Arcola Volunteer Fire Department

May you have good health, lots of happiness, and a great New Year.

As we finish this year, we thank our community and look forward to serving you in 2023!

Our Mission
The Arcola Volunteer Fire Department will provide exceptional community-focused fire protection, fire suppression, emergency medical services and related public education.

Our Core Values
The Arcola Volunteer Fire Department’s Core Values are:

Respect — for our community, for our customers, for each other
Integrity — in everything we do, always
Character — of the highest moral and ethical quality
Professionalism — at all times
Commitment — to our craft, to our duty, to our community
Safety — emphasized during all activities
Unity — with all of our fellow fire & rescue organizations

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

START YOUR JOURNEY

Have you considered volunteering opportunities. Here’s one that allows you to learn skills and serve the community.

START YOUR JOURNEY Volunteer as a Firefighter or EMT in Loudoun County

Great information!

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), candles cause 45% of home decoration fires in the month of December. Share this post to remind friends and family to keep candles at least 12” away from anything that can burn, like decorations, furniture, and curtains. Consider utilizing battery-operated flameless candles this year!

Don’t forget to include your Smoke Alarm friends in your holiday plans – make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home including inside and outside of every sleeping area.

A few other tips to stay safe this season:
• practice your fire escape plans with holiday guests,
• and always .
To learn more, visit closeyourdoor.org.

U.S. Fire Administration

Here are some great tips for fireplace safety!
https://www.efpd.org/post/gas-wood-burning-fireplace-safety-tips

Santa and Arcola VFD is loading up the sleigh for one last night. We'll be at Tanglewood&McIntosh Farms, Dulles Farms, Kirkpatrick Farms, Braddock Corner, and Virginia Manor. Routes posted.

Our goal will be to follow the route to the turn but sometimes things happen beyond our control and last minute changes may occur. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

The Sleigh is being loaded up and were heading out tonight for our last weekend of parades. Tonight, we'll be headed to Loudoun Meadows, Lenah Run, Willowsford The Greens, and Dawsons Corner. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Santa and crew will do their best to follow the scheduled route but things beyond their control may cause unexpected, last minutes changes.

It is getting close! Look for some posts this weekend of photos from our Santa Parades and our North Pole 9!!

On behalf of the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department, Sparky and Santa would like to thank everyone for joining us last weekend at North Pole 9. Your food, toy, and monetary donations will help feed the community, bring joy to Tots, and allow us to better serve the community. Thank you so much for your generosity.

The elves are now sorting and emailing photos to you. We hope to get all the photos sent by Thursday. Look for an email from [email protected]

Thank you to all the volunteers who made Santa’s visit to North Pole 9 possible. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Thinking about volunteering?
https://www.arcolavfd.org/join/

Thank you everyone that attended North Pole 9 this weekend. Santa has wrapped up photos, loaded up his sleigh is and headed to Loudoun Valley II and Brambleton. Check out his routes.
We look forward to seeing you tonight!

Cookies, trains, and Santa oh my! Last day of North Pole 9. We have been accommodating walk ins, and without too long of a wait. So if you weren’t able to book a time, stop by the Annex by 12:45pm and have your photo taken with Santa.

Santa just finished up photos at North Pole 9 and loading up the sleigh. He and the crew at Arcola VFD are excited to see you today. Today, Santa will be visiting the following communities, along with the routes:
HARTLAND, WILLOWSFORD (THE GRANGE), GREEN MILL PRESERVE, MARTINS CHASE, AND FOREST MANOR/RIDGE

Elf Cafe at North Pole 9 is open and ready to serve. We look forward to seeing you soon. If you haven’t signed up, there’s still space today and tomorrow.

https://www.arcolavfd.org/north-pole-9-returns-pictures-with-santa/

As the weather gets colder (and maybe warmer then cold again), a great reminder on fire safety as we heat our homes.

Home Heating Safety

Did you know that home fires occur more in the winter months than any other time of the year? From 2017 to 2019, heating was the second leading cause of all residential building fires, following cooking. Follow these heating tips from the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System and the U.S. Fire Administration to help prevent winter fires and stay safe this winter season:

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
• Before going to sleep, ensure the fire in your fireplace is completely extinguished. NEVER close the fireplace damper with hot ashes in the fireplace.
• Let ashes cool completely before putting them in a closed metal container. Soak ashes thoroughly with water and place the container outside, a safe distance away from your home or other structures.
• If you use a portable electric space heater, plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord or surge type protector. Inspect cords for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections. Always turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Keep children and anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heating equipment, stoves and fireplaces.
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
• Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. CO is an invisible, odorless gas. Heating and cooking appliances, vehicles and generators are potential sources of this “silent killer.”
• Another important tip - “Close before you Doze!” A closed door can dramatically slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
For more information on home fire safety, to schedule a free home safety assessment, or obtain information regarding our LC-CFRS smoke alarm program, visit www.loudoun.gov/smokealarms or call 703-737-8093.

Have your picture taken with Santa🎅
There is still space available and registration is strongly encouraged.

Saturday the 10th, 12pm - 4pm
Sunday the 11th, 10am - 1pm
AVFD Annex
24300 Stone Springs BLVD.
Sterling, VA 20166
https://waitwhile.com/book/northpole9

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Here is our 2022 Santa Parade Schedule.

