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Friday, May 21, 2010

Bloxom Progress

Well folks albeit late here's an update on the Bloxom VFCo of Accomack County (Eastern Shore) Virginia. Some background. Back in January 2006, fire struck Station 6 while they were out on another working fire. The firehouse was gutted with two ambulances including one new not as yet in service delivery destroyed. See this Link for details and photos.

After, the company briefly moved down the road to Parksley VFCo Co 7 then to a pole barn across the field opposite the railroad tracks from their original firehouse. [recent photo at left] This is correctly addressed on Bull St (Rd 2507) at Parks St (Rd 2505).  By summer, a metal shed had been built close by behind the town office at 26129 Mitchel Rd (Rte 187) at Hall Rd this the "EMS Station". A number of other departments came to their aid donating various  apparatus. A private ambulance carrier loaned them an ambo for a time.

In my latest visit, a new firehouse is under construction finally on the site of the previous [photo at right] at Rte 316 and Rte 187 . As you can see, it's progressing and since this was shot on May 1 is certainly farther along. Here's what Co 6 is running these days.

Engine 6-3 '84 Hahn canopy cab 1250/500    xKeansburg NJ
Engine 6-4 '99 Pierce "Saber" 4dr cab 1250/500
Tanker 6-7 '95 International "4800" 2dr, S&S 750/1800
Squad 6     '83 GMC (7000) 2dr, Saulsbury 22'-walk-in    xGoldsboro MD, Laurel DE
Amb 6-0    '10 Chevy "C-4500", Medix
Amb 6-1    '06 Ford "E-450", Medix    xWindsor VA RS 
Amb 6-2    '94 Ford "F-350", Medtec  xIsle of Wight County

I have not seen for some time their '95 Dodge "Ram 3500", M&W attack minipumper know as Rescue 6. Also gone is Amb 6-0 a '95 Ford "F-350" Life Line I believe came from Caroline County MD EMS. Some other previous rigs include an ex Salisbury Maryland '72 ALF "900" (E6-4) and the '70 ALF "Pioneer" (E6-5) ex Onancock that went to the Gibson Island Brigade then the Lake Shore VFD in Anne Arundel County Maryland. To keep up with FD happenings on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, check out this new site easternshorefire.com. Till next post.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Station Apps Roster & History Book Update

I first off I want to thank everyone for their orders and ongoing support. Also want to update everyone on goings on with the rosters and histories. I have for some weeks been working on a web site with all works rosters and histories available as downloadable e-books. Select, pay, press button and bingo you have it then and there. Seems the old man is not as techno savvy as once was hence the site is as yet "operational". I still plan to get 'er going hopefully within the month (mid June) so stay tuned. My first error was choosing the wrong hosting service as the site did not do what I wanted it to.

As for the rosters, we are updating all for this spring DC Metro Maryland, Baltimore-Annapolis, NoVa Metro and Southern Maryland. Plan as well to be coming out with a Lower Delmarva covering Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties including of course Ocean City.

In the history book department, we have a number of new releases pending. A General History on Alrington County and Fairfax County plus smaller works on History of Ladder Trucks in Fairfax County plus History of Rescue Trucks and Special Units in Fairfax County. The latter two, albeit short and sweet also have photos. Hopefully some pics will also be added to the other works as well. Stay tuned for history works on PG County as well. For now, purchases are still at the Ebay Store but do stay tuned as were gonna get one line eventually. -Rusty

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Delmarva Parade

With the long awaited onslaught of spring comes the array of events and parades sometimes making it a tough choice as to which I will attend. The weekend of May 1 brings me either a long ride to Winchester or the as I chose closer Delmarva Association parade held this year in Parksley Virginia. For those unfamiliar with the sho' thats in Accomack County about an hours drive. The Delmarva parade while not huge often brings less frequently seen rigs out of the back corners and bays of some stations. As for this year in Virginia, departments in both Accomack and Northampton County are often receipients of many a used rig. With all that said, lets get on with I saw.  Also a word of caution I had a camera failure and had to use my "stand in". Its lousy as digitals go hence some shots are lets just say "not great".

First off few Maryland Departments were in attendance no surprise. Princess Anne with their new Ford brush truck, Marion with engine, Easton with engine and Denton with Velocity rescue. From Delaware was Delmar's ladder quint, the '50 ALF engine from Ellendale plus the '70 Cadillac ambulance from Gumboro.

Most surprises if you will were as expected from Virginia. First off Tasley recenlty sold their ex Lewes Delaware International, Saulsbury rescue. UPDATE: As per Mike Sanders and Jerry Puryear this has gone to a film company in Vancouver BC. In its place they have added (reportedly in service April 2010) a Pierce "Lance" rescue engine. (photo at right) UPDATE: Thanks to Mike Sanders I now know why this was so familiar as its from the Ashburn VFD&RS in Loudoun County. A '96 Lance with 1250-gpm pump 500-gallons of water and 40 of foam. Looks a little different in red!


Greenbackville brought their new Tanker 2 and yes I photographed it twice. Both shots came out awful so sorry 'bout that I'll have to make another trip. This striking new water wagon is a tandem rear axle 2010 Kenworth "340", Freedom Fire 500-gpm with 3000-gallon tank. It like a recent new ambo there has a slate grey roof over red.

Farther south on US 13 is Cape Charles known for its various used apparatus over the years. Several new additions there including a rescue squad that happens to be the '84 Ford "C-8000", EVF outta Denton in Caroline County (photo left). This was replaced in 2008 so I'm not sure exactly when this one made it south.


Also in Co 15's line-up is another Maryland piece the '77 International "S-2654", '99 New Lexingron with front mount 1000-gpm pump and 3000-gallon brushed elliptical tank. Tanker 15-8 (photo at right) last ran with the Pittsville VFCo in Wicomico County and originated with now thankfully gone orange paint scheme from Allegheny Township Pennsylvania.

The last surprise from the Cape is a '88 E-One "Hurricane" 95-foot tower with 1500-gpm pump. (photo at left) UPDATE: Thanks again to Mike Sanders who confirms this as from Independence Missouri east of Kansas City and birthplace of Harry S Truman. It has 300-gallons of water and serial number 6453. Cape Charles has run other used aerials over the years including an all red open cab waterfall grill '45 Seagrave midmount and another possibly ex Norfolk aerial the details of both not at my disposal. (Anybody out there who knows more do tell) Yes they stil have their ex Virginia Beach '84 Duplex, E-One as Engine 15-3 described as their "favorite". Reportedly their ex Richmond '84 GMC, Grumman mini-pumper 15-5 is gone.

Nearby Cheriton, is running as Tanker 14-4 the tandem rear axle, '88 Pierce "Lance" 2000/2500 that originated from Sharptown in Wicomico County. This actually ran with Dagsboro in Sussex County from September 2005 until sometime in 2009. Sorry no shots on this one. UPDATE: And yes they still have their Oshkosh, Snorkel from Monmouth New Jersey pics came out bad on that one too!

If you have any input on any of these or other mentioned rigs please post.

Visit here again soon as I'll have another post on the goings on at Bloxom.
 -Rusty