The Hampton Volunteer Fire Company was borne when citizens banded together on April 9, 1884, to fight a fire which destroyed approximately 33 stores and residences, consuming the better part of the Hampton business section.

With the growth of the Fire Department, William T. Daougherty was elected its first Chief in 1884. The first fire engine, a hand pump, was purchased in 1884, and is currently on display at the Virginia Air and Space Center.

In 1887, the City Council authorized the building of a well adjacent to the Court House lot and the Fire Department requested permission to build a fire house on the Southwest corner of the Court House lot. In February 1891, the first steamer type engine was delivered from the LaFrance Fire Engine Company.

In July 1909, the West End Hose Company, a fire company that had been organized in the West End of Hampton was accepted into full membership with the Hampton Department and was known as the West End Division. The Triple Combination Ahrens Fox fire engine was ordered in 1922.

The first American Red Cross Life Saving and First Aid Class was held in 1933, and the first fire school was held in September 1934. An auxiliary fire department was organized in 1942 to provide additional fire protection during World War II. This auxiliary disbanded after the war.

In October of 1955, the Fire Department relocated from the Court House lot to a new, $175,000 headquarters building on Pembroke Avenue near the intersection of Pembroke and Armistead Avenues. More than 200 citizens attended the dedication ceremony at which Fire Marshal Hopkins and Hampton Company Chief Renn were on hand.

The alarm bell which was perched atop a tower next to the Fire Department on the Court House lot for 53 years was lifted off for transfer to the new headquarters building in July of 1956. Manufactured by Buckeye Bell Foundry in 1891, the bell with its inscription, "The Crab," presented by the City Council to Hampton Volunteer Fire Department, March 25, 1891, was eased on to a flat trailer truck by E.T. Gresham, Co. of Norfolk and reset in its new fire station at Pembroke Avenue. This original fire bell still graces the front lawn of Hampton's headquarters building.

Since it's inception, the Hampton Volunteer Fire Company has had 10 Chiefs. They are W.T. Daougherty, W.J. Weymouth, F.W. Darling, R.W. Tennis, H.L. Carmines, W.S. Renn, J.E. Lawson, J.L. Barbour, M.K. Taylor, Jr., and K.M. Selby.

Fire company membership is generally between 35 and 40 members. The station is completely staffed by the fire company for a 24-hour period each month. At all other times the company responds to fires from Station #1, as directed by the City emergency radio system.

Presently, the Hampton Volunteer Fire Company is housed at the Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue's Station #1, located at 306 West Pembroke Avenue.

The Phoebus Company was organized in 1893, seven years before the Town of Phoebus was incorporated. The old Fire Station was a wooden structure which stood for many years. The present station was completed in 1938 and is of brick construction.

At the first regular meeting on January 30, 1893, complete organization of the company effected the newly elected officers as Chief P.A. Fuller, Foreman E.C. Kaiser, Sr., Secretary Joseph Went, Treasurer L.G. Donohue, and with them the following citizens as charter members: P.H. Boyham, P.W. Phillips, Joseph Daly, E. Tennis, W.F. Clark, J.B. Firechild, W.J. Kearney, George H. Lancer, A. Kilmever, F. Probst, S.T. Larcomb, Ollie Freeburger, Lewis Prentiss, Stephen Cony, J.J. Shean, William Fuller, A.C. Lacy, Edward Farrell, W.H. Power who became secretary at that meeting, Thomas A Stacey, Frank Lancer, P. Detroit, L. Bradley, J.W. Opdyke, C. A. Eacho, H.S. Kelly, George Young, Charles Wornom, and W.H. Larrabee.

At its inception, the $210 subscribed by the Charter members was the only financial support available to the Company. After expending this small amount for a hand pump, hose, and buckets, the officers and members realized the need for adequate firefighting equipment. With the responsibility of protecting their entire community in mind, the Company raised, and has continued to raise, thousands of dollars through various forms of entertainment to purchase needed equipment. In 1940, the Company obtained a new Diamond "T" Truck, in payment for providing fire protection in the Chesapeake section of Elizabeth City County.

The Ladies Auxiliary to the Phoebus Fire Company was organized on September 21, 1952 and began their activities in November of that year.

