Rescue Engine 1 has been placed out of service and It has been delivered to its new home in West Virginia.

Friendship has placed a new engine on order.

Pierce Arrow XT, 1000 gallons of water, 1250 GPM pump, 6 man Cab with 12in raised roof.

The body will be configured similar to Wagon-1.

The very Exciting news will be the new paint scheme!  We will be implementing the Black/Orange paint with the new Engine-1.

Pictures will be posted as we get them in through the build process. With an expected delivery of February of 2010.

The annual hose testing for apparatus has been completed this past sunday. We had a pretty good turnout to complete this task. We tested about 1600 ft of 4" LDH, 800 ft 1 3/4" hose, 550 ft of 3" hose, and 400 ft of 2 1/2" hose.

Thanks to Larry Banks, Mark Clowser, Chip Estrada, Josh Jarboe, Nathaniel Brooks, Danny Alger, Stephanie Timbrook, Sarah Carpenter (pictures) and the career staff who all continue to make FFCO what it is, The number one station in the city of Winchester!

The Friendship Fire Company is proud to announce 2 graduates of the Frederick County/ Winchester Fire and Rescue Department Academy #8. Josh Jarboe and Stephanie Timbrook provided their best effort and have completed the Class that bgan in September of 2008. They have received Certifications for Firefighter I and II, Hazardous Materials Operations, and Mayday! Firefighter Down. We are also proud to announce that Stephanie recevieved the Academic Achievement Award which is presented to the class participant with the highest grade average.

Congratulations to our newest brother and sister Godspeed to you both.

WFRD and all the Companies of Winchester performed stokes basket operations training and Foam operations training this past weekend.

Stokes basket operations were focused on aerial operations with and without an attendant. This topic has been added to the core training schedule for Winchester Fire and Rescue department. Rouss Fire company provided the aerial apparatus utilizing Ladder 2 for the drills.

Foam training was also conducted. This training focused primarily on the utilization of Class B type foam applications. Training included classroom presentation and practical excersises.

Chief Kerns (Shawnee), Rick Burton (WFRD), and Matt Gearheart (WFRD) taught an excellent class. There were approximately 26 people in attendance which all particpants received 8 hours of training for annual requirements.

Friendship Fire Company had its annual awards banquet and installation of officers for the year 2009.

Rookie of the Year : Stephanie Timbrook

EMS provider of the Year: Kimberly Wallace

FireFighter of the Year: Larry Banks

Mervel C. Bailey Award: Elyus Wallace

Fred Genious Award: Kimberly Wallace

A Leather Helmet was presented to Larry Banks for his efforts This past year during the incident in which a young boy was rescued from a structure fire.

Also included were scratch and dent awards to Brandon Krippner and TJ Vaught for their improvements to both the Rescue Engine and the city's hydrants.

We would like to extend thanks to Greenwood Fire and Rescue Department Ladies Auxiliary for catering the evening.

We would also like to thank Kermitt Gaither for his efforts in keeping FFCO's banquet going.

Rescue Engine 1 was dispatched for a reported structure fire. The Northside crew marked up with 7. Upon additional information the Northside crew and other responding units were informed that an outdoor grill had set the propane tank off fueling it, which in turn caught a small portion of house on fire. Upon arrival the home owner had moved the grill away from the house and was trying to extstinguish the fire with a garden hose. The Northside crew stretched a 1 3/4 crossly off the Rescue Engine to the rear of the structure and started to cool the propane cylinder down. Serve 1 driver assisted the hoes line crew by shutting the cylinder off by hand. While on the scene Company 1 was also dispatched for an assist with a medical problem so the Serve 1 responded with two. After pulling up on the station ramp the Rescue Engine Was also dispatch to assist Medic 5 with a medical call.

EMT "Chip" Estrada proudly represented Friendship Fire Company this Saturday in a pasta eating contest for Charity here in Winchester. Each contestant chowed down on there pasta in hopes of winning $1000 for the Charity of their choice. Chip who registered as the BONE CHRUSHER did an awesome job and came in a close 4th!

City and County Volunteers hold training at Millwood Station and Zuckermans to brush up on skills. Volunteers present Rob, Isaiah, And Brooks

On 4/18/08 at around 12:14pm Frederick County dispatched a reported structure fire with possible entrapment at 1560 Valley Mill Road. Wagon 1 was on the initial dispatch assisting company 18. Wagon 1 was third on scene with heavy fire showing from side Alpha and Delta and smoke showing from second story and side Bravo of the first story. The crews from company 18,21,1 were met with heavy fire and smoke conditions at the front door and a propane tank letting off gas which was fueling the fire. There several attempts to save as much of the house as possible but water was the biggest issue untill a water shuttle was set up. After loseing the truck, garage, and half the house both first and second story the crews got the fire under control. And after extensive overhaul the crews were released after almost 5 hours. There were no serious injuries or Deaths. Companies that responded Friendship, South End, Stephens City, Clear Brook, Round Hill, Gainesboro, Greenwood, Millwood, Enders, Stephens City, Blue Ridge, And Mount Weather.