Saturday, December 10th

HARTLAND, WILLOWSFORD (THE GRANGE), GREEN MILL PRESERVE, MARTINS CHASE, AND FOREST MANOR/RIDGE

Sunday, December 11th

LOUDOUN VALLEY II AND BRAMBLETON

Saturday, December 17th

LOUDOUN MEADOWS, LENAH RUN, WILLOWSFORD (THE GREENS), AND DAWSONS CORNER

Sunday, December 18th

TANGLEWOOD & MCINTOSH FARMS, DULLES FARMS, KIRKPATRICK FARMS, BRADDOCK CORNER, AND VIRGINIA MANOR

North Pole 9 Returns - Pictures with Santa - Arcola Volunteer Fire Department

North Pole 9 (Pictures with Firehouse Santa) is back! Come visit us at the Arcola VFD Annex located at 24300 Stone Springs BLVD. on Saturday, December 10th, 12pm - 4pm or Sunday, December 11th, 10am - 1pm. We hope to see you there!
For more information and to reserve your spot, visit:

https://www.arcolavfd.org/north-pole-9-returns-pictures-with-santa/

North Pole 9 Returns - Pictures with Santa - Arcola Volunteer Fire Department And for the second year AND for two days, Arcola VFD hopes to spread cheer and provide the opportunity for community members to visit the Arcola VFD Annex

Looking for a tree?

There's something special about getting a live Christmas tree. 💚🎄

It might be the tradition and the memories. Or simply the way they smell. Or...perhaps it's knowing that by opting for a live tree, you're supporting a local business and benefiting the planet. That's right: buying a live tree is better for the environment than getting a plastic one from your local big box store, for several reasons!

Learn more and find a Christmas tree farm near you: http://ow.ly/fe6W50LQsXY

Put a Freeze on Winter Holiday Fires! It's the first day of DECEMBER--

We thought you might enjoy this blast from the past. A 1962 International Travelall C100 -- CHECK OUT the price tag--.$4986.12. The station purchased the vehicle NEW from Loudoun Truck Center in Purcellville, VA. Unfortunately, we don't have any photos of the one we had-- but here is a photo of pristine Travelall C100 from NY!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!

This week, the week of Thanksgiving, we just wanted you to know -- WE are THANKFUL for YOU and we love serving our community.

🔥OUR MISSION🔥: The Arcola Volunteer Fire Department will provide exceptional community-focused fire protection, fire suppression, emergency medical services and related public education.

🔥Did you know that Arcola Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) has three volunteer Chaplains, who are available for those in our community in times of need. They are ordained clergy and non-ordained lay clergy, who can minister to people of all faiths. They are also part of a larger Loudoun County Chaplain Committee, which serves Loudoun County 24/7.
Chaplains are available upon request, either through 911 or through our first responders on-scene. They are trained and ready at any hour to provide comfort through emotional and spiritual support to you, your family members, and first responders in the face of emergencies, including:
Fire, Death, Cardiac Arrest, Su***de, Domestic Violence, Natural or Man-Made Disasters, and Other Emergencies

How about a blast from the past? Check out this 1943 International Harvester M-2-4! We purchased in 1959 and then sold to Round Hill VFD in 1971.

Today we honor those who serve and are serving! Happy Veterans Day!!

Don't forget to VOTE tomorrow!

The Blood Drive is tomorrow!

We won!! WE had a BLAST at the Leesburg Halloween Parade!

Happy Halloween!

On the trick-or-treat trail BE SAFE and AWARE!

🎃Always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home and get flashlights with batteries for everyone. If Halloween doesn't start until after dark where you live and you have younger children, check with your town or park district for Halloween activities offered earlier in the day.

🎃 Only go to homes with a porch light on and, ideally, a well-lit pathway.

🎃 Never enter a home or car for a treat. Notify law enforcement authorities immediately about of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

🎃 Review with children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency or become lost or is prone to wander. See "Help Prevent Your Child from Going Missing" for tips.

🎃 Know how to reduce your child's risk of a pedestrian injury―the most common injury to children on Halloween.

🎃 Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.

🎃 Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

🎃 Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

🎃 If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

🎃 Never cut across yards or use alleys.

🎃 Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out of driveways.

🎃 Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!

Definitely one of our favorites in the FLEET. This 2006 Ford E350 / Rockport was retired from service in October, 2021. It provided equipment to support first responder rehab operations at large incidents.

Congratulations to our very own Chaplain Cornwell and Chaplain Duis for the well deserved recognition.
Thank you to all the chaplains for your service.

To learn about how our chaplains serve the community, visit https://www.arcolavfd.org/about/our-chaplains/

On October 15, 2023, the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System Chaplains Committee held its annual Awards Banquet at the Ashburn Fire Station. Chaplains Committee Chairman Jim Jones recognized each of the chaplains for their service and participation throughout the year by providing a newly designed Chaplains ribbon that each of them can display. In addition, Chairman and Chaplain Jim Jones, Chairman Emeritus Charlie Grant, System Chief Keith Johnson, and Behavioral Health Coordinator Kristina Moore recognized the following chaplains for the service throughout the last year.

Top Runner
Most Response Calls 2022
Chaplain Bob Enright


Most Improved
Highest Percent of Response Call
Increase from prior Year 2022
Chaplain Man Huynh


Team Player
Highest Percent of Points related
to non-standard shifts 2022
Chaplain Patty Cornwell


Points Leader
Highest Number of Points related
to standard shifts
Chaplain Dan Duis

Charles D. Grant
Above & Beyond Award
In Recognition and Gratitude for exceeding expectations on a day-to-day basis 2022
Chaplain Bob Enright

October is Fire Prevention and Safety Month. It's that time of the year to test smoke alarms, practice home and business fire escape drills, and help children learn fire prevention safety, what smoke alarms sound like, and what to do in an emergency.