APPARATUS
Photographs by Jerry Puryear
Virginia Fire News Magazine

ENGINE 4
Engine 4 is a 1996 Pierce Dash equipped with a 1750 GPM Waterous pump, 1000 gallon tank, and 40 gallon Clas A foam tank. Engine 4 has a 400HP Detroit diesel engine and has seating for six firefighters (5 with air packs). It also carries Hurst rescue tools. Engine 4 is the first unit out to all structure fires, motor vehicle crashes, mutual aid calls to other departments, and miscellaneous calls. It was purchased used by the department in 2005 from a volunteer department in Pennsylvania.

TANKER 4
Tanker 4 is a 2003 Peirce / Kenworth Tanker equipped with a 1000 GPM Hale pump and a 2000 gallon tank. It has a 330HP Cummings diesel engine and seating for two firefighters. It has one 10' air operated dump at the rear of the truck and two 8' air operated dumps on the sides of the truck. Engine 4 is capable of dumping 2000 gallons of water in 45 seconds. This truck responds second on all structure fires, brush fires, and mutual aid calls from other departments as needed. Engine 4 was purchased through funding provided through a federal grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ENGINE 42
Engine 42 is a 1975 Mack / Hammerly Pumper-Tanker containing a 1000 GPM Waterous pump and a 1000 gallon tank. IT has a 250HP Mack Diesel engine with seating for four fire fighters. Engine 4 has one 6" manually operated dump valve on the rear of the truck. This truck runs out third on all structure fires, brush fires, and mutual aid calls with other departments as needed. It was purchased used in 1999 from Chesterfield County Fire and EMS division. 

UTILITY 4
Utility 4 is a 2007 Ford F250 Crewcab pickup with a 240HP Ford Powerstroke diesel engine and seats five firefighters. Truck is used to transport additional firefighters to the scene and is used by the department to transport firefighters to training classes, business meetings and to pull the counties Technical Rescue Trailer.  This truck was purchased with a grant provided by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in 2006 and replaced a 1996 GMC van donated by Dominion Virginia Power in 2002.

BRUSH 4
Brush 4 is a 1986 Chevrolet 2500 Pickup / 2005Slagle's Skid unit. It has a 250 GPM Hale pump with a 180 gallon tank and an 8 gallon Class A foam tank. It seats two firefighters. Brush 4 is primarily used for all brush fires.  The pickup was donated to the department in 1994 by Dominion Virginia Power.

TRUCKS OF THE PAST
As the saying goes - 'We have come a long way!'. This is evident in some of our trucks. Take a look at some of our fire trucks from the past. Although these trucks have been retired from service, we are proud of the service they have given over the years.

FUNDRAISING
Dolphin Fire Department has three fundraisers per year. 

• BBQ every March

• Fish Fry every May at Eastwood Food Mart

• BBQ every October

Please check the calendar of events for more details of upcoming fundraisers.

HISTORY
The Dolphin Volunteer Fire Department was officially organized on February 10, 1977.  The department started with 21 members.  The department’s first truck was purchased from the Alberta Volunteer Fire Department in March of 1977 for $752.  “Betsy” was a 1959 Chevrolet with a 1000 gallon water tank and a 500 gpm front mounted pump.  When purchased from Alberta, it had an elliptical tank on it, later it was reconstructed by the members with a more modern style fire body.  This unit was sold August 7, 1990 to a local farmer.

The department had its first truck and had answered several calls, now it had to find a home.  The members of the Dolphin Community Center donated the land with a 100 year lease to the department to erect a building.  The building went up rapidly with a lot of hard work from the members and people in the community.

During 1978, members started working on its second truck, a 1964 Dodge weapons carrier that was purchased from the Ebony Volunteer Fire Department.  The truck was equipped with a 500 gallon tank and a 500 gpm Waterous portable pump.  During the year, members continued to work hard on building the department by continuing to train and raise money for future growth.   more

MEMBERSHIP
Slate of Officers as of January 2007