History

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Round Hill Volunteer
Fire & Rescue Dept. Inc.

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RHVFR
P.O. Box 8
Round Hill, VA 20142



Round Hill Station – The Beginning Fire protection in Round Hill dates back to 1903, when town records note the purchase of two ladders built by local blacksmith J.K. Reynolds. Early firefighting relied on neighbors responding to the ringing of an iron bell near Ford’s Grocery Store. In 1915, the Town Council formally appointed the first fire chiefs and directed them to organize a volunteer fire company. That same year, a hand-pulled hose cart and fire hose where purchased, and by 1916 the town’s fire bell was mounted on East Loudoun Street to summon responders. The town’s first firehouse- a simple equipment shed- was built in 1925 on Main Street to store hoses, ladders and the hose cart.
The Round Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department was officially organized in 1938 and relocated to the former Lynch Livery Stable on Main Street. The iron bell was replaced with a fire siren, and in 1939 the department received its first motorized fire truck – a converted 1934 Ford known affectionately as “Old Henry”.


	Growing need through the town As Round Hill grew, so did the the department and its need for modern equipment. The department’s first town-purchased fire truck was a 1946 Chevrolet. In February 1962, that truck overturned while responding to a call, resulting in the line-of-duty death of Bob McDaniel, the only RHVFR firefighter killed in service. The truck was replaced with a 1942 Dodge Civil Defense unit.
In 1948, the department received its charter of incorporation, and the former livery stable property was deeded to the department. A new cinder-block firehouse with two apparatus bays was constructed, and a new 1948 Chevrolet fire truck was placed in service. In 1949, the department received a Cadillac ambulance – the first operated in Loudoun County – though an organized rescue squad was not formed until 1961.
During the 1950s, county funding increased and a Ladies Auxiliary was established to support operations and fundraising. The department added new apparatus throughout the decade, including a 1952 Ford fire truck built by American Fire Apparatus Company and additional Cadillac ambulances. In 1961, Rescue 4 was officially organized and responded to 67 calls in its first year.
	Further expansion followed with the purchase of a larger Ford pumper in 1963 and a 1,500-gallon tanker built on a 1969 International Loadstar chassis, marking another major step forward in fire protection for Round Hill.


Late 1900s	In 1973, the department purchased the neighboring hardware store, which over the years housed a convivence store, town offices, the Thompson Masonic Lodge, and temporary Sheriff’s offices. In 1980, the building was renovated into a larger fire station, featuring the only elevator in Round Hill.
During the 1970s, studies showed lime-green emergency vehicles were more visible and safer, leading to the purchase of a 1979 lime-green and white Chevrolet ambulance built by the Swab Wagon Company. For many years, the department operated and maintained the station through community support and donations without county funding. RHVFR remained an all-volunteer organization until 1998, when increasing growth led to the additional of county-provided paid personnel. Since 1998, county-provided career firefighters and EMTs have staffed the station 24/7, with volunteers continuing the play a vital role – often serving as first responders at night and on weekends.

RHVFR Today Emergency response has evolved from bells and sirens to advanced dispatching through the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center, with staff and volunteers alerted instantly via mobile technology. Today RHVFR is a modern, well-equipped department serving a 55-square-mile area from Hillsboro to Bluemont. The department provides EMS services with their own ambulance and operates a brush truck for remote and rural responses, including the Appalachian Trail. The departments fleet also includes a Utility Truck that can support Fire and EMS calls as a non-transport unit and a Suburban Utility vehicle that is often used by our station Chaplains who respond to calls throughout the county. In 2025 the volunteers added a EMS Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) which is designed to carry people and equipment in rugged and remote areas that larger vehicles cannot access.

Future of RHVFR As RHVFR continues to grow the future is just as exciting as the past. In 2026 our station will move into the new building funded by Loudoun County(right down the street)! Our crews will place a new Ambulance into service and unveil a new Brush UTV which is equipment with a small water tank, pump, hose reel and tools to allow crews to quickly attack small wildland fires in rural lands, farms or trails. Volunteers are the heart of the Round Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. From responding to emergency calls as EMTs and Firefighters, to supporting operations behind the scenes, our volunteers play a vital role in protecting and serving our community. If you are interested in learning more about how to become part of this great community, check out our Join page.