Urbanna Oyster Festival Fireman’s Parade winners named

The Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department hosted the 2024 Oyster Festival Fireman’s Parade on Friday, Nov. 1. There was a great turnout of both volunteer and career emergency service personnel in attendance. Fifty-five units were judged for the Fireman’s Parade with the farthest department being Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department located in Westmoreland County. Departments from the Northern Neck, Essex, Gloucester, Newport News, and multiple other locations attended. Trophies were awarded for the following categories to the following departments.

Best appearing 1,500 gallons per minute (GPM) and over pumper

1. Fairfield VFD Engine 57.
2. Lower King and Queen VFD Engine 45.
3. Abingdon VFD Engine 21.

Best appearing 1,250 GPM and under pumper

1. Tappahannock-Essex VFD Rescue 1.
2. Walkerton VFD Engine 7.
3. Central King and Queen Rescue 3.

Best appearing tanker

1. Callao VFD Engine 64.
2. Upper Lancaster VFD Tanker 6.
3. Kilmarnock VFD Tanker 17.

Best appearing brush truck

1. Oak Grove VFD Brush 4.
2. Upper Middlesex VFD Brush 61.

Best appearing rescue

1. Cople District VFD Rescue – Engine 3.
2. Kilmarnock VFD Squad 11.

Best appearing antique

1. Reed Foster, Prince George 1943 Seagrave.
2. Eddie Hammond, Tappahannock 1935 Ford Oren.

Best appearing private owned antique

1. Jim Hoffer, Portsmouth 1936 Seagrave.
2. Maxie Rogell, Frog Level 1978 Mack.

Best appearing ladder truck

1. Newport News FD Tower 6.
2. Fairfield VFD Truck 50.
3. Lower Middlesex VFD Ladder 46.

— Source: John Sears