When firefighters get the call to an emergency, they grab their gear and go, whether it’s down the street or across the state.

Last week, members of Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad and Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue responded to a statewide mutual aid call to assist with wildfires in the Shenandoah Valley.

AVFR Brush Truck 21 and GVFRS Brush Truck 4 traveled to Rappahannock County and eventually were rerouted to Strasburg by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. 

Firefighters Joe Lenderman and Chris Potter of Gloucester, as well as Paul McNeely and Gary Van Orden of Abingdon squad, left the evening of Wednesday, March 20.

Joe Lenderman said that they were initially called to Rappahannock County. When they got there, they were diverted to Shenandoah County. He also said the Strasburg Fire Department was very welcoming.

NcNeely said that the local volunteers did a lot of drip torch firefighting, patrolling areas and mopping up hot spots. 

The ...