was reported in apartments on the upper floors on the Mensh Building on East Main.  Firemen extinguished the blaze and returned to the fire house about 7:45 PM for supper together.  While preparing dinner, just a few yards from the Mensh Building, a second fire was reported there at 8:30, this time on the second floor.  Firemen remained on the scene this time until after 3 AM and were assisted both times in fighting the fire by the ladder truck from Blacksburg.  The second fire was unrelated to the first and the State Fire Marshall was called in at 10:30 PM.

Later that year firemen had their fire encounter with radioactive materials.  Shortly after midnight September 14, 1962 men and equipment responded along the N&W Railroad tracks west of town near Montague's Cut where, upon arrival, they found fire in an express & baggage car.  Radiation was emitted from metal cans being shipped to VPI and the University of Connecticut.  No firemen were injured, but they were on the scene for twelve hours and a special radiation team was dispatched from Fort Lee to check for danger.

Firemen were called to the local radio station (then WBCR) at 2:35 AM January 28, 1963 and found heavy smoke and fire conditions upon arrival.  During the battle of this fire, which was conducted in -7 degree weather, firemen Paul Hall, blinded by smoke, fell head-first down an outside stairwell and suffered two broken wrists.  Later that same year the department fought a large fire at the Christiansburg Garment Company which resulted in a one million dollar loss, the largest in the department's history.

Another large fire occurred in the Cambria section about 1 AM on March 14, 1972 when the Exchange Mill on Depot Street burned.  Local firefighters were assisted by the Radford and Blacksburg Departments who furnished ladder trucks and by the Riner department, who assisted with manpower and covered the Christiansburg station in case of fire elsewhere.

The fire alarm sounded on June 11, 1978 at 1:37 AM for a fire in a three story furniture factory warehouse located on Pepper Street, just off East Main.  Fire was on all three floors and through the roof when the first truck arrived.  The building burned to the ground and three small frame houses on Pepper Street were destroyed.  The Mensh Building and the Richardson Horne Funeral Home warehouse suffered some damage.  Again, Radford and Blacksburg furnished ladder trucks to prevent the fire from spreading further.

The Christiansburg Fire Department was cited for extraordinary service by the Town of Christiansburg and several members were recognized by the Virginia State Firemen's Association for actions taken at fire on April 24, 1984.  An alarm was sounded at 2:30 AM that day for a fire at Bugg's Boarding House on Roanoke Street.  When firemen arrived they were told that several persons wee trapped in the building.  Firefighters entered the building and, amid an explosion caused by a large oxygen tank inside resulting in inferno-like conditions, removed the occupants, all three of which had stopped breathing.  Through this rescue effort and the outstanding work of our brothers and sisters of the local life saving crew, all three lived to tell of their snatch from the jaws of death!

Through the years our department had enjoyed excellent working relations with other fire departments in the area.  A Mutual Aid Plan exists between our town and the Town of Blacksburg, City of Radford and Radford Arsenal.  As evidenced by this history, these fine departments have come to our aid numerous times.  In the manner, we have assisted them fighting fire many times.  Throughout the history of volunteer firefighting in America (the first volunteer company was founded by Ben Franklin in Philadelphia in 1736) there has always been good-natured (in earlier days, not so good natured) competition between companies.  However, it is re-assuring to know that when life or property is endangered all firefighters stand together as one unified force against the great monster - fire.  We also enjoy excellent relations with the rural fire departments in the county and they are always willing to lend their able assistance to us.

In the late '60s and early '70s, cramped quarters again became a major problem for the Christiansburg volunteers.  Access and egress were difficult at the old station downtown.  In 1972 a committee, consisting of C. Fred Blount as Chairman, Harold D. Akers, James W. Epperly, Paul J. Hall, William C. Graham and D.L. "Zeke" Epperly, was appointed to study the matter of building a new fire station in Christiansburg.  The department received excellent response and co-operation from our Town Manager, Mr. John E. Lemley and members of town council as this endeavor was actively pursued.  No fire department, anywhere, could experience a better relationship with, nor receive finer support from government officials than we have received over these "first seventy-five years" from the officials of the Town of Christiansburg.

In 1974 land was acquired on Depot Street, behind the National Guard Armory, and in February, 1976 construction began on the present fire station.  The department moved into this modern headquarters in September, 1977 and has found it to be very beneficial and functional.  It was constructed for the fire department by the Town of Christiansburg at an initial cost of $434,966.

Since the fire department was organized seventy-five years ago, Christiansburg has suffered only four fire related fatalities; in the area of Montgomery County served by this company, three persons have died in fires.  On March 2, 1960, Christiansburg suffered its first fire death.  Sadie Lynch, an elderly invalid, burned to death in her home on Quality Road, just a couple of blocks from the fire station.  Although firemen arrived in just minutes of the alarm, the house was engulfed in flames.  Fire was coming from the house when the alarm was turned in, according to neighbors, and there was no chance of rescue.

Henry Clark's body was removed from the kitchen of his home adjoining Edna's Steak House on Rt. 11 west of Christiansburg on March 22, 1963 after fire gutted the home.  Mrs. James R. Neal died in a fiery, two car crash on Rt. 8 South of town on December 18, 1965; John F. Redd died on Rt. 114 on January 26, 1971 when the pick up truck he was driving burst into flames; Talfred N. Chafin was found dead near his home in the Hans Meadow area by firefighters responding to a report of smoke on the afternoon of February 25, 1976.  He had died of burns and smoke inhalation when a brush fire raged out of control and spread through the area.

A fire at the home of Mrs. Ruth B. Cheatham on Montgomery Street in the early morning hours of May 6, 1979 claimed her life.  Firemen rescued her from her burning bedroom and she was rushed to the local hospital where she died of burns and smoke inhalation a few hours later.

And an early morning blaze on the second floor of the Do-Drop Inn in the Cambria section took the life of Early Jackson Duncan on November 14, 1981.  He was dead of smoke inhalation when firemen carried him from the burning building only minutes after the alarm was sounded.  Several other occupants of the building either escaped or were rescued by firemen.

In these seventy-five years of firefighting no Christiansburg fireman has lost his life while performing fire department duties.  For this we give humble thanks and pray that our Heavenly Father will continue to protect us from the ever present dangers.  Each year in this nation, hundreds of firefighters are killed and thousands are seriously injured in the performance of their duties.  A number of our own have been injured, some rather seriously, through the years.  Broken bones, bruises, cuts, heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation are no strangers to us.  Our predecessors in the department were without much (indeed most) of the protective equipment that we command today -- breathing apparatus, bunker gear, warning devices, two-way radios, etc. We wonder what innovations and improvements the next seventy-five years will bring!?

As we have been fondly looking back over the past seventy-five years, we, at the same time, look forward with great anticipation to the future and pledge ourselves anew to uphold the Firemen's Tradition...SERVICE TO OUR FELLOW MAN.