This page describes the history of Scruggs Volunteer Fire & Rescue since it was founded in 1974. These records were maintained and kept by founding member / Captain Jane Crawford.

     In January 1972, Burnt Chimney Fire Department was started. Approximately six fellows from the Scruggs area helped with this program, a couple of these being V.T. (Slim) Crawford, elected Captain, Byron Brown, elected Lieutenant.

​     Burnt Chimney purchased a gasoline tanker in 1972 to be refurbished for the Scruggs Division of Burnt Chimney Fire Department and put in service January 1973. A Dodge 1200-gallon gasoline tanker was painted yellow, a pump put on the truck and it was fitted with pipe and fittings so that water could be pumped off. After the truck was put into service the following members made up the Burnt Chimney Fire Department, Scruggs Division: Captain V.T. Crawford, Lieutenant B. Bown, Clay Brown, N.G. Parker, Carol Boster, Thomas Amos, C.W. Toney, Glenn Mattox, and Jimmy Doughton.

     The Scruggs Division of Burnt Chimney existed until 1974, when the Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department came into being. To begin a department the county would fund $6000. The funds raised in the Scruggs area would stay in the community and work for its patrons. The county also contributed $2000 a year for operations. During the early 1980’s funding from the county increased to $3000 per year for operations. Scruggs would hold raffles for things like a bass boat and trailer, a shotgun, and other such items, such as shooting matches and Bingo. Other fund raising included standing at the corners of Rt 122 (Booker T Washington Hwy), Rt 616 (Scruggs Rd) and Rt 942 (Bluewater Dr) holding a jug that people dropped money in as they drove by. In the mid 1980’s, funding from the county increased to $5000 a year for operations, and now they included funds for personnel insurance. The companies received the same amount of funding; this depends on needs, calls and mileage per company. Clay Brown donated the land and the first phase was begun. In 1974, a 1-ton International Chassis was ordered, and then built by members. This was a brush truck to handle brush fires and work wrecks. In 1975, the Mini-Pumper was put into service along with the tanker. Next came a 1-ton Chevrolet van to carry equipment like air packs, hose, turnout gear, etc. Members also rebuilt the van. In 1980, a wrecked 1963 Chevrolet 750 Engine was bought from Bassett Fire Department. A 1974 GMC cab over chassis was purchased and attached to the back part, tank and pump, then rebuilt and painted by Crawford Repair Service along with the help from members at night. It was put into service March 1981 at a cost of $13,000.

     
      On January 1, 1981 the idea of a Rescue Division was born. An EMT class started and the Scruggs Rescue Division was charted together with the Fire Division in 1981. The first ambulance was a Cadillac purchased from Allegheny Hospital. This was also refurbished at Crawford Repair Service with the help of many members. Then Martin Processing donated a 1970 Chevrolet van Ambulance. These vehicles were used for a while, and then a 1980 Ford box ambulance was purchased in March 1982. The Cadillac stayed and the Chevrolet ambulance was donated to Fork Mountain Rescue. Another 1975 Chevrolet box ambulance was purchased from Fairfax County and was put in service, March 1984. We also had a citizen donate a 1975 Ford station wagon for both divisions to use and it was painted yellow. We now had the ALS 1980 Ford and the BLS 1975 Chevrolet. The next purchase was Med 10B, in 1987, and the Chevrolet was sold to Cool Branch Rescue. The last ambulance was Med 10 ALS, in 1990, which is an E-350 Ford box.

Pictured is the department's first ambulance responding to the department's first Rescue Squad call.

​          Going back to the Fire Division, a used Mack chassis was bought in May 1983, and Crawford Repair Service built a tandem 2000-gallon tanker over the next two years and it was put into service January 1985 at the cost of $50,000.

            In 1981, a military 4x4 jeep was bought and made into a ¾ ton brush truck, with a 250-gallon tank and pump. This truck was called “Col. T.” because Tom Stovall had gotten this truck through long hours of paper work. After the Mack tanker was put in service we retired the old Dodge 1200-gallon tanker. In 1987, a 1974 GMC Crash truck was purchased from Tuckahoe Rescue near Richmond, VA. This vehicle was repainted by Harry Lucas then put in service in 1988. The old step van was sold at this time. In 1991 Franklin County Public Safety purchased a new Engine, which was a Mack chassis, a 1250 GPM top mount pump with 1000 gallons of water in the tank. The county wanted to purchase an International, so Company 10 paid an additional $30,000 to purchase the Mack chassis. Engine 10 was put in service on March 1982. In April of 1991, the Fire/Rescue purchased a Chevrolet Suburban, used for transportation to training classes and meetings.

     In 1987, the need of a Dive Division became evident because of several people drowning. The traditional way of recovery was dragging, but the preferred method now is with that of an underwater dive team. Kelly Stanard, who was a Lieutenant in the Fire Division and a well-trained diver, began this division. Equipment was purchased and the call was put out for volunteers to be a part of the Scruggs Dive Team. Approximately 20 divers answered the call. Many hours of training were begun. All divers purchased their own equipment at a cost of approximately $2,000 per diver.
 
