Shenandoah Shores Volunteer Fire Department, Warren County Station 5, was founded in 1964. The station is operated with an ALL volunteer staff.
Shenandoah Shores Volunteer Fire Department, Warren County Station 5, was chartered in 1964. At that time, most homes in the Shores were vacation homes and not many residents lived here full time. As the community began to grow, more permanent residents began to settle in. The original station housed a fire engine, a tanker and an ambulance. These vehicles had to be moved outside while the department conducted fund raisers such as bingo, breakfasts and dinners and even dances. In 1982 an addition was completed which is now the bingo hall. The addition was complete with kitchen facilities and an office. This left available space in the bay area for additional fire and rescue equipment. During this same time, the departments’ first new vehicle, an ambulance, was purchased using grant funding from the Lord Fairfax EMS Council and the Virginia State Department of Health. That ambulance lasted until 1996 when it had to be replaced. In the year 2000 the department was able to purchase its first new fire truck. Up until 2000 all the fire apparatus purchased was used. Most notably the 1979 Hahn purchased from Centerville Fire Department in Fairfax County. This fire truck was a real work horse for us until sold during the summer of 2006. During that year, we were fortunate enough to receive FEMA grant funding to purchase our new Tanker/Pumper. FEMA covered all but $57K of the cost which we covered with Bingo proceeds. We are proud to have new equipment to support and protect our community and our neighbors in Warren County with.
We recently completed a building addition and full building remodel. We now have a second apparatus bay that houses our Engine and Tanker and provides office and communication space. This work was all done largely by the volunteers at the station. Many hours were spent completing this work. The outside of the station also received remodeling and our building took on a new identity.
We have worked very hard to pay for the equipment we have and continue to do so. We recently suspended of Bingo gaming due to competition on Saturday nights. Our annual “Breakfast with Santa Claus” is the Sunday morning before Christmas every year. Along with our fund raisers our dedicated volunteers help maintain our building and our equipment. Many countless hours are devoted to supporting this fire company day in and day out. The station is operated with an ALL volunteer staff all running fire and emergency medical calls, operating the many fund raisers, and training hundreds of hours each year.
