Tangier Volunteer Fire Department

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Our Story

The Tangier Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1964, with just eight (8) charter members. The town of Tangier is located within Accomack County, uniquely situated on an island in the beautiful Chesapeake Bay, twelve (12) miles west of Onancock. Prior to organized fire protection, each family on Tangier had its own leather bucket, and when the alarm sounded, each family would quickly gather to form a bucket brigade from the nearest well. As aforementioned, the department was organized in 1964; the founding fathers were Jimmy Daley, Edward Parks, Grover Charnock and Bob Crockett. The first firehouse was a tin Quonset hut, which was located across the street from the present electric plant and housed the island's first motorized pieces of apparatus, two (2) Cushman scooters equipped with minimal firefighting equipment. Just a few months after its inception, tragedy struck the island when two (2) people perished in a house fire. Due to this devastating event, over 70 people attended the next month's fire company business meeting. Members and residents alike were determined to increase their firefighting capabilities. Their efforts proved successful, and, in April 1965 the company received their first "official" fire engine. It was donated by the Melfa Volunteer Fire Company. Since Tangier did not have an ambulance in the early years, patients were simply loaded into the bed of a pick-up, covered with blankets, and transported to the health center. The department obtained its first ambulance in the early 1980’s. Members now transport patients in the ambulance to the Health Center. From the health center, if needed, patients are transported by boat to Edward W. McCready Hospital in Crisfield, Maryland or they are airlifted by helicopter to the appropriate medical facility. (Typically, Trooper 4 - Salisbury {Maryland State Police Aviation Division} transports patients to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, in Salisbury). Due to its isolation, Tangier's fire and EMS personnel have quite a unique situation, as unlike the mainland fire and rescue stations of the Eastern Shore, Tangier does not have the advantage of having mutual-aid departments to call upon. In fact, you could say that they are on their own, especially during a fire incident. Fortunately, the island does have a municipal water system and fire hydrants are strategically placed throughout the island. Tangier's closest actual neighbors are located on a sister-island, Smith Island, Maryland - approximately 10 miles to the north. Presently, Tangier - Station 21 operates a modern fleet of four (4) apparatus, including an Ambulance, Engine (Pumper), Mini-pumper and Brush unit. The modern station, located on Main Ridge Road was built in 1983 and features two (2) engine bays. Other station amenities include a meeting room, engineer's room and various storage & office areas. During 2010, the dedicated volunteers of Station 21 responded to 3 fire incidents and 68 EMS incidents. (Excerpted from Eastern Shore Fire Website, Station 21 page) 2019 ADMINISTRATIVE: PRESIDENT-JAMIE CROCKETT VICE PRESIDENT-ZACK CREEDLE CHIEF ENGINEER-CHARLES BRADSHAW SECRETARY-KAYLA CROCKETT CHAPLAIN-JARED PARKS TREASURER-DANNY McCREADY LINE OFFICERS 2019 FIRE CHIEF-GARY PRUITT DEPUTY CHIEF-DENNY CROCKETT 1ST ASST CHIEF-RYAN GILES 2ND ASST CHIEF-NORWOOD EVANS CAPTAIN-JONATHON WHEATLEY LIEUTENANT-ROB BAECHTEL EMS CAPTAIN-OLIVIA PRUITT