Our Volunteer Firefighters, EMTs

It’s hard to image that our world-class First Responder organization, the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department, was inaugurated with a water tank mounted on a Ford Model T station wagon chassis almost 90 years ago. More than 50 Franconians had signed up to serve as firefighters on the vehicle that had been donated by resident Kathy Higham. Soon thereafter, the Richmond Fire Department donated a real fire engine, a 1921 truck that had a siren and was painted fire engine red!

After 9-11 in 2001, FVFD would repeat the gesture by donating an engine to the New York City Fire Department, whose equipment had been decimated by the fallout from the World Trade Center terrorist attack. When the new Kingstowne station opened, Franconia stepped up and provided the equipment necessary to begin fighting fires and saving lives immediately. The two engines and two EMT vehicles were all donated by Franconia.

Just recently, FVFD donated an ambulance/medic unit to the Ukrainian government for use as a rescue vehicle in that nation’s war against Russia. The unit had been in service as a mobile intensive care unit at Franconia.

After the fire vehicle inventory increased at the beginning, the Franconia members began to think about a station in which to house it. A site was donated by Arthur Thomas on Franconia Road where the current government center is located, and the volunteers built a two-bay facility with room for four vehicles in 1937. That was expanded to four bays in the early 1950s, and the station moved around the corner on Beulah Street to the present facility in the early 1960s.

The volunteers bought a new 1937 International Pirsch with all the bells and whistles for the new home. In 1941, two Mack fire vehicles, one regular fire engine and another for brush fires, were added to the inventory. Since then, equipment was upgraded to the point where Franconia answers current calls with the latest in technology.

The 1937 engine is still housed at Franconia and is currently awaiting installation of a new fuel pump before it goes back on the road to represent Franconia at area parades and community and fire department events.

The Franconia Rescue Squad began in the 1950s with an ambulance donated by Fort Belvoir. Many of the same volunteers who had started the fire department took on the chore of providing medical service. They took classes offered by the Red Cross, and wrapped bandages to meet the needs of those injured in increasing auto accidents and other mishaps.

Today, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTS) respond in vehicles with state-of-the-art equipment that is electronically connected to emergency room doctors and personnel, saving valuable time that often means the difference between life and death.

All of the personnel on board meet the highest professional standards set by Fairfax County. Franconia VFD includes a large number of college students seeking degrees and certificates that will lead to regular employment. They chose FVFD because of its high standards that resonate with future employers.

All of this is backed by volunteer service that raises the funds necessary to purchase new equipment, saving taxpayer dollars. Last year, Franconia purchased a new EMT vehicle at a cost of $336,000. Another one is needed on the horizon. The money is raised through weekly bingo, rental of the activities hall and special events. In the past, FVFD sponsored carnivals, parades, and music shows to raise the funds necessary to build what it has today.

Did you know that one of Dolly Parton’s first appearances as a feature performer was at a fund-raiser for the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department? You can help by donating through the fire department’s direct mail appeal.

You can learn more about FVFD’s history by purchasing a copy of Volume VII of Franconia Remembers at the Franconia Museum. This hardback publication is only $10. Order online at the Museum’s website (franconiamuseum.org) by clicking on the e-store page.

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For previous stories, go to franconiamuseum.org and click on history blog.

FRANCONIA REMEMBERS

This is one of the Franconia Museum’s occasional articles highlighting the area’s history. If you would like a friend to receive these FREE articles, contact us at franconia.museum.newsletter@gmail.com Membership is also encouraged, so that we can continue our work. The Museum is in the Franconia Government Center, currently located at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22310. The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Museum is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, as approved by the Internal Revenue Service.

Join or contribute to the Franconia Museum electronically by accessing franconiamuseum.org and clicking on Become a Member. You can also join the old-fashioned way by mailing a check made payable to the Franconia Museum to 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310. Levels of memberships and giving are presented below.

The Museum will soon move into new quarters at the relocated Franconia Government Center on Beulah Street, near its intersection with the Franconia-Springfield Parkway. We need your help to make the move, so please consider making a contribution or becoming a member for 2025. Contributions in excess of the membership fee are encouraged. The Museum is a volunteer effort, but there are also costs for insurance of our artifacts, printing and postage. Please help!!

2025 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW

Join us in celebrating our 24th year of preserving and protecting the history of our unique community. Our collections are growing, and we are starting to purchase electronic equipment for displays that will be available in the new Franconia Govt. Center coming in 2025 next to Lane Elementary and Beulah Park. Make the move with us by becoming a member! Additional donations are especially welcome! We are a tax-exempt, volunteer organization. There are no fund-raising costs! Come see us and learn about our past, present and future! Join us as a new member, renew your 2024 membership, or become a Lifetime or Founding member. We need to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors, and need volunteers to help man the Museum on Mon-Tues-Wed-Sat.
 
Annual dues $25.00 Donation $______________
Total Enclosed $_____________

or Lifetime Member…$350.00 (one-time payment)
or Founding Member…$1,000.00 (one-time payment)


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Please complete application and mail with payment to
Franconia Museum, 6121 Franconia Rd, Franconia, VA 22310
 
Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Questions: Call Carl Sell at 703-971-4716 or email sellcarl@aol.com