The fire station is located in historic downtown Phoebus which gives it the feel of a "big city" firehouse. There are two pumpers and three ambulances located here. The Phoebus district includes Hampton University, the VA Medical Center, and historic Fort Monroe. Phoebus Company has in the past, and will continue in the future to serve the community to the best of its ability.

Phoebus Volunteer Rescue Squad has been serving the community of Phoebus and the City of Hampton since 1948. Originally a unit of the Phoebus Volunteer Fire Company, the Squad functions today as an independent organization relying on donations for operations. The Squad provides Basic Life Support and transportation for the Advanced Life Support units of the Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue.

The Town of Phoebus was founded in 1609 as Mill Creek and is located on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads, directly across from Norfolk's Willoughby Spit. Phoebus is the home of Fort Monroe, the oldest active duty fort in the nation. Captain John Smith landed on a part of Phoebus known as Strawberry Banks on the first voyage up the James. Many travelers visit the site unknowingly every year as they enter the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and pass the motel of the same name. In 1952, the Town of Phoebus, the Town of Wythe, the City of Hampton, and Elizabeth City County merged into the present City of Hampton.

Prior to 1948, ambulance service to this area was provided by the Wythe Fire Company and Dixie Hospital, which was located in Phoebus adjacent to Hampton Institute. Dixie charged for the service and had tried for several years to get the Phoebus Fire Company to take over. Dixie provided a full-time driver, nurse, and physician which tended to make the service costly and slow. Phoebus Fire Company did not want to take on this responsibility until the hospital lost its garage and only ambulance to an extremely mysterious fire one night. This left the community with only one ambulance located in Wythe, several miles away.

Phoebus First Aid Squad was formed in 1948 as a unit of the Phoebus Volunteer Fire Company and consisted of 20 members. The original officers were Captain Bob Snow, Lieutenant Charley Hill, and Secretary/Treasurer John Mugler. The original equipment consisted of a 1947 Cadillac, a set of floodlights, and an E & J resuscitator. The funds ($7,000) for this equipment were donated by Elizabeth City County and organized by Nick Dixon, the County Supervisor. There were many changes in 1950, including the first two-way radio communications with the county Police Department and the addition of a red light to the roof of the ambulance.

Since the original Cadillac in 1948, there has been a series of station wagons and carry-alls. The first box was purchased in 1972 from Swab for $11,000. This box was remounted in 1975 and again in 1983. Since that time, the Squad has purchased more units and now usually operates three or four units.

In 1982, the name of the Squad was changed to Phoebus Volunteer Rescue Squad. With the name change came a change in the Constitution and By-Laws, increasing the control over the quality of patient care that the members provide. The Squad now requires 200 hours per year of response time from each active member. The Squad is young and looking forward to many improvements in its services in the years to come. This continued improvement is in keeping with the Squad's tradition of years of quality care, which the community of Phoebus and the City of Hampton have enjoyed.

The Wythe District Fire Department had its beginnings at a meeting, Thanksgiving night in 1909, in W. R. Wright's store at Franklin and Electric Avenues. Seven citizens including John M. Lynch, William E. LeCompt, A. J. Jackson, William Messick, W. R. Wright and W. G. Fraley attended the meeting called to order by J. Walter Smith, Sr. a Magistrate of the Wythe District, and a resident of the Riverview community. At this meeting, the citizens of Riverview voiced the need for a fire department in their neighborhood. Riverview was the most populous part of the Wythe District boasting 49 dwellings, 3 stores, a small school, and 2 churches.

On February 12, 1910 the Riverview Volunteer Fire Department was organized, meeting again in Wright's store with 40 members present. The first officers for the department included: John Lynch, Foreman; J. E. Pape, First Assistant Foreman; John Bunting, Secretary; W. H. Morris, Treasurer; and W. G. Fraley and William Prince, Trustees. Mr. and Mrs. Fraley deeded a lot on Darnaby Avenue to the Riverview Volunteer Fire Department "for as long as the organization was active in the extinguishing of fires in the community." On the endorsement of personal notes from the members of the Fire Department, money was secured to build a 20 X 20 one story frame building. The building was erected by members and friends in the neighborhood and the Department began to function in their new quarters.

