History Continued...

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.

More History...