APRIL 2011 - FEATURED DEPARTMENT
PAINTER VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
STATION 12
The following article was submitted by the
Painter Volunteer Fire Company
Brief History of the Painter Vol. Fire Company
Organized in late 1949
Incorporated July 12, 1950
In 1949, a fire at the home of J.E. Massey, which was located in the center of town occurred and caused the residents of Painter to see the need for a Fire Company. Later that year, a 1927 Hahn fire engine was found in Philadelphia. Four town residents, Milton Hickman, Jack Mears, Harry Fleming and Maurice Sturgis headed to Philadelphia to pick it up. After the truck arrived, work was performed and and it was placed into service. The first building was actually a broom shop that stood where the Post Office stands today. This building was moved to where the current Fire House is today. It was turned into a one-bay building to house the fire truck. After the company was incorporated, different fund raising efforts were made and soon a 1950 Ford/Hahn pumper was purchased. Delivery of this truck occurred in June 1951. One of the fund raisers was a Carnival that started in 1951, it ran each year thru the 50’s. Bingo was held in the 60’s; and Chicken BBQ’s were held during the 70’s. In February 1976, Bingo was revived and has been continuous to date. In 1976 the original firehouse was demolished and a three (3) bay metal building was constructed. Years later, In 1989, an addition was completed to house Bingo. In 1963, a Ford fire truck was purchased with a Barton-American front mounted pump, which carried 1000 gallons of water. In 1969 the members built their first Tanker; a 1954 Dodge, with a tank that was donated by the Kellam Distributing Company. In 1975, members built another Tanker on a 1968 Chevrolet chassis. In 1980, we purchased a new Pumper from Sanford Fire Apparatus on a GMC chassis. In 1982, another Tanker was built on a 1976 Chevrolet chassis. In 1983 we purchased a military surplus Dodge and built a Brush truck. In 1993, we purchased a new Supthen Pumper. In 1994, we purchased a new Chevrolet pickup and had a Slagle slide-in unit installed to use for a Brush truck. In 1997, we purchased a 4-Guys Tanker, mounted on a new Freightliner chassis. In 2006 we purchased a KME pumper and in most recently in 2009 we added a Rescue Trailer with an Amkus Rescue Tool.
Contact Information:
Painter Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
17116 Wayside Drive
P.O. Box 275
Painter, Virginia 23420
Phone: 757-442-9070
Fax: 757-442-5714
Email: painterfire@verizon.net
Editor's Note:
We we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Painter V.F.C. President Jimmy Sturgis for submitting the article and for his assistance in compiling this profile. All of the photographs appearing in the slide show were provided courtesy of the Painter Volunteer Fire Company.
Fleet of Apparatus
ENGINE 12-5
1993 SUTPHEN
1500 GPM PUMP / 1000 GALLON WATER TANK
ENGINE 12-4
2006 INTERNATIONAL/KME (ALL-WHEEL DRIVE)
1000 GPM PUMP / 500 GALLON WATER TANK
30 GALLON FOAM TANK
TANKER 12-7
1997 FREIGHTLINER/4GUYS
500 GPM PUMP / 2500 GALLON WATER TANK
BRUSH 12
1994 CHEVROLET 4X4
SLAGLES SKID UNIT 200 GALLON TANK
RESCUE 12
2009 RESCUE TRAILER
CARRIES EXTRICATION EQUIPMENT
