The Mathews Volunteer Fire Department’s annual fund drive is underway.

In a letter to Mathews residents, MVFD president Donnie Lewis said that the department is seeking to purchase a new fire engine this year to replace the 20-year-old engine based at Station 2 in Bohannon. A new, updated engine that will be better serve Mathews more than $250,000.

Within the next three to five years, the department also plans to replace Station 1 in the Court House at a cost of between $1 million and $1.5 million, said Lewis. He pointed out that Station 1 is the county’s main station, and that it provides support for all other stations in the county. It’s also the hub for such events as the annual barbecue dinner fundraiser, Trunk or Treat, training sessions, and monthly meetings. The new station will be located in the Court House area, he said in an interview, and it will have four drive-through bays. He said the department is currently in the process of looking for a four- or five-acre lot fo...