In 1952, after a number of fires in their community, a group of concerned citizens joined together and founded Wagstaff Circle Volunteer Fire Department. During its first two years, the members operated out of a shed behind a member’s home on Wagstaff Circle. It was during this period that Samuel Wagstaff, a prominent businessman in the area, donated land and assisted the members in acquiring the materials needed to construct the station which exists today. 

 

At the time, there was little support from the county and the volunteers had to build the station themselves and most every endeavor involved just barely getting by financially. In fact, members had to pay dues to belong and most had to provide their own gear which they had gotten second or third hand.   The station’s first fire truck had been given to them by the Midlothian Volunteer Fire Department.

 

Growth

 

Then in the 1970’s there was a growth spurt in this part of Chesterfield County, leading to a significant increase in the amount of calls Wagstaff was responding to. This led to the county assigning career firefighters and required a substantial addition to the station’s apparatus bay and new living quarters in order to accommodate additional personnel and equipment.

 

New Struggles

 

On August 30, 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Gaston delivered a direct hit to the central and southeastern parts of the state and dumped up to 12 inches of rain in less than 8 hours, reeking havoc throughout the community – and Wagstaff responded. When the firefighters returned to the station, it was clear that they too had been dealt a blow by the storm. Significant flooding had damaged the entire back half of the station, later resulting in significant mold problems. Then, on April 1^st 2005, Wagstaff Circle once again became an all volunteer station when the county moved the career staff to another location due to possible health risks associated with the mold.

 

The county offered to relocate the volunteers, but the dedicated members of Wagstaff Circle remained vigilant and stayed put using only the small upstairs bunk room for living quarters and the apparatus bay for their day area, meeting and training space and kitchen. In July of 2005, the members decided to rebuild on their own, as the county had determined the costs were too great and felt that the surrounding community could be served from other locations.  Over a three year period, they gutted the building, cleaned up the mold and have installed new drywall, new floors and ceilings.  By July of 2008, the members were able to utlize the renovated meeting space, communications room and day use area; then in October of 2008, officially moved into the new living quarters.

 

But there is still much work to be done and the station needs their community to help complete the project.  If you can help in any way, please call the station at  804-276-3696 .