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1921Department was organized and began serving the citizens of McLean. We started small. The first piece of equipment was borrowed from our neighbor, Cherrydale VFD. An old barn served as our station. |
1935In 1935 The McLean Volunteer fire Department purchased their first ambulance - the first also in Fairfax County. For many years this ambulance served the entire county of fairfax.Some of the funds used to purchase this ambulance were raised by raffling off a doll. The winner of this raffle was Mrs. Grace Magarity, a long time resident of the McLean area. Following Mrs. Magaritys death in early 1964, her husband Fred returned the doll to the fire department to be maintained in the spirit of their other awards and memories. |
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1940World War II - First "Fire Chief" - Chief Carper of the McLean Volunteer Fire Department was appointed by Fairfax County to serve as "Fire Chief" to deal with the War Materials Board so the 11 volunteer fire departments could get replacement tires, gasoline and other scarce items. |
1946McLean Volunteer Fire Department hired Samuel Redmond as a paid employee to work Monday through Friday. Soon eleven others were hired by Fairfax County to staff the existing fire stations. Their annual salary was $2,500. The volunteers were members of their respective volunteer departments and still had to respond to "after hours" calls from home. Usually, they were "Engineers" by day and volunteer lieutenants and captains at night. |
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1949After WWII, Fairfax grew rapidly with new communities. These bedroom communities responded to local disastrous fires by organizing new departments. The "old bunch" required the new stations to be "sponsored" by an existing company. Companies 1 (McLean) and 4 (Herndon) sponsored Station 12 (Great Falls).With the growth of the McLean community, came the growth of the fire department and a new station. In 1949, McLean VFD moved into a new station on Chain Bridge Road. 1950The department purchased from Peter Pirsch & Sons in Kenosha, WI, the first Heavy Duty Rescue Squad for McLean and Fairfax County. This vehicle was equipped with a 500 gallon tank and pump, portable generator and flood lights.1964A replacement Heavy Rescue Squad was purchased at a cost of $43,174. This vehicle had 100 gallons of water, generator and floot lights. The rear of the box was an open walk-in type. |
1965Addition of meeting hall and new bunk room to the rear of the existing station.1970Purchased the first diesel powered fire engine for McLean. This cost at that time was $39,770 compared to $200,000 for pumpers today.1972Purchased the first modular ambulance in McLean and Fairfax County from Swab Manufacturing Company. The module of this unit was mounted onto a Ford chasis.1973Purchased the first Sutphen aerial platform, which was the first in Fairfax County.1978Medic 01, an Advanced Life Support Ambulance was placed in service.1988McLean Volunteer Fire Department was relocated to a new Firehouse at 1455 Laughlin Avenue, McLean, VA. |
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