As the activities of the Riverview Volunteer Fire Department expanded, financial support came in the form of donations from banks, individual county office holders and the Board of Supervisors of Elizabeth City County. Donations were also received from private citizens; however, a large portion of the company's income came from activities sponsored by an entertainment committee who sponsored oyster suppers, ice cream socials, smokers, dances, trolley rides, and turkey shoots.

In 1913 Riverview built a hose wagon that could be drawn by either horses or men. This wagon carried 750 feet of hose. Riverview also purchased two 50 gallon chemical tanks from American Lafrance and mounted them on a Ford chassis in 1915. This was one of the first motorized fire apparatuses in Virginia.

Wythe Company Organized

During that same winter of 1909, a meeting was held by W. R. Rawlings at a store operated by W. C. Perkins. Present at this meeting were: W. C. Perkins, W. R. Rawlings, L. M. T. Beal, W. H. Morris and Colonel William Thompson, a retired Army officer. At this meeting the group organized the Wythe Fire Company. The Wythe Protection Association gave permission for a fire station to be built west of the present association building fronting on Kecoughtan Road. Funds were secured and a one story fire station was erected.

On February 12, 1910, the Wythe Fire Company elected the following officers: W. R. Rawlings, Foreman; Colonel William Thompson, Secretary; and L. M. T. Beal, Sr., Treasurer.

Wythe/Riverview Merger

In 1919, nine years after each group had formed, the Riverview Volunteer Fire Department appointed a committee for the purpose of merging the two organizations, and pooling their resources, however, nothing was accomplished until 1921. A decline in membership in both companies due to World War I, as well as friction between the two companies caused the Riverview Company to appoint a new committee to pursue the organizational merger. The new committee drew up a bill to present to the citizens of the Wythe District that would levy a tax for fire fighting and maintaining a water supply. After receiving the support of the citizens, Nelsome Gromme, the county's representative in the House of Delegates was notified of the action and requested a special election. The election was held in August 1922 and the voters decided to levy a tax of ten cents on the $100.00 property valuation for fire fighting purposes.

Early in 1923 the two companies were finally merged under the name WYTHE DISTRICT FIRE DEPARTMENT. Two meetings were held in the Wythe Hall to perfect the organization of the merged companies. Bills were paid, surplus apparatus disposed of, the Riverview Engine House was donated to the Baptist Church and the lot on Darnaby Street was returned to Mr. and Mrs. Farley. The engine house of the Wythe Company became the new headquarters, and the White pumper from the Riverview Department became the principal apparatus for the new Department. The Board of Supervisors accepted the debt on the truck and relieved the note holders. The merged companies met again in March 1923 and elected officers under a new set of By-Laws. The department soon outgrew the quarters adjacent to the Wythe Protective Association, but not until February 1932 did the county provide larger quarters. The old Hooper-Hardy garage adjacent to the George Wythe School was purchased and the Department moved in March 1932. In 1939 efforts were made to still secure better quarters for the Department; however, progress was not made until October 1944 when ground was broken for a new station on the Hooper-Hardy property. The new station was first occupied in May 1945.

Equipment

Equipment from both companies was donated to the newly merged unit. Riverview received a reel and 350 feet of hose from the Hampton Fire Department, as well as two heavy rubber buckets, helmets, boots and coats. The Phoebus Fire Department donated a reel and 500 feet of hose. A hose rack previously used by the West End Fire Department of Hampton was also secured by Riverview. The White Pumper and the new LaFrance from the Riverview Squad were both used until May 1936, when the White was sold for $30.00 and the money turned over to the Department by the Board of Supervisors.

In 1939, members of the department converted a 1926 Packard passenger car into a utility truck that was used for brush and field fires until 1946. At that time a new Chevrolet chassis was purchased by the County and Oren installed a 250 gpm mid-ship pump and hose body with a 250 gallon tank, which was enlarged to 600 gallons. In 1949, a 750 gpm Mack triple combustion pumper was placed in service. This pumper proved itself at the Owings Warehouse fire when it was the sole source of water from the only hydrant available. In 1960, a 1,000 gpm Mack was placed in service. An additional three pieces of equipment were added to the building in 1966 and an additional 1,000 gpm Mack was added in 1971.

