Galax Fire Department

Meadows of Dan Elementary School Fire

mayers — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:17:08 +0000

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, completed a 360 walk around of the fully involved facility, and formulated a plan. Engine 2 positioned to draft from two drop tanks and ‘feed’ the Tower. Tower 11 positioned on the right front corner of the school. Stuart’s telesquirt positioned on the left front corner of the school. Both units, pumping thousands of gallons of water, were able to knock down the bulk of the remaining fire so ground units could enter the badly damaged school and retrieve critical records. Galax assisted with overhaul operations and cleared the scene after operating for three hours.

National Night Out 2011!!!

mayers — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:37:27 +0000

National Night Out 8-2-11 National 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 upper 80s! In the mean time, a Deanna Project information booth was set up to pass out fire safety items to the kids and sign up parents to receive free smoke detectors. Under the Deanna Project, any resident within the GFD coverage area can request and have a free smoke detector installed in there house free of charge by Galax Fire Department members.
National Night Out is a nationwide event to promote community awareness and safety for its citizens. The fire department was only one of dozens of booths set up throughout the downtown area. Police, rescue squads, games and food were on hand to entertain the hundreds and hundreds of attendees. From our prospective, it appeared to be another very successful event. Thanks to the Galax Police Department for promoting this event!
The pictures were taken by Doug Garvey.

Galax Fire Has Busy Week

mayers — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:16:45 +0000

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, fire department members began removing the roof of the vehicle to stabilize and extricate a patient from the back seat. Thsi patient was complaining of severe back and neck pain with some numbing. The patient was removed and care turned over to Galax Grayson EMS who transported the individual to Twin County Regional Hospital. A third victim, who self extricated, was transported by Galax Fire Rescue 5, to TCRH with minor injuries.
On Saturday Morning at 5:00am, the Galax Fire Department was tone out for a mutual aid call to assist the Skull Camp NC fire department with a commercial structure fire in Low Gap. A fire truck left overnight for repairs inside of LHB Garage in Low Gap caught fire, destroying the fire truck and causing smoke and heat damage throughout the garage. Galax Fire assisted with overhaul of the truck and structure and then with pickup duties…replacing hose and airpacks, and tearing down the water supply dumptank.
On Saturday evening, members were called to Oriole Lane in Grayson County for a reported structure fire. This turned out to be a controled burn and false alarm.
On Sunday afternoon at 2:29pm, the Galax Fire Department was dispatched to a possible structure fire at 7210 Carrollton Pike. First arriving units found smoke throughout the residence. Upon investigation by members using thermal imaging cameras, the source of the smoke was found to be a ballast in an eight foot light fixture in the basement. The residence sustained no permanent damage.
As members were preparing to leave the first call, tones sounded for a second structure fire in the 700 block of Cliffview Rd. Witnesses said lightning struck the vacant residence. First arriving units found heavy fire in the rear of the structure with smoke throughout. The heat was intense enough to cause the windows to blow out of the structure. Members initially fought the fire from the exterior. Once all visible fire was knocked down, crews repositioned to the front of the structure and made an interior attack to complete extinguishment. All this in temperatures close to 90 degrees! Members cleared the scene in one and a half hours.
Thanks to the Pipers Gap Rescue Squad for providing EMS standby at both of Sunday’s fires.

Vaughan Bassett Silo Fire

mayers — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:16:21 +0000

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 extinguished the fire on top of the silos. Members of the Vaughan Bassett fire brigade then opened up and extinguished the fire in the auger system. One fire brigade member began experiencing chest pains while operating on top of the silo and was removed from the silo through use of Tower 11′s platform. He was transported to Twin County Regional Hospital in stable condition. The Fries Volunteer Fire Department was called to cover the Galax station. Members cleared the scene in three hours with another hour of cleanup at the station.

Lightning Ignites House in Carroll County

mayers — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:53:24 +0000

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 large propane tanks on the front left of the house. Engine 2 arrived first followed by Tanker 10. One line was pulled to work the left side of the house, one line for the right side and a third line was pulled to cool the propane tanks to prevent an explosion. The Chief called for tanker support from the Hillsville Fire Department. Water supply quickly became an issue due to the volume of fire. F500 Foam was then used from Engine 3 which tripled the knockdown power of plain water. Members worked for 2.5 hours through rain and lightning before picking up and returning to the station. Some personal belongings and keep sakes were salvaged. The structure was considered a total loss. The family did not have insurance and was planning on staying with relatives. The Red Cross was called to assisted. Special thanks to the Hillsville Fire Department as well as Carroll EMS! While Hillsville shuttled much needed water, Carroll EMS helped position and advance attack lines during the heat of the battle.

When it Rains, it Pours!!

mayers — Mon, 30 May 2011 19:34:55 +0000

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 to survey the scene. In the mean time, the chief requested Engine 3 and a crew to respond to assist a motorist in the median near Delhart. Two minutes after Engine 3 left, tones sounded for a structure fire at 204 Terrace Lane. E3 diverted and found a working basement fire with heavy smoke showing. E3 placed a line in service while backup crews were in route. This quick interior attack saved the residence further damage. Lightning ran in on the eletrical service to the residenc causing the fire. In the mean time, a resident came up to the fire scene saying their house had been struck by lightning and had a hole in it. Wagon 9′s crew left the original fire scene to investigate. After clean up, all members departed the firehouse at around 1:00am.

Vaughan Bassett Spray Booth Fire

mayers — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:52:03 +0000

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 determined that a spray booth had ignited. Quick work by employees using a house line kept this fire from getting out of control. Firemen checked for extension to the roof area and cleared within thirty minutes with no other action needed. A special thanks to the Hillsville Fire Department for providing a standby crew on Friday night as well as Independence and Fries Fire Departments who stood by on Saturday!

Two for one

mayers — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:45:44 +0000

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 compartment of the car was fully involved in fire. Wagon 9′s crew pulled the booster line and made quick work of the fire. All units cleared in 15 minutes to return to the station for a Houstion Fest work detail.

Galax Sends Engine Crew to Glade Springs

mayers — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:07:01 +0000

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 firemen.
The devestation we witnessed was tremendous. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the citizens of the Glade Spring area.

Quick Check Fire in Independence

mayers — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:56:54 +0000

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 the structure. Visibility was absolutely zero. Two thermal imaging cameras revealed heavy fire in the ceiling. Both hoselines were trained on the ceiling which pushed some of the smoke away increasing visibility. The hose teams then split with one breaking left and the other right. Fire was then found floor to ceiling in the kitchen area and extinguished. Teams moved into the grocery store area to check for extension. Heavy extension was found and extinguished. Firemen andvanced to the back office to remove records and computers before completing overhaul.
In the mean time, a five inch supply line was laid from Galax Wagon 9 to supply Tower 11 and Engine 2. Tower 11 was set and raised to check the roof area and to prepare to transition to a defensive attack if needed.
The fire was deemed under control. Lengthy overhaul was begun in the kitchen, storage room, and roof area. Galax picked up after one hour, just in time to send a crew to Glade Springs to assist with tornado recovery efforts.
As always, it was awesome working with the guys from Independence and Elk Creek. Excellent team effort!!