       An enclosed truck body was purchased, put on wheels to become a trailer. This was built and painted at Crawford Repair Service. Fred Foutz did lettering on this equipment and other previous equipment. In 1990, an old 1975 GMC ambulance was purchased and refurbished in Lynchburg. About this time David Farewell became the Dive Captain. More equipment was purchased through county funding, auctions and other fund raising projects. In 1993, the county moved the Dive Team to Squad 11 because of funding, so that Squad 11 could be brought into existence. The dive trailer was sold as it had become less useful.
 
       In 1991, a pontoon boat was donated, fixed up and placed on the lake patrol during weekends in the event of a drowning. In 1990, a workboat was purchased which was wide and stable for carrying divers and equipment. The Dive Team and their vehicles are referred to as Squad 11: Dive Captain 11, Dive Utility 11 and Dive Boat 11.

​      In March 1996, the new Crash 10 was delivered, a 1995 Freightliner FL-80 with a Hackney body. Again, Fred Foutz did his wonderful work, and it was in service May 1996. The old Crash 10 was sent to Lynchburg to be refurbished. This became Air 10. The Fire, Rescue and Dive Team share Air 10, as it is needed.

      The old Dive 11 truck is stationed at the Ferrum Fire Department in order to cover Philpott Lake as first response.
 
       In December 1997, Scruggs received a 1997 F-350 Ford box ambulance 4x4 through the county. After many repairs were completed, it was put in service March 1998.
 
       At this time the 1987 Med 10B was made a Dive truck (Dive 11) to replace the old 1975 Dive truck stationed at Ferrum. The old Dive truck went to the county, Med 10 became Med 10 B and the new ambulance became Med 10.
 
        In July 2000, Franklin County Public Safety gave us a new 2000 E-450 Ford box, which became Med 10. The F-350 Ford box became Med 10B. The county took the old Med 10B back.
 
       In May 2001, an F-450 Ford was purchased and Rodney Vest of Check put the old tank and pump on the new chassis, and the new Mini-Pumper 10 was in service July 2001.

       
​      In May 2001 a 1994 Mack was purchased to replace the old Air 10. Truck Body of Lynchburg put the old body on the 1994 Mack. In August 2001 Air 10 was back in service.
 
       A Polaris 6x6 was purchased in April 2002. This vehicle was fitted with a bed on the back to transport fire equipment into brush fires. It was sold in March 2005, as it was not being used.

      In March 2003 a 112 Freightliner 3000-gallon tanker was purchased. Because of many problems it was not put into service until March 2004. Old Tanker 10 was sold in January 2004.

​      In February 2005 the 1991 Suburban was replaced with a 2005 F-250 Ford pickup.
 
      On December 29, 2009 a 2010 Ford Escape XLT (First Responder) vehicle was purchased. This Response vehicle can be used by any Scruggs certified EMT.

      In 2013 the Air trailer was purchased to be primarily used by the Dive team but is available for Fire and Rescue when appropriate.

     In 2016, Scruggs Fire & Rescue received a FEMA grant for $70,000 to purchase a new pull behind Bauer air compressor. This is used to take to fire scenes and refill air bottles.

     In 2016, The department purchased a new Utility truck (2016 Silverado 3500 Duramax) to replace the 2005 F250 Super Duty.

​In November of 2018, the department received a new ladder truck (2018 Pierce Enforcer 107' Single Axle). After the new ladder was outfitted with equipment, Engine 10 was given to the county to use as a training engine at the FCDPS training center. 

In December of 2018, the department received a new pumper (2018 Pierce Freightliner Pumper - 4x4) to combine a brush truck and crash truck into one vehicle. The 1992 Crash Truck was sold to Franklin County Public Safety to use as a Special Operations truck.

    In January of 2019, the rescue squad decided to downsize from two ambulances into one. In March of 2019, the rescue squad sold the GMC 4500 Med 10 and purchased a 2018 F550 Osage Demo from Rodney and Andrew Vest. Med 10B was given to the dive team to replace the 1992 Chevrolet Dive Truck. The 1992 Chevrolet Dive Truck was given to Franklin County Public Safety to use as a work/utility truck.

In October of 2019, Rescue Squad members and Administration certified both Utility 10 and Unit 10 to be Licensed Response Vehicles (Non-Transport) with the Virginia Office of EMS. While already responding to all fire department calls, these quick response vehicles also respond to all the department's EMS calls. These vehicles provide a quick response to EMS calls and get a certified EMT to the patient as quickly as possible to assess and treat for any life threatening injuries/illnesses. 

(Pictured is Founding Member / Captain Jane Crawford with Engine 10 in 2020)

In October of 2020, Engine 10 was purchased from Franklin County Public Safety by Scruggs Volunteer Fire & Rescue. Engine 10 was the last Engine Chief Crawford built, so the department felt it was our duty to honor his legacy and bring Engine 10 home. Engine 10 will be used as a parade vehicle and will be on display to show the department's history.

In 2021, the department purchased a new Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LTZ to replace Utility 10 as the primary response vehicle for the department. This new vehicle would be designated Command 10. This new command truck would be outfitted with a fiberglass bedcap; outfitted with dual slide out trays, a command station to use on large incidents, a retractable roof slide for weather conditions, and many other features. 

After Command 10 was put into service, Dive 10 (the original Med 10B) was sold and replaced by Unit 10 (2005 Ford F250).