Stephens City Volunteer Fire Company:

In April 1939, Stephens City Volunteer Fire Company was formed. Until this time, Frederick County did not have any fire protection. However, it should be noted, the City of Winchester had four fire Companies at this time to include: Rouss, Friendship, Sarah Zane and South End. Friendship would answer county calls; however, they would charge the caller a fee for their services.

Middletown Volunteer Fire Company:

In 1942, Middletown Fire Company was started for the town of Middletown. The Middletown Fire Company was chartered on April 27, 1942 -- the second fire company in Frederick County. The action to organize a fire company was inspired by a devastating fire that year on Main Street. The blaze nearly destroyed the entire block where the Wayside Theatre and the Fire Department now stand. The company was soon created, with an initial membership of 22 volunteers. Howard Shull was the Fire Chief and the President was George R. Clarke. Middletown's first fire truck was a used 1937 GMC open-cab pumper, purchased from Woodstock Fire Department. It was housed in a garage located at 7751 Main Street.

In 1943 the company moved to a garage attached to the Middletown Town Hall, located at 7875 Church Street. In 1948 the firefighters purchased their first new truck, an Oren pumper on a Ford Chassis, which cost only $4,000. Today Middletown Fire and Rescue Company has ten vehicles: Engine, Tanker, Rescue Engine, Attack, Ambulance 12-1, Ambulance 12-2, Chiefs Mobile, Mobile, and ATV. The most recent purchase is the 2004 Ford F450 Diesel 6.0L 4x4 Ambulance. A new attack is on order. Between 1948 and 2003 the cost of a new truck has risen from $4,000 to $425,000..

In August 1943 the Auxiliary was formed. Throughout its history, the Auxiliary has been an invaluable part of Company 12, raising tens of thousands of dollars to support the fire and rescue service. Their spring and fall Turkey/Oyster Suppers draw hundreds of people. The Auxiliary trailer is known for the excellence in food service at auctions and other events throughout the area, and the annual Christmas Bazaar (the first Saturday in November) is always a great success.

The Town Hall garage served as the fire station for nine years, but the company continued to grow, and in 1952 the Middletown Fire Department moved into a new building on land donated by Carlton D. Harris. Rescue Operations were added in June 1952, and the company bought a 1948 International panel truck as its first rescue vehicle. Today the Rescue service has two ambulances, the last purchased in 2004 for $124,000.

In the late 1960's the company adopted its present name, Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, Inc. In its more than 50 years of service, the company has had only five chiefs and nine presidents. In 1986, Middletown Fire and Rescue was the first company in Frederick County to recognize the need to hire paid personnel to attain the quality of its daytime service. Because of Company 12's foresight, initiative and leadership, Frederick County soon established an Emergency Services Department.

In 1992, the Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company celebrated its 50th anniversary of service to the community with the dedication of a building addition which more than doubled the size of the station. The $600,000 project afforded a new community hall and kitchen, garage space for fire and rescue vehicles, offices, a day room and new bunkrooms. Thanks to the dedicated support of our community, the Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company along with the Auxiliary have been able to maintain a consistently high level of service for more than five decades.

Clear Brook Volunteer Fire Company:

In 1946, a land owner who worked for Clear Brook Woolen Mill placed a call to Winchester as his home was on fire. Friendship Fire would not respond until the owner would guarantee the amount to be paid. After three calls for help, Mr. Bill Lawrence said he would pay the amount. Unfortunately, it was too late.

Mr. Lawrence with the help of other landowners decided to form the first Volunteer Fire Company in Frederick County. The Company was named Clear Brook Volunteer Fire Company.

Gore Volunteer Fire Company:

In 1950, Gore Volunteer Fire Company was formed in the western part of Frederick County after a bad fire burned a store and a post office building. Gore Volunteer Fire Company was chartered in 1952.

The company had no building when it was first organized and stored the fire truck in the garage of the fire chief, James Lawyer. Sometime later, a small building was obtained and served as the home for first one vehicle and then two as well as a meeting place and a facility to aid in fund raising projects such as apple butter making.

