1831hrs- Units from Company 5 were dispatched to the area of Great Oak Road for a report of smoke in the area and arrived to find a large barn with heavy fire showing with multiple exposures. Wagon 5 arrived and mounted a defensive attack with a blitzfire while Engine 5 laid 5" in to establish water supply. Command (Styles) quickly requested a working fire assignment which brought Campbell Company 12 and Ladder 1 as RIT. Ladder 1 (with six) arrived and was given the assignment to assist with the extensive overhaul. Wagon 1 (with three) sent it's officer and firefighter to assist as well while the chauffer stayed with his apparatus for water supply. After all of the tin roof was pulled off to the side command released Ladder 1 and held the Wagon on scene to respond to any additional runs. While in Forest, Wagon 1 responded to two more runs in Company 5's territory before while Ladder 1 ran a reported house on fire in Huddleston that ended as a good intent call. Both units were back in quarters at 2030hrs.  

0043hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Company 1, Squad 1, and the Special Operations Command to the intersection of Rock Castle Road and Forest Road for a reported vehicle into a building. Engine 1 (with three) arrived at 0048hrs to find a single vehicle with heavy front-end damage resting against the building. With no structural damage done, command returned SOC units to service. Rescue 1 (with six) arrived and assisted the engines crew with backboarding the patient and controlling leaks from the vehicle. Just before the patient could be transported to Bedford Memorial, two of the victims family members began fighting and had to be detained by the Trooper on scene and several nearby firefighters. With the patient transported, two disorderly males arrested, and all hazards controlled, Engine 1 and Rescue 1 returned to service.

0456hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companies 8 (Moneta-1st due), 10 (Saunders-2nd due), and 1 (Bedford-RIT) to 1019 Trap Branch Road for a reported garage on fire. Ladder 1 (with six) was first to arrive to find the 20x20 detached garage fully involved and approximately 40 feet from the residence. With no engine on the scene, the Ladder's crew began a primary search of the exposed residence and began controlling  utilities to the garage. Engine 10 was the first engine company to arrive and supplied attack lines for the Ladder's crew. After extinguishing the pile, L-1's crew overhauled the building and then returned to service.  

1317hrs- Just as Company 1 firefighters returned to the station from lunch Bedford Communications sounded the alarm for Companies 19 (Shady Grove-1st due), 13 (Stewartsville-Chambilssburg-2nd due), and 1 (Bedford-RIT) for a reported house on fire with occupants trapped. Ladder 1 (with six) was on the road at 1319hrs and expected to go to work removing the occupant once on scene but was informed minutes later that the handicapped occupant had safey exited the structure. Wagon 13 was the first unit to arrive and began an aggressive attack on the interior. Ladder 1 arrived and began the primary search while the chauffer and ovm began ventilation. With the primary and secondary searches negative, and the original fire room knocked down, Ladder 1 assisted with checking for extension while Company 13 brothers pulled exterior wall and overhang on the exterior. Ladder 1 returned to service at 1500hrs.  

0458hrs- Companies 13 (Stewartsville-Chamblissburg), 12 (Hardy), and 1 (Bedford/RIT) were dispatched to 1716 Mountain Valley Road for a reported attached garage on fire. Wagon 13 was first to arrive to find heavy fire showing from a two-story wood frame garage. Rescue 1 (with six) arrived and established RIT on side A. With the bulk of the fire knocked down when the Rescue arrived, command had the R-1 Irons and OVM assist on the interior with truck work. Rescue 1 filled a number of bottles before returning to service at 0700hrs.

BFD's Engine 1 and Ladder 1, 2007 Seagrave Marauders, were the focal points in the August issue of Firehouse magazine. Contributing editors Tom Shand and Mike Wilbur first saw Ladder 1 at the FDIC this year in Indianapolis. Both talked in depth with Bedford members about the thoughtful layout of the tiller as well as the large assortment of equipment. Tom Shand flew into the area in late April to photograph the apparatus and compartments and also took time to visit other stations throughout the county. Thanks to Tom Shand and Mike Wilbur for showcasing our two newest rigs.  

0029hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Company 1 to the area of Blue Ridge Avenue for reports of an unknown type of fire visible behind the Enterprise car rental building. Police located the fire in a field off of Ole Turnpike Road and notified communications. Engine 1 (with four) arrived at 0033hrs to find a fully involved vehicle sitting beside a large pile of burning brush and debris. The engine's crew quickly stretched a line into the field and began extinguishing both the pile and vehicle. Brush 1 (with two) and Brush 1-A (with two) both circled the pile and began extinguishing the opposite side while Pumper 1 (with four) established the water supply by laying 900' of 5" to Engine 1. Personnel from E-1 quickly discovered the remains of a human body inside of the vehicle and notified command (Chief 1). Due to the heat and humidity, Utility 1 (with five) responded with rehab and assisted with manpower. Within an hour the large pile of debris had been extinguished to allow investigators to begin their work.  All units returned to service at 0230hrs. Total personnel: 17.   

