The Woodstock Fire Department responds to much more than fires...

Incident Statistics

Each year we respond to an average of 550 incidents. Our team of professional volunteers are trained to mitigate building fires, wildland fires, hazardous material spills, motor vehicle crashes, industrial incidents, farm accidents, natural disasters, and much more. 

To manage these incidents we maintain six pieces of emergency apparatus and a wide variety of specialized equipment, valued in excess of 4 million dollars. These are used each year to save an average of $7 million dollars worth of local property each year. 

Who We Protect

The majority of these incidents occur within our first due response area. This is an approximately 44 square mile area containing the town of Woodstock and surrounding communities for which we are the primary response agency. Approximately 9,000 people call this area home along with a variety of businesses, industry, farms, critical infrastructure, and an 11 mile portion of Interstate 81. 

We also regularly respond throughout Shenandoah County, providing professional services to its 46,000 residents through a system of automatic aid between the county’s fire and rescue agencies. Through this system we answer numerous calls for assistance.

Our Station

In 1929 members of the Woodstock Fire Department and our community embarked on a journey to build a new fire station on W. Court Street in Woodstock. Two years later that facility opened and, after some upgrades and two additions, continues to house our department.

Today’s Station 12 provides a place to store our apparatus, a museum for antique firefighting apparatus and equipment, a large community room and kitchen, workout facilities, living quarters for our duty crews, administrative and equipment storage space, and a training room.

Our Apparatus

To protect and serve our community, the members of the Woodstock Fire Department own and operate six pieces of emergency apparatus. They are

Truck 12

Truck 12 is a 2017 Smeal aerial. This piece of apparatus allows us to access taller structures and perform rescues using the aerial ladder and a full complement of ground ladders. Total reach for the aerial ladder is 105 feet. It also carries a variety of emergency equipment and an air cascade system. It responds to approximately 170 incidents each year.

Rescue Engine 12

Rescue Engine 12 is a 2007 Sutphen that holds 750 gallons of water and can pump 1500 gallons of water a minute. Its primary responsibility is to respond to motor vehicle crashes and other types of accidents including those at industrial sites and related to agricultural production. To meet this need it carries a full complement of extrication equipment (think Jaws of Life), firefighting equipment, rope rescue items, and hazardous material supplies. It responds to approximately 175 incidents a year. 

Engine 12

Engine 12 is a 2022 Pierce that holds 750 gallons of water and can pump 1500 gallons of water a minute. It responds to approximately 120 incidents a year. This engine is equipped with 4WD capabilities and has an exceptionally short wheel base/turning radius. These capabilities allow it to access limited access areas, to respond during winter storms and other weather emergencies, and to assist during wildland incidents. It is the only unit of this type in Shenandoah County. It responds to approximately 110 calls a year. 

Wagon 12

Wagon 12 is a 2013 Sutphen that holds 1000 gallons of water and can pump 1500 gallons of water a minute. It responds to structure fires, vehicle fires, fire alarms, gas leaks, and other incidents. It carries over 3000' of hose and other firefighting equipment. It responds to approximately 150 incidents a year. 

 

Brush 12

Brush 12 is a 2015 Dodge 3500 with 150 gallons of water and can pump 250 gallons of water a minute. It carries a variety of wildland firefighting equipment and is designed to battle brush, woods, mulch, and field fires among others. It answers approximately 50 incidents a year. 

SERV12

SERV 12 is a 2015 Dodge that serves several purposes with our department. Its primary purpose is to operate as our command vehicle during large scale incidents. To meet this objective it carries specialized equipment to ensure adequate communications, accountability, and safety on an emergency scene. SERV 12 also transports personnel and equipment to trainings, meetings, and incidents when needed. It responds to approximately 170 incidents a year. 

How You Can Help

The Woodstock Fire Department has many ways you can support our organization and the vital services it provides.

Each year the demand for these services grow, as does the financial commitment necessary to provide them. Your support, at what ever level you can provide, is urgently needed.

Approximately 2/3rds of our annual budget of $140,000 is supplied by donations and fundraisers. All of these community contributions are tax deductible (we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit) and go directly to supporting emergency operations. Every dollar makes a difference.

There are many ways you can provide financial support to our organization and the community we serve.

• Donate online at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=QYA4DWYG5NAJA. One time and recurring donations are accepted.

• Donate via mail. Contributions can be sent to Woodstock Fire Department PO Box 176 Woodstock VA 22664.

• Participate in one of our fundraisers. Buy some seafood, eat at one of our dinners, purchase a raffle ticket, or play BINGO at the Shenandoah County Fair.

• Sponsor a fundraiser. Help us offset the costs of one of our fundraising activities and receive special marketing opportunities and/or other perks. Email [email protected] for more information.

• Sign us up for your organization’s “Matching Gifts Program” to provide us with further assistance.

• Make a bequest to the Woodstock Fire Department as part of your will or trust. Email us at [email protected] for more information.

• Have another idea? Contact us to share your thoughts on how we can partner with you or others in our community to raise money for our organization.

Where do your contributions go?

Apparatus and Maintenance

The Woodstock Fire Department purchases and maintains a fleet of six emergency apparatus including an aerial ladder truck, a Rescue Engine, two engines, a brush truck, and a SERV. Each of these is replaced after approximately 20 years of service. Average replacement cost is $650,000 for an Engine, $1 million for a Rescue Engine, and $1.25 million for a ladder truck. 

Maintaining this fleet is also the responsibility of your volunteer fire department. We spendapproximately $30,000 annually for qualified, trained technicians to service and repair our apparatus, their motors, fire pumps, and our aerial ladder.