Involvement Around The State

The Department was honored to have J. G. Crenshaw, a former Department Foreman, serve as President of the Virginia State Firemen's Association from 1943 to 1945. He also was the President of the Tidewater Fireman's Association. Chief E. F. Ware, also a former Foreman in the Department served as secretary-treasurer of the State Fire Chief's Association of Virginia from 1941 to 1945, and as President of the Virginia State Firefighter's Association from 1960 to 1961. He also was the editor of the Association's newspaper for over 25 years. Ed Gwaltney was President in 1983 and 1984 and was later followed by his son, the current President, Larry Gwaltney. This is the first Father - Son President combination in the 110 years of the Virginia State Firefighter's Association history.

Members of the Wythe Volunteer Fire Company continue to be active in all phases of State Association activities; 4 of the Presidents of this Association have come from Wythe.

Wythe Fire Company Rescue Squad Organized

The Wythe Fire Company Rescue Squad was actually started in 1939 by a series of events that occurred in the Wythe District Fire Department of Elizabeth City County, which was precedent to the present Wythe Company of the Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue.

A first aid class taught in 1937 was the spark that made the Wythe District Fire Department first aid conscious and resulted in the formation of a first aid committee. This committee was charged with continuing the training and maintaining the first aid kits carried on the fire apparatuses to give first aid to members and citizens injured at fires. Soon after the Packard was equipped a call came in to the station that people were injured in an auto accident at Kecoughtan Apts. on Kecoughtan Road. Lacerations of the injured were bandaged and a broken leg splinted. The injured man was transported to Dixie Hospital and the Wythe District Fire Department Rescue Squad was born. The Packard was used to answer many more calls for assistance until August 1940 when Dixie Hospital donated a Buick ambulance to the squad. Although the ambulance was as old as the Packard, it permitted its driver, crew and patients to be sheltered from the elements. The ambulance was painted a bright red and served until 1943.

In 1952 the county of Elizabeth City merged with the Town of Phoebus and the City of Hampton and the name of the squad became the Wythe Fire Company Rescue Squad. The squad handles in excess of 2,800 calls annually.

The Future

The Wythe Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad has been integrated into a more streamline organization, combining functions when possible. This was a reaction to the City's request for the volunteers to take a larger role in manning the station. Basically, prior to this request, the volunteers at Wythe were predominately in a reactive mode; the bells went off and volunteers went to the fires from their homes. Now, in addition to responding from home, volunteers schedule and man the station regularly. This helps the City with manpower shortages and allows the paid crews some time off. This has required changes in the management structure for the entire Company. Roles and responsibilities of the officers have changed and an extra level of management has been added. Each member, rescue or fire, is assigned to a platoon. This facilitates scheduling, training, and so forth.

Since 1990, the Rescue Squad has procured new state of the art ambulances with State funds and donations from the community. The newer ambulances have helped to provide a higher level of care, namely Advanced Life Support or ALS. For the last several years, members have been challenged to attain higher levels of certifications. This effort has proven successful in the medic program where over 15 members have graduated as ALS providers. Also, most of our firefighters are dual certified as EMTs. Volunteers have also helped with the addition of an engine, a 1995 Quality 1500 gpm. This engine added the ability to transport more than the typical four firefighters to an emergency. Ten firefighters can now be transported to any type of emergency.

The current leadership of the Rescue Squad, the Fire company, and the Volunteers have recognized the need to further improve the management and leadership skills necessary to continue to provide excellent service. The Booster program encourages participation by those who cannot respond to the actual emergencies. The Boosters were revitalized in 1992 after an inquiry by the wife of one of the members. It provides an opportunity for men and women to participate without responding as emergency providers. This group has been active in providing refreshments during emergencies and run fund raisers. They also participate in community fire and safety education. Without the communities support, the squad could not continue.

The Buckroe Beach Fire Company is one of six volunteer fire companies operating in the City of Hampton. The district serves approximately 20,000 people and includes a half-mile long public beach and fishing pier.