Much to everyones surprise, this week was designated as BFD Appreciation Week by the Bedford Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary. The week was filled with deserts and snacks every day, custom glasses on Tuesday, BFD huggies on Wednesday, a surprise visit by the city mayor on Thursday, and a family dinner gathering on Friday. With an abundance of great food every day, the fireman quickly dubbed it "Make a Fireman Fat Week". The auxiliary; who are comprised of  firemen's wives, daughters, and mothers, went all out the entire week to show their support and appreciation for the firefighters. The ladies hung "thank you" signs throughout the firehouse, provided an italian dinner before the business meeting, ran a very special  "Thank You" ad in the local paper, and presented the  company with a check for $5000.00 just before the company's monthly business meeting. Also present before the meeting was City of Bedford Mayor Skip Tharp, who presented the company with a resolution celebrating the department's 120th anniversary as well as declaring July 7-11 Bedford Fire Department Appreciation week. Thanks to all the ladies who worked so hard to make this happen, we greatly appreciate you all.

2044hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Companys 2 (Big Island), 3 (Boonsboro), and 1 (Bedford-RIT) to 1052 Cody Street for a reported house on fire. Company 2 Captain Larry Whorley was first to arrive to find smoke showing and fire showing from side Bravo. Pumper 2 was next to arrive and began stretching lines into the interior. Rescue 1 (with six) arrived and began throwing ladders to second story windows on all sides. Initial crews made a quick knock down of the main body of fire and quickly accessed the attic where fire had extended. Wagon 1 (with six) arrived and assisted with overhaul in the attic area per command. Both the Rescue and Wagon returned to service at 2215hrs.

0828hrs- Company 1 and Squad 1 were dispatched to the intersection of Blue Ridge Avenue and Woodhaven Drive for a reported overturned vehicle in the median. Engine 1 (with three) arrived to find an overturned SUV in the median with the injured driver trapped. Engine 1 stretched it's trashline for protection as Rescue 1's crew (with five) stabilized the vehicle and stretched their tools to the scene. After removing a couple of doors and B post, the occupant was packaged and removed from the vehicle. A "Firefighter Down" signal was transmitted soon after for one of Rescue 1's firefighters when he passed out from dehydration. The firefighter was transported by Medic 1 to Bedford Memorial Hospital and released a short time after. Units operating: E-1, R-1, M-14-9, and Medic 1.

1522hrs- Bedford Communications alerted Company 1 to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a reported car on fire. Engine 1 (with four) arrived to find fire showing from the engine compartment of a Jeep Cherokee. The engine's crew stretched the trashline and quickly knocked down the fire keeping the fire damage to the engine compartment. Rescue 1 (with five) arrived just behind the engine and and assisted with the mop up. Both units returned to service at 1600hrs.

Two Company 1 firefighters are working on two seperate federal wildland fires in Virginia and California. Firefighter Jimmy Mitchell is operating on a type six contracted engine at the South One Fire in the Suffolk area of Virginia. Jimmy's deployment has been extended from a fourteen to a twenty-one day deployment. Deputy Chief Zeph Cunningham is just beginning his fourteen day deployment as a Division Supervisor on the Yuba Creek Complex Fire located in the Tahoe National Forest, California. Over 1,000 fires are currently burning in California.

Bedford volunteers responded to two detached garage fires Thursday evening and late Thursday night. The first fire came in at 1816hrs and callers reported a detached building fire on Mount Olivet Road. Safety 1 (Greer) was in the area at the time of dispatch and arrived just minutes later to find a detached shed fully involved already on the ground. Wagon 1 (with four) arrived and began stretching lines. Pumper 1 assumed water supply while Rescue 1 (with six) conducted a search of the residence. With the fire contained and quickly being extinguished, Mount Olivet command (Musgrove) made the incident a can handle for the three units on scene and returned all other apparatus to service. Company 1 units cleared at 1930hrs which meant a late start to scheduled hose testing. The second fire was reported just after 2300hrs in Company 5's first due area. Rescue 1 (with five) arrived and per command split its crew to provide manpower on the interior as well as RIT responsibilities. Rescue 1 returned to service at 0300hrs.

The Bedford Fire Department presented Chaplain David Huffman with a plaque of appreciation for his dedicated service he has provided the department over the past five years. Unfortunately, David and his wife are moving to Midlothian Virginia just outside of Richmond. David, who is a retired Danville Fire Department Captain, became a pastor after leaving Danville and has pastored several area churches while living in the area. He has played a vital role in the establishment of the Bedford County Chaplain Program as well as several emergency assistance programs provided by the Bedford Fire Department. An informal social will be held August 22, 2008 at 1900hrs for department personnel, David and his wife.

1901hrs- As units were backing into the station from running ten straight runs within two hours, the alarm sounded for Company's 1(Bedford-1st due), and 5 (Forest-2nd due/RIT) for a report of smoke showing from the roof of a private dwelling. Rescue 1 (with six) and Engine 1 (with four) arrived to find smoke showing from the eves of a single story wood-frame private dwelling. As the engine's crew advanced a line into the structure, Rescue 1's crew began controlling utilities and venting. Pumper 5 arrived and began the primary search while Rescue 5 assumed the RIT responsibilities. Ladder 1 (with six) arrived and conducted the secondary search which also proved negative. Interior crews quickly located a scuttle hole in the garage to gain access to the attic and made a quick knock down. After a small amount of overhaul command (Chief 1) returned all units to service (2008hrs).