On April 6, 1936 members of the Middleburg Community gathered in the school auditorium to organize a volunteer fire department. Dabney Simpson was the temporary chairperson and Mr. Walter Farr, Chief of the Herndon Fire Department, addressed the meeting. On this night the first Chief for the Department was appointed, L.G. Collier, along with the first President, Dabney Simpson. During the next several weeks, while meeting in various places such as the bank building and school auditorium, the by-laws were written, fundraising initiated, and tne department was well on it's way.

 

On August 24, 1936, the department was incorporated and on October 2, 1936 the department purchased its first fire truck, a Seagrave with a 150 gallon booster tank and 150 ft. of 3/4 inch hose on reel. The truck was delivered in January of 1937 at a cost of $6,000 and was housed in a metal garage on Liberty Street, behind the B&A Grocery.

 

On October 28, 1936 the Ladies Auxiliary was organized and proved to be a huge asset to the department, helping with fundraising and financial support.

 

The original first due area encompassed all of the land along Route 50 from Rt. 601 at Mt. Weather to Chantilly. During the early years of the department, fire calls were telephoned into the Royston Funeral Home, where the alarm was activated.

 

The first fireman's carnival was held July 31 - August 7, 1937 and the first banquet was held October 8, 1937 in the school auditorium.

 

By 1940, the department had acquired property on the east side of South Madison Street where a stone firehouse was constructed, that also housed the police office and jail.

 

A local Ford dealer donated a station wagon in the early 1950's to be utilized as an ambulance.

 

Even with the larger 1st due area that the company had years ago, the department ran far fewer calls than today. During the 1960's the number of calls per month averaged 5 fire and 6 rescue.

 

In 1968 the department decided to acknowledge junior members between the ages of 16 and 18 and allowed them to become active running members.

 

Eventually, more room was needed to house the equipment and for parking, therefore, a piece of property was purchased in 1976 on the west side of town. In 1977 a much larger building was erected and is where the department is still housed today.

 

The Middleburg Volunteer Fire and Rescue has advanced tremendously since 1936. The department now averages 381 fire calls and 627 rescue calls a year, has 4 pieces of fire apparatus including a wagon, engine, tanker, and brush, 2 ambulances, a heavy rescue, utility, and a car. It is these dedicated members of the community that help the department to survive and progress towards the future. These unique individuals have helped continue the courageous and selfless spirit of the few community members who gathered in the school auditorium 60 years ago.