The needs of the Fire Company greatly exceeded this small building. In 1978, construction of a new building along its present location on Route 50 was begun. The facility was completed in 1979 with 3 bays, a large kitchen and a dining hall. An additional truck bay was added in 1984. More recently, in 2009 a renovation project brought 3 more truck bays, a meeting/training room, new bathrooms and an outside face lift.

Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue serves approximately 100 square miles in the western tip of Frederick County. Our current fleet of vehicles includes 2 ALS equipped ambulances, a Serv, a Mobile, Engine, Tanker, Attack and Brush truck.

Round Hill Community Fire Company:

In 1953, Round Hill Fire Company was formed after Bill Boyce lost his store in a fire that same year.

In the spring of 1953, after two large fires in the Round Hill community, two gentlemen were sitting under the shade trees of a home on Poorhouse Road talking. One said, "This community needs some sort of fire protection." These two men started talking to other residents of the area and decided to have a community meeting. The meeting was held in August of 1953 at Round Hill Community Center with approximately 50 people in attendance. Garland Cather was appointed acting President to get things started..

In October of that year, a Charter from the State of Virginia was issued. In November, Mr. D.L. Bowers was elected to be the first President of Round Hill Community Fire Company. The Company purchased a 1953 pick-up from Earl Shade & Co. and constructed a fire truck for calls with a homemade tank (235 gallon), a Hale F22 Portable Pump, and 150 ft. of 1-1/2" hose. The first big fire took place during the summer of 1954. It was the Bond Parking shed on Indian Hollow Road.

In 1957, the Fire Company built the station where we are now located. Prior to this, a truck was housed in a small garage along Rt. 50 just east of the present station. During the following years, equipment has been replaced and upgraded to meet needs for resident's protection.

In the 1980's, the First Responder Program began which allowed us to give the area Emergency Medical Services. We then upgraded and added Emergency Medical Technicians to serve the area. For approximately 6 years, we ran an ambulance as a satellite station for the Winchester Volunteer Rescue Squad from our station. In 1987, a new Pierce Pumper was purchased for better fire suppression.

In the 1990's we decided to purchase our own Ambulance to better serve the residents of our area. In 1996 we added a Rescue Engine to the fleet.

Gainesboro Volunteer Fire Company:

In 1958, the people of Gainesboro, Virginia including the Ruritan Club of Gainesboro, got together to form Gainesboro Volunteer Fire Company to protect their area. Specifically, a public meeting was held at Gainesboro School on January 30, 1958 to make plans for the organization of a local fire company. The President of the Gainesboro Ruritan Club opened the meeting and explained that the Ruritan Club was interested in forming a fire company. Mr. William Lawrence was introduced and he explained the function and equipment needed to form such a company. The Chairman asked if the people of Gainesboro were interested in forming a fire company and the motion was passed. The Board of Directors was established.

Red Williamson explained the work on the purchase of a fire engine and the committee was authorized to purchase the truck. The truck was ordered with the financial help from Clear Brook Fire Company and Shade Equipment Co. donated their facilities to install the tank and pumps. William Lawrence conducted several fire fighting classes for the local firemen. He worked close with the company and helped with ways to raise money and soliciting memberships. Red Williamson was elected the first Fire Chief of Gainesboro..

The building committee started working on plans to buy land for the Fire House. In March 1958, the present lot was purchased for the sum of $1200.00. The truck was completed and put in service following the first yard party in June of 1958. The committee held a meeting on July 4, 1958 to lay out the building and start construction. The footers were poured in August 1958 and during September and October the rafters and sub floors were installed. Most of the work was done by the members of Gainesboro.

The second floor was completed due to a large donation of oak flooring and the company was now able to hold meetings in the fire house. During the next few months the rest rooms and sewage system was installed. The company then purchased 50 chairs and 20 tables in July 1959. Gainesboro Volunteer Fire Company was then off and running.