Building and Facilities

The Woodstock Fire Department maintains a single, historic fire station located in downtown Woodstock. This facility houses our apparatus, equipment, community space, workout facility, meeting rooms, and living quarters for our members. Annual maintenance costs exceeds $30,000.

Equipment

Firefighters require equipment to extinguish fires and mitigate other emergencies while keeping themselves safe. Our organization annually purchases over $12,000 worth of Personal Protective Equipment for our firefighters and over $10,000 worth of power tools, extrication equipment, hose, and other tools needed to protect and serve our community.

Training and Operations

Providing the high quality training our firefighters need is a critical part of our organization. Firefighters are qualified to battle structure fires, vehicle fires, wildland fires, to extricate individuals involved in motor vehicle crashes, industrial accidents, hazardous material spills, and a variety of other emergencies. We provide this training, and other educational opportunities for college credits, financial management, record keeping, and more free of charge to our firefighters. This, plus funds needed to operational costs such as drinking water, cleaning supplies, etc. requires an annual appropriation of over $10,000. 

Being a Firefighter Takes Training

Professional volunteer firefighters like those with the Woodstock Fire Department are dedicated to preparing themselves to serve the needs of the community. On average, our firefighters complete over 2000 hours of training annually. 

This means participating in a series of training courses that allow a firefighter to operate at various levels ranging from an exterior firefighter to a chief officer. Many of our volunteers are certified at the state or national level via courses that take hundreds of hours to complete. For example, the Firefighter I certification, a basic for anyone wishing to become an interior firefighter, requires over 150 hours of training.

Firefighter training to conduct roof ventilation

Certifications

Our firefighters are all certified in accordance with Shenandoah County's Training Standards that ensure that all responders are prepared to handle an emergency incident. These standards apply to all levels of first responders. The Woodstock Fire Department provides these courses free of charge in partnership with Shenandoah County and the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. 

WFD Training Nights

Outside state and federally certified courses, our department provides regular opportunities for our members to train on a local level. We host weekly training every Thursday evening and provide additional opportunities for training each month. Courses offered focus on fire attack, search and rescue, ladders, vehicle extrication, and much more. 

WFD firefighters conducting training on UTV operations at the Seven Bends State Park

Driver Training

WFD also maintains a robust driver training program that requires all drivers to complete between 5 and 20 hours of additional training to become released emergency vehicle operators. All released drivers also complete 12 hours of annual training each year. 

Woodstock firefighters conducting driver training for our 2022 Engine on its delivery. 

More information

If you would like to know more about ongoing trainings, visit our news sup page or contact us

Public Education

Protecting the community requires more than just reactive responses, it also necessitates a proactive approach.

Fires and other emergencies result in thousands of fatalities/injuries and billions of dollars of property loss each year. You can learn more about how to keep you and your family safe from the National Fire Protection Association

To help protect our community, the Woodstock Fire Department conducts a rigorous public education program that is designed to reduce the risks associated with fires and other types of emergencies within our community. 

Public Education Events

The volunteers of the Woodstock Fire Department host a variety of public education and safety events each year. 

Our flagship event is our annual Fire Safety Open House held during fire prevention week each October. This features fire safety classes, displays from other public safety organizations like local law enforcement agencies, fire truck rides, and much more. 

Members of the Woodstock Fire Department also attend numerous community events each year and share fire safety messages. These include the Woodstock Police Department Public Safety Day, Vintage Woodstock, WoodsTaco, and others. 

Stop, Drop, and Roll Class at our Fire Prevention Week Open House. 

Fire Safety Classes

Firefighters offer age appropriate fire safety courses for local schools, pre-schools, nursing homes, civic groups, and other organizations throughout the year. These classes are held at Station 12 or other locations and reach thousands of local residents. 

Contact us to schedule a visit for your organization. 

Pre-school fire safety class.

Our Other Duties

Operating a volunteer organization as complicated as a fire department requires an extensive team of individuals dedicated to completing countless tasks. In addition to responsibilities associated with emergency response, training, and fundraising our members contribute over 5000 hours annually completing a variety of administrative and operational tasks. 

Building Upkeep

Maintaining a fire station that is almost 100 years of age requires a team of individuals to manage needed repairs and upgrades. Our building and grounds team is constantly working to maintain our facility, its grounds, and other critical infrastructure. This includes activities such as snow removal, cleaning, repairs, and managing construction projects. 

Snow removal at Station 12

Vehicle Maintenance 

To ensure proper emergency services are provided to our community, our apparatus must be well maintained and functioning properly. Our six vehicles represent an investment of over 3 million dollars and our firefighter work hard to make needed repairs to them and our equipment. Regular activities include preventative maintenance, minor in house repairs, mounting equipment, cleaning, and coordinating advanced repairs by trained Emergency Vehicle Technicians. 

Conducting a "deep clean" of Truck 12

Administrative Tasks

Volunteer fire departments operate as a business. To ensure we manage our operations and funding we have a trained team of administrative officers dedicated to our organization. These individuals include:

-The head of our membership committee to oversees new member applications and current member activities

-A Treasurer who manages our funding in accordance with stringent fiscal policies

-A Secretary who manages department records and business minutes

-Grant writers that secure funding from outside agencies and government bodies to support our operations

-Education Professionals who conduct fire safety and public outreach programs 

Installing a grant funded vehicle exhaust removal system at Station 12 in 2020. 

Information Technology

The modern fire service relies on technology to operate. Our IT team manages numerous desktop computers, laptops, networks, and more to provide our firefighters with the information they need to successfully serve the community.