SML Marine Fire Department prepares for summer

The new headquarters is located between the Oak Grove Boat Access Facility and the Coast Guard Auxiliary at Smith Mountain Lake along the lake arm of the Roanoke River in Moneta. Construction of the building was completed last year and it is expected to have everything in place by the start of what is expected to be another busy summer on the lake for the department.

It took just under 20 years to get to this point, Chief Todd Ohlerich said. Appalachian Power Co. donated land for the new headquarters in 2005.

Plans to build the facility began taking shape in 2016, but delays due to construction costs and changes in project scope slowed construction for several years. Groundbreaking for the headquarters took place in 2021, finally marking the start of construction, which was finally completed late last year.

“The building itself is 100 percent complete, but we are still in the process of moving in and settling in,” Ohlerich said.

The ministry set aside $350,000 raised through donations to build the headquarters. Ohlerich said they initially thought that amount would be enough to cover the cost of constructing the building envelope without any work being done on the interior. To the department's surprise, many local businesses donated labor and materials to help these funds go further.

“The community has been a big help,” Ohlerich said. “This couldn’t be done without their support.”

Ohlerich estimates that community support in the form of donated labor and materials reduced the overall cost of the headquarters by up to $200,000.

The new headquarters has ample storage space, a meeting room, a full kitchen and several offices. An office was given to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to also provide them with their own housing on the lake, Ohlerich said.

With the new headquarters finally completed, volunteers now have a meeting and training place. For years, volunteers gathered at other fire departments or in the offices of lake organizations.

The most diverse equipment that the department needs can now also be stored in one place. Ohlerich said the equipment was previously located in several storage facilities and even some members' garages.

Having a headquarters will also allow the department to apply for grants for additional funding, Ohlerich said. This had been a significant obstacle in previous grant applications.

Funds are still needed to complete a crucial missing piece for the headquarters. There are plans to build a wharf along the nearby shore.

Ohlerich estimates a dock could cost up to $300,000 to build. Some preliminary work such as obtaining permits and shoreline stabilization has already been done, he said. He admits, however, that raising the funds could take some time.

Maintaining a fleet of nine pumpboats in operation as well as maintaining the equipment necessary for the service is an expensive undertaking. Ohlerich said the department's annual operating budget is approximately $200,000, with 80 percent of that coming from the community and the remaining 20 percent coming from surrounding Pittsylvania, Franklin and Bedford counties.

The cost of fuel for the boats is about $40,000 a year, Ohlerich said.

The department will add a 10th boat to the fleet later this year. A new lake assault style boat is currently under construction with estimated delivery in the fall.

This new boat will be the first in the department since 2009. Some boats in the fleet are 25 years old or more. Ohlerich said purchasing new equipment was necessary as older boats began to break down.

“We try to stay ahead of the curve,” Ohlerich said.

The new boat is valued at $525,000 and was purchased with a loan. Ohlerich said $250,000 has been paid so far.

The department's recent improvements come at a time when the lake is experiencing growing popularity. Since 2020, there has been a significant increase in home sales and tourism revenue generated around the lake community. This coincided with an increase in emergency calls.

Smith Mountain Lake had 20 boating incidents last year, more than double any other body of water in Virginia. Boating incidents are reported when there is more than $2,000 in damage caused by or to a vessel or its equipment, injuries requiring medical assistance beyond first aid, loss of life or missing person. a person from a ship.

The department has received up to 400 calls for service in recent years. These calls can be for something as small as a boat breakdown or larger emergencies such as water incidents involving injuries or fires occurring on a boat or in many homes along the shoreline.

“We saw an increase in calls, especially between Memorial Day and Labor Day,” Ohlerich said.

With Memorial Day marking the start of the busy season, the department is expected to be on the water often in the coming months. Ohlerich said each of the 45 members is ready to respond quickly when needed, something they have prided themselves on since the department's inception.

“We’ve never missed a call since 1975,” Ohlerich said.