East Burke Volunteer Fire Brigade Marks 50 Years With “50 for 50” Campaign

BURKE — The East Burke Volunteer Fire Brigade is marking its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a fundraising campaign to raise $50,000 for the department. The “50 for 50” campaign follows the department’s $30,000 repair of Engine 6, its 20-year-old primary fire engine. The repair bill has depleted much of the department’s equipment budget, Chief Josh Willey said. The East Burke Volunteer Fire Brigade was established in 1976, three years after a structure fire on Burke Hollow Road killed two children and their mother, according to the department. The department began operating Dec. 2, 1976. Two days later, its members responded to a fire at the Burke Mountain Lodge. The brigade has remained in continuous operation since then, according to the department.