West Grove’s Rescue 22-2 has made its final response. The West Grove Fire Company has retired their 1996 E-One Pumper-Rescue. The apparatus was a reliable vehicle, having answered thousands of calls in its twenty year history. Countless community members in need were helped by the vehicle and its equipment. Over the years the vehicle has been manned by firefighters from at least two generations.

Initially, the vehicle resided at the West Grove station, but in 2009 it was moved to the New London station. It had numerous call designations over time including Rescue 22, Rescue 12 and lastly Rescue 22-2. No matter what it was called, when it left the station with its 750 gallons of water and state of the art rescue equipment, it meant business.

Retiring Rescue 22-2 was part of an overall fleet management plan that was adopted by the fire company in 2014. The plan was based upon an evaluation by a nationally recognized consulting firm that helps fire departments evaluate their vehicles. The apparatus plan lays out an approach to managing WGFC's fleet over the next 15 years, and includes preventative maintenance, apparatus life span analysis and long-term fleet needs. The report published in 2014 suggested that the aging rescue had reached its useful lifespan and should be retired, and that West Grove remain a single rescue unit company.

The proceeds from the sale of Rescue 22-2 will make a sizable contribution to covering the cost of replacing Ladder 22. The new ladder truck has been ordered and will cost approximately $1.2 million.

The rescue was sold to Middleway Volunteer Fire Company in Summit Point, West Virginia. It will be repainted and once again serve as a primary unit for a fire company in service for a local community. WGFC members gathered at Station 22 on Sunday, May 29 to say goodbye to the old girl and watch her leave the station for the last time.