New CVFD Firehall Picture

I came across this new picture of the fire station from the website of our neighbors, the Cherrydale Masonic Lodge. The picture appears to be from the 1970's. A detailed examination reveals that the bay floor had yet to be lowered. The ramp is level; today's ramp has a noticeable downward slope to allow for taller apparatus.

Welcome New Members

The Cherrydale VFD would like to welcome two new members:

Ben Sorenson
Jack Baber

Both have begun their six month probationary membership and will soon begin their initial 120-hour Indoctrination training, which will clear them to ride as Recruit Firefighters (red hats) on all County apparatus. Welcome, guys!

Light and Air 103 at the Pentagon

The Light and Air unit operated for over a week at the Pentagon after 9/11, providing scene lighting and operational support to the Urban Search and Rescue teams working at the scene.

The Cherrydale VFD helping out

The history of the Cherrydale VFD includes at least twice where we have stepped up to help a new fire departments begin. As the first fire department in Arlington County, we knew what it was like to start from the ground up and wanted to give to other departments just starting out. According to the histories of two local departments, the McLean Volunteer Fire Department (Fairfax County Station 401) and the Ritchie Volunteer Fire Department (Prince George's County Station 37) , the CVFD was able to step up when it mattered:

McLean VFD - McLean, VA - 1921
Department 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.

Bowie VFD - Bowie, MD - 1928
The first fire call for the new Bowie Volunteer Fire Department occurred at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 16, 1928. A chimney fire at the residence of Joseph Kline, Sr. was extinguished with chemical and salt. At the second meeting of the department Mr. W.L. Trott, Sr., was asked to serve as President and the department was on its way. Membership started to develop, a constitution and by-laws were developed and talks were under way for means of acquiring fire equipment and a station. It was determined at the first meetings that the department would not be connected with the town government or any other government agency. It was also determined that no tax monies would be solicited or used, but rather funds would be raised through volunteer contributions and fund raising events like dinners, plays, carnivals and other community functions. In just over two months the department acquired its first equipment. With a personal loan from Chief Joffe and through his business dealings with the Cherrydale, Virginia Volunteer Fire Department, two Ford Model "T" -chemical fire trucks were purchased for the total of $625.00. This equipment was placed in service immediately and housed in Mr. Kreitzer's Bowie Motor Company auto repair garage on 9th Street. Mr. Kreitzer furnished building keys to the officers of the department in order to have easy access when a fire call came in.

This is the hose cart that McLean borrowed from Cherrydale

Three members of the CVFD recently participated in the St. Patrick's Day 8k (5 mile) race this past Sunday morning in the District. Congratulations to Dee Allen who was our fastest
CVFDer followed by Joe Lowry. No big deal for Dee as she ran the Marine Corps Marathon last year. I also made it to the ending without the need for EMS (That would be the 8k not the marathon).

The CVFD will participate in more of these activities. Marine Corps. Marathon? Army 10 Miler? 9/11 Memorial 5k?

Well done.

Scott E. Pardi
Chief

Light and Air 103 respond...

Welcome to the blog of the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department. The CVFD is a small volunteer fire department whose members work closely with the member of the Arlington County Fire Department to provide seamless fire protection for the County and its residents. We are the only volunteer fire department in the county who still owns the station it responds from. The Cherrydale Firehouse has become the center point of our community, serving as a gathering point since 1918.

Our members provide supplemental staffing for Arlington Engines 103 and 108 as well as primary staffing for Light and Air 103, Utility 103, and Ambulance 102. We work closely with the other volunteer departments in the county to ensure that the long heritage of volunteer fire service in this county is uninterrupted.

On behalf of the CVFD, welcome to the blog.