Training Tower Construction Continues
March 19th & 20th, 2012 - "Work continues on a new training tower for 
Wintergreen Fire and Wintergreen Rescue. This tower is being constructed at our mountain station and will allow for improved training opportunities. Once complete, this tower will be able to accommodate rope training, roof ventilation props, window bail-out props, stand-pipe props, etc.
The Insurance Safety Office has classified Wintergreen Fire Department as a "Class 4" which is a very favorable rating. ISO standards get more and more stringent each year. Appropriate training facilities are crucial to maintain our rating. The Wintergreen Rescue Squad is the primary responder for rock-climbing accidents on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Practice can make a life or death difference."
Check back often for progress updates.
Missing Person #2 on the Applachian Trail
March 19th & 20th, 2012 - On the evening of March 19 a person working in the Tyro area of Nelson County heard what was thought to be a distress call from a hiker who had fallen on the AT. The person stated they had fallen to the bottom of a rock bluff. The section of the trail nearest the distress call is full of dangerous bluffs.
Radio contact was soon lost. Search teams from Montebello Fire & Rescue and Piney River Fire Department assisted the Nelson Sheriff’s office with an initial search which ended around midnight.
At 12:15 AM Nelson Emergency Communications Center contacted Wintergreen Chief 1 to request the mobile command post and a cache of portable radios for professional search teams which had been arranged by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Additionally, ATV 1 was requested for potential patient transport.
All equipment was deployed at 7:00AM per the request of VDEM.
The search lasted most of the day and included helicopters and dog teams. No injured parties were found. It is believed the hiker either continued hiking, or the initial call could have been an elaborate prank. Regardless, the search was terminated by law enforcement at 16:00.
To see more on this story from Newsplex 19, click here.
Missing Person on the Applachian Trail
March 9th, 2012 - Wintergreen Fire and Wintergreen Rescue recently participated in a search which lasted nearly 12 hours and covered 20 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The search began at approximately 21:00 at the Humpback Rocks parking area and concluded the next morning near Crabtree Falls Highway.
The hiker was not lost, however was in an area with no cell coverage which led to confusion regarding his status. Park Rangers stress the importance of having a detailed trip plan which is shared with family or friends prior to hitting the trail.
There were two minor medical emergencies experienced by the search party, one of which required transport to Augusta Health.
Agencies involved were as follows: (Please contact us if your agency has been accidentally excluded)
Augusta County Sheriff’s Office
Nelson County Sheriff’s Office
Virginia State Police K-9
Virginia State Police Aviation
National Park Service
Wintergreen Police Department
Stuarts Draft Rescue Squad
Waynesboro First Aid Crew
Wintergreen Rescue Squad
Churchville Fire Department
Dooms Fire Department
Faber Fire Department
Lovingston Fire Department
Montebello Fire Department
Piney River Fire Department
Riverheads Fire Department (Rehab Bus)
Stuarts Draft Fire Department
Swoope Fire Department
Waynesboro Fire Department
Wilson Fire Department
Wintergreen Fire Department
“Nelson First” Search and Rescue
August County Emergency Communications Center
Nelson County 911 Center
Laurelwood Condo Fire
February 20th, 2012 - Early that Monday morning after a very snowy 
Sunday, Wintergreen Fire Department was dispatched for "smoke in a structure" at Laurelwood Condos. Engine 2 responded with a crew of 4 and was on-scene within 3 minutes of their response. Engine 1 also responded from Station Two in the valley.
Upon arrival at 6:05 crews encountered what initially appeared as a chimney on fire at a three story 8-unit condominium building constructed with traditional wood framing and cedar siding. A few of the units were occupied. As crews were deploying lines and establishing a water supply it became apparent this was far more than a chimney that was on fire. Crews opted for an interior attack. Fire was discovered in four units, three of which required a forced entry. Smoke and water damage extended to two units and two units were unaffected. The rear of the structure was also heavily involved.
Within approximately 45 minutes the bulk of the fire was extinguished. Crews remained on the scene for an additional 90 minutes searching for extensions. It is suspected but not yet confirmed that the fire started
near the fireplace in one of the units.
Although damage to a few of the units was extensive, no unit has been damaged beyond repair. There were no civilian injuries.
Wintergreen units on-scene were Engine 1, Engine 2, Squad 1 (Cascade), Chief 1, Chief 2, Chief 3, Response 9, and ATV 1. Mutual-Aid units on-scene were Wilson Engine 191, Rockfish Trauma 56, and Faber Engine 30. Filling in at Wintergreen Station Two was Lovingston Engine 10.
