Last weekend, the Longshop McCoy Fire and Rescue squad held their annual officer installation ceremony, but a call that afternoon to fight a blaze in Ellet Valley meant that many of the officers to be sworn in were out doing their jobs.
In the three-bay shop on McCoy Road, family, friends and county officials were proud to wait.
In the big garage, the ambulance and equipment had been pushed to the side to make room for the dining tables, the caterers were arranging the roast brisket, pulled pork and macaroni and cheese.
The little girls chasing each other around inflatable Zodiac Swift-water Resuce boats, scuba tanks and racks of heavy canvas firefighting gear are children of the men and women who use that equipment.
“It’s a big family,” Becky Shelor, wife of the station’s Rescue Chief Steve Shelor, and mother of EMT Chris Shelor, just back from military deployment.
2019 Longshop-McCoy Fire and Rescue officers were elected last December, but the ceremony has been hard to plan around the work of volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad.
Traditionally, installed in January, the ceremony was postponed last month because most officers were protecting community clearing snowy roads.
This time, dinner and the ceremony was planned for 6 on Saturday evening, but the call to help fight a fire with came in at 3.
“We’re pretty low in volume,” Rescue Chief Steve Shelor said that evening waiting for the men to return. “We go out on about 200 calls a year. Christiansburg has 5000 calls a year. But whether it’s 200 or 5000, you gotta be prepared. We train constantly have to be ready, and maintain certification.”
Longshop McCoy is a small station. Forty members, two of them paramedics, but the all-volunteer squad punches above its weight. Hardly a mile from the New River are the first to respond to river rescues in Montgomery County. Many volunteers are trained specifically for water rescue and certified Swiftwater Rescue Technicians, Boat Operators, and Divers.Basic Fire Suppression, including Firefighter I and II Emergency Medical Services, Including EMT-Basics, EMT-Advanced, EMT-Intermediate and ParamedicTechnical Operations and Rescue, including Hazardous Materials and Vehicle Extrication Two nights per month are dedicated to training, helping ensure LSMFR personnel maintain a high level of skill and readiness to help those who live in or visit our community.
Hours later, the fire fighters return, enjoy dinner and lead the ceremony. CJ Sherman led the group to remember first responders lost last year. Installation is usually performed with the officers in uniform, instead many stood in muddy boots.
“We’ve been in our suits this past year as members passed away,” he said to the solemn crowd. “Keep all first responders in your prayers.”
Montgomery County Sheriff Hank Partin who swore in the eighteen officers said it was a high privilege and an honor.
“Our community is extremely blessed to have real life heroes volunteering to put their lives at risk on a volunteer basis every day for their friends and neighbors”. I am extremely humbled to be in their presence.”
At the end, Howard Eaves, representative for District 2 Montgomery County Parks and Recreation, stood to say the blessing to send everybody safely home.
- President C.J. Sherman
- Vice President Mike Haubner
- Secretary Jennifer Barnett
- Treasurer Becky Shelor
- Chaplain Jennifer Barnett
Fire Department
- Fire Chief Keith Williams
- Assistant Chief Ricky Price
- Captain C.J. Sherman
- First Lieutenant Jeremy Snider
- Second Lieutenant Wesley Roberts
- Supply Sergeant Henry Barnett
- Safety Officer Ronnie Turpin
Rescue Department
- Rescue Chief Steve Shelor
- Captain Wayne Akers
- First Lieutenant Becky Shelor
- Second Lieutenant Equipment Lee Watson
- Second Lieutenant Training Mike Haubner
- Supply Officer Jennifer Barnett
For more information about Longshop-McCoy Fire and Rescue
