Firefighter bridges time
Comments: 0
Firefighter bridges time
A new book follows the evolution of services in Roanoke from an all-volunteer group in 1882 to the Fire-EMS department in 1995.
Amanda Codispoti
During the first few decades of firefighting services in Roanoke, firefighters such as Howard Dowdy drove and washed the horses that pulled fire wagons.
More than a century later, Dowdy’s grandson, Bev Mitchell, would drive and wash the gray, and later red, fire engines.
“I imagine we respond a whole lot quicker now than we did then,” Mitchell said, chuckling.
The evolution of the department, from an all-volunteer organization in 1882 to the Fire-EMS department in 1995, is documented in a new book, “Firefighting in Roanoke.”
The book, compiled by Roanoke firefighter Lt. Rhett Fleitz, includes more than 200 pictures that illustrate the changes in Roanoke’s firefighting services, which began almost 125 years ago. (Read More)