The Buckroe Beach Fire Company was initially organized in 1949 and was known as the Buckroe Fire Department Number 1. This Department went through three reorganizations during the period 1940-1950. The only equipment at that time was a 1924 American LaFrance, which was housed at the home of a Company member. The Buckroe Fire Company was reorganized to its present status on May 1, 1951, with a 1950 Chevrolet Oren 500-gallon pumper. The pumper was housed at the Buckroe Amusement Park in a building donated by the park's owner. On May 2, 1957, the Fire Company moved into its present location at 2412 E. Pembroke Avenue. An addition to the building at this location was completed in 1987.

Buckroe volunteers have reclaimed the original 1950 Chevrolet pumper from the City's retired fleet, and it is now housed in a building built by the volunteers next to the Buckroe station. In an effort to preserve an important part of Buckroe's history, the pumper was restored to its original condition and is used in parades and during Fire Prevention Week.

Presently, the Company has 66 life and active members and is backed by the Ladies Auxiliary. In addition, the Buckroe station is home to career personnel consisting of an officer and three firefighters for each of its three shifts.

The Ladies Auxiliary to the Buckroe Beach Volunteer Fire Company was formed in January 1951. The Fire Company had just been reorganized, and the men felt they needed the participation of the ladies.

Al Fisher met with several wives of the firemen requesting an Auxiliary to help build the Fire Company in Buckroe. Ruth Wilson and Ester Kimball coordinated the effort. At the first meeting held in February 1951, 25 women signed up to become charter members. This is the first and oldest auxiliary on the Peninsula. State membership to the Ladies Auxiliary to the Virginia State Firemen's Association was received in May 1951. Ruth Wilson was also instrumental in helping to organize other auxiliaries throughout the Peninsula.

The Auxiliary held weekly bingo games from 1984-1990 to help purchase equipment, finance the renovation of the ladies restroom, and purchase new kitchen appliances. They continue to help the rescue squad and other non-profit organizations throughout the City. They established the Burn Victim Account, which helps when a family is burned out of their home and needs housing and/or clothing. The Auxiliary also decorates at Christmas and participates with the Buckroe Civic Association in decorating a Christmas tree, located at the station, for the community.

The Auxiliary is still active, supporting the Buckroe Beach Fire Company and the citizens of Hampton.

The Buckroe Rescue Squad was founded in 1953 by Alfred Fisher and started with only five qualified first aid men. From 1955-1960, the squad was manned by mostly women during the day. The first vehicle was a 1948 Packard.

The Squad is one of 4 volunteer Rescue Squads in Hampton.

The Fox Hill Fire Department was organized in 1922 with 14 members. The first fire apparatus was a Model "T" Ford Fire Engine purchased from from the Wythe Volunteer Fire Company. This modern fire engine of the era also carried two 35 gallon chemical tanks able to discharge soda and acid foam. The trick to this operation was the tanks could only be used one at a time, must be inverted and since this was prior to the era of city water in the Fox Hill community, it was necessary to acquire the water used from either rain barrels or deep water wells.

The first building to house the fire apparatus was built on land by the Bank of Fox Hill with funds raised from the sale of cook books and cake sales. Years later the consolidation of Elizabeth City County and the City of Hampton, Fox Hill Volunteer Fire Company became a part of the Hampton Fire and Rescue Division.

Organized in 1954, the Northampton Fire Company moved into its new home in April 1955, after existing for almost a year without a station. A 1954 General 750 gallon pumper was put in the station at this time. In 1959 a 1940 Diamond "T," 500 gallon pumper was added to the station. A station addition was built in 1962.

Northampton Rescue Squad was organized in July of 1959. Rescue squad members converted a 1960 Chevrolet station wagon and put it in service in January of 1960. By 1963, a second Chevrolet station wagon had gone into service.

Staffing at the station when it first opened was two engineers hired to meet the volunteer firefighters at the fire scene with the equipment. They were F.T. "Tommy" Clark, Jr., who now owns Clark's Feed and Seed down the street from the station, and E.J. "Minnow" Walton, Jr., who retired as a Captain from Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue. The volunteer company was under the direction of J.R. Edwards, Chief; J.E. Vann, Asst. Chief; Earl Nelms, 2nd Asst., M.L. West, Captain; and J.W. Garris, Lieutenant.

Current paid staffing is composed of three shifts, with an officer and medic/firefighters or firefighters per shift. Additional staffing is provided by the Northampton Volunteer Fire Company and Northampton Volunteer Rescue Squad.