Special thanks to Resort personnel for their assistance with dragging hose and to WPOA snow removal crews for their help dealing with the icy private parking lots.
Founders Vision Overlook MVC
January 1st, 2012 - In the early morning hours of New Years Day a badly 
damaged vehicle was discovered at the base of the Founder’s Vision Overlook at Wintergreen Resort. This overlook is the single most photographed place at Wintergreen. The overlook was created when Wintergreen Drive was constructed in the 70s. The vehicle left Wintergreen Drive above the overlook, apparently rolled as it passed through the overlook, and then went over the edge, plummeting to the base. The change in elevation from the point on Wintergreen Drive to where the vehicle was discovered was nearly 100 feet.
The accident was reported by condo occupants approximately ¼ mile away who heard the crash, but didn’t know where it came from. After several minutes of searching by two Wintergreen Police Officers the crash was located. The vehicle was unoccupied. The seatbelt was found to be locked in its extended position, indicating it was being worn at the time of the crash. The fire/rescue crew was afraid that the occupant may have tried to walk away from the crash and collapsed in the woods, or that he may have been ejected. Flood lights, thermal image cameras, and extra manpower were brought in to search.
The search ended as the sun was coming up. It was the type of sunrise that made everyone stop for a moment and just daze. With the snow guns singing in the clear crisp air, it was truly spectacular. The Wintergreen Police Department was able to make contact with the driver’s parents whom confirmed they had spoken with their son, and he was uninjured.
There is little doubt if this young man wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, he would have been killed. Fortunately, this will be a significant learning moment in his life, which will go on. The accident remains under investigation by the Wintergreen Police Department. Charges have been filed.
Tough Mudder 2011
October 23rd, 2011 - The "Toughest Event on the Planet" comes to 
Wintergreen. Wintergreen recently hosted the largest special event ever in its nearly 40 year history. Largest by far. Nearly 20,000 runners and an additional 10,000 spectators and support crews were on the mountain for two days of very rigorous obstacle running. The course was approximately 10 miles long and climbed nearly 5,000 feet by continuously finding its way to the very bottom of our ski area. 27 obstacles were placed throughout the course to test the mental and physical toughness of the participants. A fleet of 70 busses were used to shuttle participants from off-site parking in the valley (5,000+/- cars) to the event village on the mountain.
To check out the official video for the event, click here.
One of the major obstacles was "Fire Walker" where the runners had to run between two walls of fire. Obviously this was concerning for Wintergreen and therefore the Fire Department took responsibility for the obstacle. Over 1,200 bales of straw were burned in a very controlled environment while firefighters stood by "on air" ready to help 
participants through the smoke if needed. Wilson Fire Department played a huge part in our success at this station.
The Wintergreen Ski Patrol provided on course medical treatment each day using nearly 50 providers. The Wintergreen Rescue Squad managed transportation from the course back to a central treatment area where Ski Patrol continued to care for the patients. Five specialized UTVs were used and 141 patients were transported. Over 200 miles were logged on the Wintergreen Fire & Rescue UTV alone. 29 patients were transported via ambulance to Augusta Hospital.
Crawfords Climb House Fire
August 17th, 2011 - For the third time in about a year, the Wintergreen 
Fire Department battled a multi-alarm structure fire on Wintergreen property. This fire was different in a couple of ways. First, the large home was located in a section of the development which is very steep and has no pressurized fire hydrants. Second, and most importantly, this fire was dispatched at a time when the entire Wintergreen Fire staff were completing a training meeting! This has never happened before. Approximately 20 firefighters piled into 7 pieces of apparatus to immediately respond to the blaze.
Upon arrival, heavy fire and smoke were present in the home, and a vehicle was fully involved in the driveway, one was partially involved on the interior, and a third was also threatened on the interior. The residents and pet were exiting the structure. Three engines, a tanker, 900' of supply line, and a portable tank were used to establish a constant water flow. The first engine company went to the house for the initial attack and the second engine company attached to the water vault (installed by homeowner) for water supply. A total of 12,000 gallons of water was used to fight the fire during a 90 minute battle.
Units on scene from Wintergreen were Engine Company 1, Engine Company 3, Tanker 7, Medic 175, Medic 179, Response 180, Response 9, Chief 1, and Chief 3.
