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The Goochland Fire/Rescue Department was originally called the Pembroke Farms Fire Department, then a few years later, the Dover Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department of Goochland. The name again changed in the 60's to the Goochland Volunteer Fire Department before settling on the present name of Goochland County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, Incorporated. Calls were dispatched originally by telephone party lines. The phones would ring 3 times to alert the ladies of the house that there was a fire call. They would answer the phone and get the call information, telling their husbands who would then respond.

Although documentation is limited, it appears Company 5 was officially formed in 1955, The following text was found on a letter associated with the assignment of personnel to the soon to be established Company 5.

May 4, 1954 Dover Pembroke Fire Department Goochland Unit of Co. #1 (Future Co. #5) Commanding Lt. Robert Dunn Trained Unassigned personnel: Starke Phillips, Everett Ware Steward Haden, Malcolm Flynn

The first fire truck specifications for the soon to be formed company were for a 1956 truck body. Follow this link to view the specifications for this unit: The first fire truck of Company 5, Unit 7, was stored in the local American Legion Building, but only until October of 1956, because the Legion was going to start finishing construction on that portion of their building. In the mid-late 60's, Company 5 was housed in a two-vehicle garage owned by Walter Marsh, former owner of Marsh Oil Company. Company 5 on November 22, 1965, notified the Board of Directors that it was planning on purchasing a new engine. It had raised $14,000 to purchase chassis and asked the Board of Directors to allow them to finance the rest through the bank.

The Goochland Jaycees gave Company 5 its first ambulance with the restriction that it be housed at Goochland Courthouse. The unit was a 1966 Chevrolet Panel Truck It cost approximately $4,000 with another $1,200 spent on equipping it. The Jaycees raised approximately $12,000 that year and most of it went to purchase Company 5's and Company 1's ambulances that year (1966). The Rescue Squad in Goochland officially started in early 1967 and has provided 24-hour coverage since. In October 1973, Company 5 Rescue requested permission from the Board of Directors to purchase a 1973 Chevrolet Carryall High Rise Ambulance to replace the 1966 unit. The cost of the new ambulance was approximately $11,500.

In the early 1970's, Company 5 added on to the building to make it larger so it could hold more apparatus and added a full basement that was used for a meeting room and for a Bingo fundraiser held every Thursday night. In 1984, Company 5 finished constructing the building where we are stationed now. This building has a large meeting room area, that was used for Bingo for many years, which helped us pay for the building. It also has a lounge area, bunk room, offices, full kitchen, and eight bays which stores our many pieces of apparatus.

Company 5 has the only aerial truck in the county, one engine, one tanker, one brush truck, one squad truck, an inflatable boat, a reserve tanker, and two ambulances. Goochland County tax money still pays for the engines and tankers in the county, but donations are still needed and used for the purchase of the brush trucks, medium duty squad trucks, and the ambulances. No tax money is presently used to purchase these items. Company's in Goochland are also responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their individual buildings. The buildings are owned by the Association, not the county government.


Special thanks to Chief Howard Henley and his wife Eva, Chief Tommy Carter and Chief A.J. Gordon for their help in assembling these facts and photographs.