Meadows of Dan Elementary School Fire
On August 13th the Galax Fire Department was toned out for a standby call to cover Hillsville Station 1 at approximately 5:00am. Hillsville and 16 other surrounding departments were working a large fire at the Meadows of Dan Elementary School in Patrick County, VA. Engine 2 responded with a full crew. While in route, the call was upgraded to a request for Galax Fire Tower 11. Engine 2 diverted directly to the scene while Tower 11 made the 45 minute trip to the school. Upon arrival, Engine 2′s crew met with Patrick County Command,...
read moreNational Night Out 2011!!!
National Night Out 8-2-11National Night Out 8-2-11 The Galax Fire Department participated in National Night Out 2011 on August 2nd. Members set up Tower 11, our 102 foot ladder truck, and gave free rides in the bucket to the public. Tower 11 had a continuous line of excited participants all night. At the same time, Engine 3 hosed down a lot of children using its remote controled turret gun and brush fire booster reel. The kids, and firemen, had a blast playing in the water…and rightfully so with the temperatures for the day in the...
read moreGalax Fire Has Busy Week
On Wednesday, July 27th, the Galax Fire Department was dispatched to a two vehicle accident with injuries on Creekview Drive in Carroll County. A four door passenger vehicle was struck from behind by a pickup truck. Arriving members found Galax Grayson EMS and Pipers Gap Rescue removing a critically injured, untrapped patient from the drivers side of the vehicle. This patient was airlifted to Baptist Hospital from a landing zone set up by second alarm Galax Fire units at Gladeville Elementary School. Once the first patient was removed,...
read moreVaughan Bassett Silo Fire
On July 18, 2011 at approximately 6:30pm, the Galax Volunteer Fire Department was called to a commercial structure fire at Vaughan Bassett Furniture in Galax, VA. Upon arrival, heavy smoke and flames were showing from a trailer used to collect sawdust, two silos, and the dust transfer augers. The Vaughan Bassett fire brigade had two lines in operation. Galax Fire pulled two 1 3/4″ lines to complete extinguishment of the trailer. Recon of the silos showed fire in and on top of the silos as well as the auger system. Tower 11 was set a...
read moreLightning Ignites House in Carroll County
Violent storms rolled through our area on the afternoon of Friday, June 10th. Lightning from one of those storms ignited a house fire at 706 Sherwood Lane off River Hill Road in Carroll County. At 5:10 pm tones sounded with the dispatcher explaining that a woman had called in a panic stating that her house was on fire. Upon arrival, the Chief advised all incoming units of a story and a half wood frame structure with fire throughout. To further complicate matters, there was a downed power line on the front right side of the house and two...
read moreWhen it Rains, it Pours!!
Thursday, May 26th turned out to be a busy day! Tones were sounded at 6:01 pm for a vehicle fire on Highway 58 West just outside of Galax. Members responded to find a Ford Bronco fully involved. The vehicle was extinguished quickly and members returned to the station in 30 minutes. After that, a string of very strong storms rolled through our area bringing wind, hail, and lightning along with very heavy rain. At 9:55pm the department was dispatched to a power pole fire in Baywood. All members stood by at the station while the chief went...
read moreVaughan Bassett Spray Booth Fire
On May 6th at 5:59 pm the Galax Fire Department was called to a fire in the finishing room at Vaughan Bassett Furniture. The only problem was, all members were tied up with Houston Fest duties which was in full swing. This call came in at the worst possible time. The opening ceremony for Houston Fest was to kick off at 6:00pm. Thankfully, Hillsville Fire had a standby crew of 7 on hand to respond with Galax’s 4 man standby crew. Given the nature of the call, the Chief released a few more men to join the fight. Upon arrival it was...
read moreTwo for one
On Tuesday May 3rd at approximately 3:30 pm the Galax Fire Department was called to Walmart for a smoke odor in the store. Upon entering the store a distinctive ‘wires burning’ odor was noticed around the deli area. The smell was the same as the odor produced when a light ballast goes bad. A thorough searched revealed nothing definite. As members were about to clear, tones sounded again for a car fire two blocks away on Glade St. Wagon 9 was still staffed in the parking lot at Walmart and immediately responded. The engine...
read moreGalax Sends Engine Crew to Glade Springs
On April 29th, the Galax Fire Department was requested to send an engine crew to the tornado devastated area of Glade Springs, VA to relieve local firemen for a night of rest. Once a little local business was taken care of, a structure fire in Independence, two trucks left for Glade Springs. Members patroled the town of Glade Springs from 8:00pm to 7:00am watching for fires or other hazards and checking on residents who were staying with their damaged properties. Three departments provided overnight relief for the exhausted Glade Springs...
read moreQuick Check Fire in Independence
At approximately 5:00 pm on Friday, April 29th, the Galax Fire Department was toned out to a request for mutual aid by the Independence Fire Department. A structure fire was reported at the Quick Check in downtown Independence with flames showing. The request came in for an engine and ladder truck indicating a large fire. Upon arrival, the crew of Engine 2 pulled a 200′ preconnect to the front door to support the Independence hoseline. Two mixed teams of Independence and Galax firemen were formed and both hoselines advanced into...
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