Goodson Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department

In early 1967 some active volunteer Firefighters with the Washington County Volunteer Fire Department No.1 along with several community members realized that there was a need in our community for an organized Fire Department. Most of these early discussions took place at Ray Ball’s Trading Post located at Burson’s Corner, ( now the Country Corner Market), on Benhams Road. Property for the Main Station was deeded to the then name Washington County Volunteer Fire Department No. 2 on March 27, 1967. When preparing to apply for the Certificate of Incorporation with the Virginia State Corporation Commission it was decided then to change the name of the new Fire Department in order to better describe the area of Washington County Virginia it would serve. Since the new Fire Department would be serving the Goodson Magisterial District and the Kinderhook Magisterial District of Washington County Virginia, it was decided to name the Fire Department the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department. The Certificate of Incorporation was approved and granted, recognizing the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department as an Incorporated Organization on May 29, 1967. The initial Board of Directors of the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department was, Attorney David D. Brown, Herbert Hensley, Elgin Tester, Ray Ball, and Fredric P. Wagner. The Main Station was built with funding from the Washington County Board of Supervisors and community donations and consisted basically of a two-bay block building. The Department was also able with support from the Washington County Board of Supervisors and community donations ( mainly received from a jar placed at Ray Ball’s Trading Post), to purchase a used 1948 Ford Fire Engine. Originally the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department and the Washington County Volunteer Fire Department No.1, mutually responded to any type of call in southern and western Washington County Virginia, and that close working relationship between these two Fire Departments continues to this day. Several established Fire Departments in Washington County Virginia donated some needed equipment and tools to assist the new Fire Department in the beginning. Required Duty Shifts were Implemented in January 1970 requiring the volunteers to spend one night a month at the Fire Station. Approval to purchase the Fire Department’s first new Fire Engine was received in June 1970, and a 1970 GMC Oren Fire Engine was purchased. With redistricting in Washington County and the decision to rename the seven Magisterial Districts after the seven Virginia born United States Presidents, the Goodson-Kinderhook name became a very unique name for the Fire Department. With the closure of the Goodson-Kinderhook Water Works when it was incorporated into the Washington County Service Authority, the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department became the last remaining County entity or organization retaining the names of the two former Magisterial Districts. Automatic Mutual Reponses on any type of call with the Washington County Volunteer Fire Department No.1 was restricted to only Structure Fires in March 1971. The first major addition to the Main Station consisting of an upstairs containing a meeting room began in May 1971. Discussion on organizing volunteers in the Mendota community for a second Goodson-Kinderhook Fire Station began in October 1971, and the second Fire Station went into operation in the Spring of 1972 with the original 1948 Ford Pumper housed at that Station. The third major addition to the Main Station began in 1972. This consisted of a third bay and two rooms upstairs. Purchase of the second new Fire Engine occurred in 1977 with the purchase of a 1977 Ford Oren Fire Engine. The Junior Volunteer Fire Department was disbanded in March 1981. In 1983 the first Revision of the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department’s Constitution and By-Laws was completed. Purchase of the third new Fire Engine occurred in July 1985 with the purchase of a 1985 Ford Grumman Ford Engine. Purchase of new Tanker Truck occurred in December 1989, with the purchase of a 1989 Ford Tanker. The Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department became certified as an EMS First Response Agency in 1994, responding mutually with the Bristol Life Saving Crew to Emergency Medical Calls to provide Emergency Medical Care. In August 1994 the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department purchased additional adjacent property. In 1995 the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department began creating and implementing its Standard Operating Procedures. Purchase of a fourth new Fire Engine occurred in May 1995, with the purchase of a 1995 Spartan Quality Fire Engine. The Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department began EMS Transport Services in 1997 as a joint venture with the Bristol Life Saving Crew by housing a Bristol Life Saving Crew Ambulance at its Main Station. In 2001 the second Revision of the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department’s Constitution and By-Laws was completed. In August 2001 the Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department purchased additional adjacent property. The fourth major addition/expansion to the Main Station began in September 2001. This Expansion Project effectively doubled the size of the Main Station and included, enlargement of the bays and Meeting Room, sleeping quarters, bathrooms and office facilities. The hiring of the Fire Department’s first Paid Firefighter/EMT occurred September 2001. Monthly Required Duty Shifts of the volunteers were increased to two per month in March 2003. The Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department became the first emergency services Agency in Washington County Virginia to be awarded the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency in September 2003. Purchase of a fifth new Fire Engine was in January 2004, with the purchase of a 2004 Spartan Crimson Fire Engine. The hiring of the Fire Department’s second paid Firefighter/EMT occurred September 2004. The Goodson-Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department began billing for Emergency Medical Transport Services in October 2004. Past Department Chiefs Ray Ball,Herb Hensley,Knox Fleenor,Jim Cunningham,Bobby Gobble,David Eaton,Randy Moore,Mark Moore,Steven Rachel,Michael Hardin..... Past Department Presidents,Elgin Tester,Dean Harrison,Steven Rachel,Kenny Brewer,J.D. Baker,Ralph Dean,Scotty Sproles,Michael Hardin,Sharon Mullins,Joe W. Gott..