Fire Department

Welcome to CFD STATION 1
"South Norfolk"

In the year 1892, a group of dedicated citizens organized the South Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department. The fire station was located near the intersection of Liberty Street and Seaboard Avenue. They purchased one hand reel type pump and 400 feet of hose.

In 1909, the department was reorganized and the fire station was relocated to 22nd Street and “B” Street (near the old Rena B. Wright School site).

In 1911, the department secured a horse drawn hose reel. The reel and wagon were pulled by any horse that could be pressed into service.

In 1915, a citizen donated his horse to pull the hose reel for the department. Also in 1915, firemen built a two story building directly across on the street from their old location. The building was later sold to pay the debt of the building.

In 1917, the department purchased its first motorized apparatus which was an American LaFrance pumper.

In 1919, South Norfolk became an incorporated town in Norfolk County. Within three years South Norfolk became a city.

The City of South Norfolk hired its first paid personnel in January 1951. It consisted of eight firefighters, two deputy fire chiefs that worked twenty-four hour shifts.

In 1954, the city’s first full time fire chief was hired. The appointee, Mr. John B. Gibson, Sr. was the former chief of the Portlock Fire Department and had previously served as deputy chief for the City of South Norfolk.

In 1963, Norfolk County and the City of South Norfolk merged and formed the City of Chesapeake. Chief Gibson was named as the city’s first fire chief.

On August 1, 1969 fire department personnel moved into the new station located at 20th Street and Seaboard Avenue. The dedication ceremony was held October 1, 1969. This is still the current location of Fire Station #1.

• Station 1 continues to be one of the busiest companies in the city with over 3,000 responses in 2008.
  
  
• It is also part of the Special Operation Division with responsibilities for foam firefighting.
  
  
• The Chesapeake Fire Department has the only dedicated foam team in the Hampton Roads region.

When requested, we will respond to surrounding jurisdictions and lend support with our specialized equipment and highly trained personnel. Members of the Foam Team have received training at Texas A & M University – Flammable Liquids School, Kidde-National Foam – Foam Technician Certification and University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy – Flammable Liquids School.

Station 1 continues to serve a very diverse area ranging from low-income housing to major industrial facilities such as grain processing and petroleum tank farms.

Our current apparatus is:

• 2005 Pierce Quantum combination pumper (1750 gpm pump / Husky 60 foam pump)
• 2007 White/Freightliner Med-Tech medic unit
• Kidde-National Foam trailer with three 330 gallon totes and a Gladiator nozzle

Over the years, our mission has not changed and that is to dedicate ourselves to protect and improve your quality of life by providing a responsive and caring service. The personnel assigned to Fire Station 1 have served the citizens and visitors for over 116 years.

Our motto is
“We’ll take it from here!”

Foam Team

Station 1

Engine 1 Foam Truck

Foam Trailer

Medic 1

Foam 1