| HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT |
The Ringgold Volunteer Fire Department was organized in April of 1958. The idea was credited to Stanley
Wludyka and the members of the Ringgold Jaycees. The Fire Department was the first "Rural"
Department in Pittsylvania County. The Department had twelve members to start with, while others
joined. The department elected Calvin Neal as its first Fire Chief, Stanley Wludyka was Assistant Chief,
and Maggie Scearce was Treasurer. Supervisor, Frank Walton, supported the department, along with the
County , and the enthusiastic community. The department met and trained at the Ringgold Gange Hall,
with Jimmy Greer conducting the classes. The Danville and Chatham Fire Departments also assisted the
department in its early stages. In the Spring of 1959, , department members went to Castleton Fire
Department, in Rappahannock County, and purchased its first truck, a 1941 Ford with American La France
pumper for $1.000.00. The truck was purchased and housed at Lakewood Truck Stop, owed by Jimmy
Leary, on Highway 58.
Charter members of the department were Calvin Neal, Stanley Wludyka, Red Estes, Bill Wilson, Ed
Swaringer, R.E. Rogers, Jim Greer, Wesley Moshenek, Robert Take, Ryland Dodson, Bill Murphy, James
Shelton, Billy Shields, Bobby Scearce, Thomas Barker, Junior Clark, I.M. Farmer, Wallace Collie, Billy
Neal, Frank Walton, A.B. Dodson, Jack Clark, and Marvin McDowell.
The Department expanded and a station was built at Kentuck, and across from Lakewood Truck Stop in
Ringgold. Boyd's Amoco and Ringgold Dairy housed a truck from time to time. Records show the
department answered over 250 calls in its first year. Until other organizations were formed , the Ringgold
firemen answered calls from Bachelors Hall to the Halifax County line and from White Oak Mountain to
the North Carolina border, southern half of Pittslyvania County. Bill Coleman, with the help from others,
built a 1956 tanker and a 1963 pumper in the early years. These trucks assisted the firemen with putting
many fires out across the area.
Fire Chiefs over the years have included Calvin Neal, Bill Wilson, Thomas Barker, Danny Tate, Roy
Bennett, Terry Barker, and Micheal Neal. In 1991, the Department opened a third station in the Keeling
Community. Due to county funding, the department split into three separate departments in January of
2001. They are now Ringgold Fire and Rescue, Kentuck Fire Department, and Keeling Fire Department.
All three departments continue to serve the community and are very proud of their original roots.
On December 30, 2001, Ringgold Fire Department was devastated when their station was gutted and three
trucks were destroyed by an undetermined fire. In April of 2002, Ringgold Volunteer Fire Department
breaks ground on its new station, a 8,400 square foot station, which will include four bays for eight
vehicles, office space, training and meeting rooms, and a full kitchen. Today, Ringgold members operate
from a ten bay station. The current station has 13,200 square feet of space for the members to use.
There is also a landing pad for helicopter fly outs behind the station. The department currently has over
50 members that provide services to approximately 7,000 citizens residing in the Dan River District in the
Southern end of Pittsylvania County. Ringgold volunteers average 700 calls per year, with approximately
550 of these calls being EMS support.
Wludyka and the members of the Ringgold Jaycees. The Fire Department was the first "Rural"
Department in Pittsylvania County. The Department had twelve members to start with, while others
joined. The department elected Calvin Neal as its first Fire Chief, Stanley Wludyka was Assistant Chief,
and Maggie Scearce was Treasurer. Supervisor, Frank Walton, supported the department, along with the
County , and the enthusiastic community. The department met and trained at the Ringgold Gange Hall,
with Jimmy Greer conducting the classes. The Danville and Chatham Fire Departments also assisted the
department in its early stages. In the Spring of 1959, , department members went to Castleton Fire
Department, in Rappahannock County, and purchased its first truck, a 1941 Ford with American La France
pumper for $1.000.00. The truck was purchased and housed at Lakewood Truck Stop, owed by Jimmy
Leary, on Highway 58.
Charter members of the department were Calvin Neal, Stanley Wludyka, Red Estes, Bill Wilson, Ed
Swaringer, R.E. Rogers, Jim Greer, Wesley Moshenek, Robert Take, Ryland Dodson, Bill Murphy, James
Shelton, Billy Shields, Bobby Scearce, Thomas Barker, Junior Clark, I.M. Farmer, Wallace Collie, Billy
Neal, Frank Walton, A.B. Dodson, Jack Clark, and Marvin McDowell.
The Department expanded and a station was built at Kentuck, and across from Lakewood Truck Stop in
Ringgold. Boyd's Amoco and Ringgold Dairy housed a truck from time to time. Records show the
department answered over 250 calls in its first year. Until other organizations were formed , the Ringgold
firemen answered calls from Bachelors Hall to the Halifax County line and from White Oak Mountain to
the North Carolina border, southern half of Pittslyvania County. Bill Coleman, with the help from others,
built a 1956 tanker and a 1963 pumper in the early years. These trucks assisted the firemen with putting
many fires out across the area.
Fire Chiefs over the years have included Calvin Neal, Bill Wilson, Thomas Barker, Danny Tate, Roy
Bennett, Terry Barker, and Micheal Neal. In 1991, the Department opened a third station in the Keeling
Community. Due to county funding, the department split into three separate departments in January of
2001. They are now Ringgold Fire and Rescue, Kentuck Fire Department, and Keeling Fire Department.
All three departments continue to serve the community and are very proud of their original roots.
On December 30, 2001, Ringgold Fire Department was devastated when their station was gutted and three
trucks were destroyed by an undetermined fire. In April of 2002, Ringgold Volunteer Fire Department
breaks ground on its new station, a 8,400 square foot station, which will include four bays for eight
vehicles, office space, training and meeting rooms, and a full kitchen. Today, Ringgold members operate
from a ten bay station. The current station has 13,200 square feet of space for the members to use.
There is also a landing pad for helicopter fly outs behind the station. The department currently has over
50 members that provide services to approximately 7,000 citizens residing in the Dan River District in the
Southern end of Pittsylvania County. Ringgold volunteers average 700 calls per year, with approximately
550 of these calls being EMS support.
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