CVFD celebrates Mardi Gras!

The CVFD's was one of several pieces of County fire apparatus to participate in the Clarendon neighborhood's Mardi Gras parade. On Tuesday, February 20, several members packed into Utility 103 or walked along the route in their turnout gear passing out beads to all those who came out for the festivities. Even with piles of snow and the
rain, the crowds were decent. Local businesses had some great floats.

Utility 103 was staffed by Marvin Binns and Mark Laskin. Dee Allen, Jack Baber, Mike Newman, Walter Coon and Chief Scott Pardi walked along the route and handed out over three cases of beads.

We had a great time, even with the rain, and we can't wait to participate again next year.

Water and fire

The Cherrydale VFD has been busy with both fire and water. CVFD Recruit Firefighter Joe Lowry caught a job while on Engine 103 recently. A fire broke out at just past 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 17, 2007 at an apartment complex at 4385 Lee Highway. Engine 103 arrived to find smoke showing from the top floor of the three story complex. After taking in a line, they extinguished a kitchen fire which had extended into some duct work. With some roof work by the crews of Tower 104 and Truck 106, the fire was brought under control quickly. This was the first fire for ACFD Trainee Ned Waterfall, 103-C. Lowry worked with the career crew of Captain Steve McCoy, FF Jesse Reeve, FF/Medic Glenn Smith, and Fire Trainee Ned Waterfall.



The Light and Air unit has also been busy with winter storm activity, having been staffed several times in the last few weeks to run wires down and other public service calls. Members of the Cherrydale VFD and the Falls Church VFD have assisted in staffing the unit. Running public service calls is not exciting but it provides significant value to the County as it keeps an engine company in service for other work.

From the attic

This historic photo shows a Cherrydale VFD crew staffing an American LaFrance engine. Marvin Binns, second from right, is the current CVFD president.

Two new members start Indoc

The Cherrydale VFD's newest members, Carter Cromartie and John (Mac) McIntire, are moving along great in the Indoc training program, the first step to being signed off as a recruit volunteer firefighter with Arlington County. Also in the program is CVFD member Dee Allen. CVFD firefighters Lowry, Sorenson and Baber have all been active in assisting in class instruction.

Storms bring slow nights

2/14/2007 - Just when you would have thought that snow and ice would have meant a busy night for the volunteer firefighters of Arlington County, the halo over the county saved us again. The County and City of Falls Church received a lot of sleet, ice and snow which many thought would create significant downed power lines and accidents on area roadways. It in fact didn't materialize but that didn't stop the Cherrydale VFD with our brothers and sisters at the Falls Church VFD from mobilizing resources in case something significant developed. Throughout the night, Ambulance 106 (Fortner, Schomburg, Turner) and Light and Air 103 (Evinger, Lowry) staffed Fire Station 6 in Falls Church. Utility 103 (Pardi, Azar) staffed Fire Station 1 and Utility 106 (Vilpors, Donahue) staffed Fire Station 5. This is in addition to the career staffed units at those houses. Those units were in service until 7 a.m. although the Light and Air unit remained in service throughout the day.

Lessons Learned: We did learn that putting chains on LA103 really stinks. We also learned someone took LA103's chains and put a bunch of chain parts in the bucket. Truck 106 had about 10 sets so we had a set generously donated to us.