History History 
The Westover Volunteer Fire Department was founded on December 6, 1926. The Department was founded by 22 charter members with a 1926 Seagrave. During the Departments first year they responded to seven (7) fires in the city. Westover had the first volunteer fire department in Monongalia County and thus responded to fires throughout Monongalia County as well as assisting Morgantown Fire Department when needed. The first meetings of the Department were held at the West Side Garage, but were moved to Westoveer Council Chambers in February of 1929. The meeting site was moved again in 1932 to the Wright Building on Holland Avenue. The Department now resides at 11 Cottage Street, which was built in 1965. Westover VFD is also known throughout the community as Company 23.
The Department currently includes 30 active members and several honorary members. The firefighting equipment and the fire engines have greatly improved over the years. Our Department now houses a 2001 Ford Excursion, 1994 Pierce Saber, 1989 Chevy Suburban, and a 1988 Pierce Dash. Each Piece of fire apparatus is used for a specific duty. Today's bunker gear which includes turnout coats, pants, helmets with shields, gloves, boots, and SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) enable the firefighter to perform his/her duties with better protection than the bunker gear of the old days.
We currently respond to approximatley 500 emergencies a year in the city of Westover, Route 19 South to Arnettsville School, River Road to Westwood Middle School, and on I-79. Westover also assists other volunteer departments in the county when called upon. We presently respond to structure fires, brush fires, vehicle fires, motor vehicle accidents, carbon monoxide alarms, electric wires arcing/down, and trees down. We also respond to medical calls and almost any other emergency reported to 911. Several of our members are EMT's which enable us to assist Mon EMS with medical emergencies compentently.
The Westover Volunteer Fire Department is a non-profit organization that gets its funding from donations and fundraisers throughout the year, in addition to BINGO every Tuesday night. We hold regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year in which all members have a voice in the department's business. At the end of each year new officers are elected by the members to run the department safely and effectively for the following year. New members are welcomed. For more information about the Westover Volunteer Fire Department, an application for membership, or to come and tour the Department please feel free to call (304) 296-0840.
The badge of a fireman is the Maltese Cross. The Maltese cross is a symbol of protection, a badge of honor. It's story is hundreds of years old. When a courageous band of crusaders, known as the Knights of St. John, fought the Saracens for possession of the Holy Land, they encountered a new weapon unknown to European warriors. It was a simple, but agonizing death for the brave fighters of the cross. The Saracen's weapon was fire. As the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha. When they became saturated with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into their midst. Hundreds of the knights were burned alive; others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying painful, fiery deaths. Thus, these men became our finest firefighters and the first of a long list of courageous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each hero a badge of honor - a cross similar to the one firemen wear today. Since the Knights of St. John lived close to four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross became known as the Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It means that the fireman who wears this cross is willing to lay down his life for you just as the crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow man so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a fireman's badge of honor, signifying that he works in courage - a ladder rung away from death.
