By Chris Bolgiano, bolgiace@jmu.edu
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Fulks Run Emergency Response Station (ERS) took place on Friday, November 7 to a highly appreciative audience. Dewey Ritchie, Supervisor for District 1, began by recalling the many ways in which the Fulks Run Ruritan Club has supported the community for over six decades. Bob Blosser, president of the club, reviewed the timeline for the ERS, starting with the club’s letter to County Supervisors in 2022. Jeremy Holloway, Chief of the Rockingham County Fire and Rescue Department, noted that the crew began responding to calls on Oct. 24 with dramatically reduced response times. 
All speakers thanked Fulks Run Ruritan Larry Custer for his many hours working on the project, and Larry cut the ribbon with a pair of giant scissors. The speakers also thanked Harman Construction superintendent Pedro Reyes and assistant Ozzy Hernandez, the Fire and Rescue Department, and many others who contributed to this achievement.
The next day, the Fire and Rescue team held an open house for the community. Excited families streamed in to see the gleaming trucks and talk with the gracious crew. The station is staffed 24/7 with a total crew of 15, five of whom staff the station at a time, and two members work a 24 hour shift every three days. 
There is a fire truck that holds 750 gallons, a tanker with 3,000 gallons, plus a brush truck and a utility terrain vehicle for wildland fires. There is also a staffed ambulance and a back-up ambulance. The station has rooms for sleeping, as well as a lounge with recliners and a well-equipped kitchen, where hot dogs, chili dogs, chips, and sodas were served. The community room, where the Ruritan Club met for the first time a few days earlier, showed videos of the famous 1985 flood, when no emergency services were available. “Anybody is welcome to stop by anytime and see this new facility,” said Chief Holloway.
A scavenger hunt kept children and parents moving through the building, counting fire extinguishers, bunk rooms, water fountains, and other essential features, with explanations of why they are important. Together with the helipad, where a Medevac helicopter landed to the delight of awed children, the new station represents a major improvement in access to emergency services. And if you are a homeowner within five or so miles of the ERS, check with your insurance agency, because you might qualify for a reduction in your premium.