Today, March 11th, 2008, Larry Banks was honored by Winchester City Council for his couragious act on Februrary 6th, 2008. Firefighter Banks recieved recognition by Mayor Minor with a special ceremony during a public hearing. He also recieved a commemorative plaque adressing the presentation. Family and friends alike were there to help him celebrate this moment. All of us here at Friendship Fire Company would like to congratulate Larry. He is a shining example of all that we stand for in the fire service. We are extremely proud of all that is done everyday by both Larry and the Volunteers of the Friendship Fire Company

On the 25th of February, 2008 Our very own Steven Anderson departed for Parris Island, SC Marine Corp recruit training. Steven has been an active member of the department and has been an integral part of keeping this site updated. We all wish the best of luck to Steven in his adventures and hope to see him home soon. So Steven, From all of us at FFCO, Good Luck to you! Update: If anyone would like to send Steven some mail here is his contact information RCT Anderson, Steven 1st Bn A company PLT 1032-1036 Parris Island, SC 29905

Hey everyone, we have been busy outfitting the Rescue Engine with a new camcorder and have a little video for you all to see the end product, check it out. So, not only will we have pictures of the incident, but you will be able to watch us enroute and first arriving on scene to motor vehicle accidents and fire related incidents.

For the third time this week, Station 1 has ran a structure fire within it's first due. Around 16:12 Wagon 1, Engine 5, Truck 2, Wagon 4, Medic 1, and Medic 5 responded for a possible structure fire on East Cork Street, the residence directly across from the structure fire on Sunday. Duty Officer arrived on scene and advised heavy smoke showing from side Adam and David of the structure. Crews from Medic 1 and Engine 5 advanced two 1"3/4 lines, one in the Adam side of the residence, and another through the Charlie side entrance. Fire was found in the kitchen area of the house and quickly extinguished. A primary search was completed and nothing was found, crews then began overhaul and ventilation. As Wagon 1 was clearing the fire on East Cork Street, tones were dropped for a vehicle accident on North Pleasant Valley road involving two vehicles. Wagon 1, Medic 5-2, and Truck 2 responded to the incident. Truck 2 arrived on scene to advise two vehicles with one possible injury and one possible refusal. The vehicle with most of the damage was secured and Medic 5-2 packaged the patient for transport. Wagon 1 layed down absorbant and marked in service at 17:38.

This weekend has proven to be a busy one for the crews at Station 1. In two days there were two working structure fires in Station 1's first due. On Saturday, C shift, along with station volunteers, responded to a structure fire on Watson Avenue. Crews arrived on scene to a two story, single family dwelling with light smoke coming from the eaves of the roof. Crews pulled a line in on the Adam side of the structure and found the location of the fire in the attic and in a wall on the first floor. The fire was quickly extinguished and the house was overhauled. On Sunday, Station 1's A Shift, along with station volunteers, responded to Cork Street for a confirmed structure fire. U-140 arrived on scene to advise a two story, multiple family dwelling with smoke showing on the second floor. A crew entered the Baker side of the structure with a line, and another crew entered the Adam side with another line. The Baker side crew ascended the stairs to the second story and noticed a heavy smoke condition. The crew from the Truck began to ventilate the windows of the second story while interior crews did a primary search for any possible victims and to find the location of the fire. The fire was found in a closet and crews quickly extinguished the source and checked for extension. Interior crews then backed out and were switched out with another crew for salvage and overhaul. Noone was home at the time of the fire.

Around midday today, Stations 1,2,4,5 were dispatched for a structure collapse in the "Old Town" section of the city. Truck 2 arrived first on scene on side Charlie to advise the Baker section of the structure had partially collapsed. Engine 5 was second on scene and advised nothing evident on side Adam of the structure. Wagon 1 arrived on scene behind Truck 2 and with it's crew, along with Truck 2's, climbed a roof adjacent to the collapsed structure and advised the division commander about the condition of the single story add-on connected to the building. The addition had 3/4 of the roof collapsed due to falling debris with the I-beam frame still intact. Crews on the Adam side of the structure advised they could only go about ten feet into the building in fear of another collapse. Crews on side Charlie of the structure were able to enter into the first section of the building and advised water leaking into the structure and cracking in the drywall. Crews exited the structure and waited for building officials to arrive on scene. All crews were par and were advised to go back in service when ready.