History of McGaheysville Fire Company

The McGaheysville Volunteer Fire Company., Inc. was formally organized Tuesday March 16, 1965 at the McGaheysville elementary school gymnasium. The JR. O.U.A.M. Oak Hill Lodge #83 was responsible for getting the fire company started. Thirty five members were present at the first meeting and selected the following officers.

1. President: Richard Magalis
   Vice-president- Hollis Johnson
   Secretary- Wayne Hensley
   Treasurer- M.J. Stover, Sr.
   Chief- Stanley Hulvey
   Captain- C.O.(Jack) Hensley
   1st Lieutenant- Odell Hensley
   2nd Lieutenant- Elmer Breeden
   Chief Hoseman- Melvin Atkins
   Chief Plugman- Clarence Gooden

One half acre of land was given for the building site was donated by Mr. & Mrs. N. Lawton Mahan on May 24th, 1966. The firehouse was built by the firemen and many other people who gave their time so that the McGaheysville area would have a firehouse. Later an additional five acres was purchased from the Mahans for lawn party use. The activities building stands on an additional two acres purchased from the Mahan estate.

The 1st piece of apparatus was a 1952 International fuel oil delivery truck purchased from Rockingham Petroleum Co-op. This was converted into a 1200 gallon tanker, the chassis on this truck was later replaced with a 1968 Chevrolet.

The 2nd piece of apparatus was a 1942 Diamond T donated by Merck and Company, Inc. The third truck was a 1948 GMC pumper purchased from Hose Company. #1 in Harrisonburg Virginia, this truck pumped continuously at the McGaheysville Elementary school fire on January 7th, 1968. That fire was the first major fire experience for the newly formed company.

In January 1972 Earl Hensley Sr. led the Fire Company into action by becoming the 2nd Fire Chief of the company. 

In April 1972 Unit 804 was delivered. This brush truck is a GMC carrying 275 gallons of water with a 90 gallons per minute (gpm) high pressure pump.

Unit 805 was delivered in October 1973. This unit carries 1000 gallons of water with a 350gpm pump.

Unit 806 is the Chief’s truck and was first purchased in 1977 and replaced in 1978.

Unit 807 was delivered in July 1983. It is a Seagrave truck and carries 1000 gallons of water with a 1250gpm pump.

Unit 801 was delivered in April 1985. It is a Kenworth FMC and carries 1000 gallons of water with a 1250gpm pump.

In the July 7th meeting in 1987 a motion was made by Earl Hensley and seconded by Jeff Warner to purchase a ladder truck and to build on a 3-bay addition to the fire station to house the new truck.

Truck 80 was delivered in 1988 and was the 1st ladder truck for the company, it was a 1970 Seagrave ladder. In 1990 squad 803 was placed in service, Squad 803 was an F350 superduty chassis with a light duty rescue body to be used for automobile accidents.

In 1995 Engine 802 was delivered. Engine 802 is a Seagrave pumper with 750 gallons of water and a 1250gpm pump.

In January 1996 the department was led into action by the 3rd fire chief of the company. Earl Hensley Jr. took charge of the company from Earl Hensley Sr.

In 1996 a new Chevy Tahoe was purchased to replace unit 806 (Chief’s truck). Also in 1996 a new 105' ladder truck was delivered. The new truck would carry the unit designation of Truck 80. It is a 105’ Pierce Aerial ladder.

In January 2004 it was decided to purchase a new Pierce Heavy Duty rescue Engine to meet the growing demands of the community and this unit would replace Engine 801 and Squad 803.

In August 2004 Squad 803 was sold to the Brodway Fire Department in preparation for the new Rescue Engine coming in Early 2004.

In the March of 2005 the company took deliver of a new 2005 Pierce Quantum rescue engine that would replace squad 803 and engine 801 (1985 Kenworth). The new rescue engine would carry the designation of Engne 801. The unit is set up for Traffic Crashes and has state of the art equipment.

In April 2005 the company celebrated 40 years of service. The event was celebrated by remodeling the fire station and having an open house to celebrate the occasion. A dinner and awards celebration was held to remember the past members and charter members of the company.

In January 2007 the company took deliver of a new 2006 Chevy Silverado with a M&W brush truck body to replace the 1972 GMC brush truck. The new brush truck would carry the unti designation of Brush 804.

On November 7th, 2008 the company experienced its first line of duty death (LODD). Firefighter Roy Smith III lost his life while responding to a working structure on Model road. F.F. Smith was repsonding to the call from home and lost control of his vehicle. He died at the scene of the crash.

In January 2009 the company was led into action by the 4th fire chief of the company. Todd Breeden took charge of the department from Earl Hensley Jr.

During 2009 Engine 802 (1993 Segerave Pumper) went through the refurbishment process with M&W fire in Roanoke to extend the life of the pumper. Body work, new emergency ligts, diamond plate and painting was performed on the unit.

In 2010 the deparmtent took delivery of a new Pierce Velocity PUC pumper that replaced the 1983 Seagrave Pumper.

Refurbishment of the Chief's tahoe was performed in 2010 and took on the unit designation of SERV 80.

In March 2013 the department took delivery of a new SERV unit that will take the unit designation of SERV 810 and will be used for Incident command and responding to haz-mat, fire, EMS and all other calls for service.

In September 2014 the membership started discussing a an expansion of the existing fire station. During February 2015 fire company personnel along with local excavator Bradford Morris run 1500 feet of 8" water line from McGahey lane up Bond lane and onto the fire company property in anticipation for the future expansion. Talks continued about the expansion and in the April 2015 the fire company entered into an agreement with Lantz construction company for a 3600 foot 4 bay expansion and remodel of the existing fire station. The fire station expansion and renovation was completed in March of 2016.

In March 2015 the fire company entered its 50th year of service.

October 2017 the department purchased two new Ford F250 pick up trucks. One will be used as a utility truck and the other will be used as a SERV unit and will carry the designation of SERV 803.

In January 2020 the deparment along with the rest of the United States of America was affected by a global health pandemic (Covid-19). Becasue of restrictions with this pandemic the department largest weekly Bingo fund raiser had to be temporally cancelled for over 1-1/2 years. When strict restrictions for social distancing were reduced it was decided that the department could not longer host a weekly Bingo game and Bingo was cancelled permanently. The department then looked at ways to generate operation funds to continue serving our community. Several drive thru chicken dinners, and drive thruother soup events were held to help sustain funding for the department. In October of 2023 the department activity building was leased out to generate a steady fund for the department. 

In Septmeber of 2022 it was decided by the department that a renovation of the carnival grounds we needed to continue to carry on the fund raising events held on those ground. 

In October of 2022 ground was broke for a new 4000sq ft facilty would house a fully functioning commerical kitchen and three new spaces for events on the carinval grounds. The new building was opened in June of 2023 with the 1st meal being prepared in July of 2023.

With our 60th year of service in the foresight it was decided to renovate the memorial area at the fire station to honor those that have served the department. In August of 2024 the existing memorial area was removed to make way for the new memorial area. A new taller flag pole was installed, stanped concrete was poured around the flag pole with a Maltese cross design along with brick pavers installed with passing members names honoring their contributions to the department. In addition a bronze statue with turnout gear and axe was added along with two granite makers with the departments two patch designs in the departments history.