In 1960, after much trouble with the telephone service, the directors voted to purchase radio equipment. The radio service was to be tied into the base station at Polly's Cab. In 1961 they saw a need for a water supply truck and authorized the committee to purchase a "tank truck". Bingo and shooting matches were held to raise money.

The ladies auxiliary was formed in November 1958.

Star Tannery Volunteer Fire Company:

Star Tannery Fire Company was formed in 1971.

Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company:

In 1971, Greenwood Volunteer Fire Company was formed with the citizens in the area as well as the Shawnee Ruritan Club.

North Mountain Volunteer Fire Company:

In 1973, after a large fire at Wild Acre Park which took over ten homes, North Mountain Volunteer Fire Company was formed. The first organizational meeting was held on February 25, 1973 at the old Shawneeland lodge with about 100 people in attendance. Company meetings were held at the lodge and the Mountain Falls Community Center until the original station was completed in June of 1974. At that time the membership of North Mountain was around 200 people and all members were required to pay $3 in annual membership dues. The land the building sits on was donated by Thomas Rosenberger, a local farmer and a former Fire Chief.

North Mountain operated a First Responder program until 1989-1990, when the first ambulance was purchased. North Mountain was one of the first transporting agencies in Frederick County. North Mountain has seen major growth over the years. The company now runs over 400 calls per year and operates 9 pieces of equipment.

Reynolds Store Volunteer Fire Company:

In 1978, Reynolds Store Volunteer Fire Company was formed in the northern part of Frederick County. According to Roger Crosen, a study was done by the Lord Fairfax Planning District regarding the shortage of fire services in the area. Following, a public meeting was held by John Boyd, Roger Crosen and David Whitacre at Gainesboro Volunteer Fire Company. (It should be noted that the county's contribution to each of the Companies was $4,000 at that time.) All in attendance of the public meeting were in favor of starting the Fire Company. Meetings were originally held in the basement of the United Methodist Church. A 1958 International pumper was the first piece obtained by Reynolds Store. The Whitacre's were instrumental in discussions regarding land arrangements with Jesse Batt. Ten acres were purchased from Jesse Batt and Reynolds Store Volunteer Fire Company was built.

Millwood Station Volunteer Fire Company:

In January of 1958, the Winchester Volunteer Rescue Squad was formed. It consisted of approximately thirty members, who operated a 1955 Ford ambulance and a 1957 Chevy crash truck out of a donated office on East Gerrard Street. Their service area would include the City of Winchester, Frederick County, and areas in West Virginia.

The organization continued to upgrade their fleet over the next few years, and then purchased a house at 517 Millwood Avenue in September of 1961. This would serve as their station for the next nineteen years. In 1976, the Winchester Volunteer Rescue Squad upgraded their status to an Advanced Life Support agency, having some of the first shock-trauma, cardiac-tech, and paramedic level providers in the Commonwealth of Virginia..

Due to the 1979 construction of Pleasant Valley Road, the organization was forced to build a new station at 600 Millwood Avenue, at a cost of $644,000. Throughout the next ten years, they would operate a fleet of six ambulances, two light/medium duty crash trucks, an ALS chase vehicle, and a heavy squad.

On April 1st, 1998, the Winchester Volunteer Rescue Squad became an affiliate of Frederick County Fire and Rescue, and adopted its present name, Millwood Station Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc. Station 21. Later that year, Millwood Station purchased a 1982 Seagrave pumper from Friendship Fire Company and began providing fire protection to the citizens of Frederick County. Rescue Engine 21, a 1998 Spartan/Marion was delivered in January of 1999.

Groundbreaking took place in April of 2003, on a new fire station located at 250 Costello Drive. The building was completed in January of 2004, at a cost of over 4.3 million dollars. The new facility has a large bay area, offices, kitchen, bunk rooms, and a separate bingo/banquet building.

In 2006, Millwood Station purchased a 2007 Horton ambulance and ordered a 2007 Pierce Contender to replace the old Engine 21. Millwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue continues to operate two ambulances, Rescue Engine 21, Engine 21, and an ALS response vehicle.