Inaugural Ride to Rescue ATV Event Funds Jackson's Mill Rescue Gear

Riders gathered at the Jackson's Mill Volunteer Fire Department in West Virginia on Saturday for the inaugural Ride to Rescue ATV Ride, an event built to raise money for new emergency and rescue equipment. The morning started with the sound of ATV engines as local riders and community members turned out to support the department. Registration opened at 8 a.m., and the ride rolled out at 10 a.m.

The fundraiser paired a day of trail riding with a clear purpose. Money raised at the event goes toward updated emergency and rescue gear for the department, which serves the Jackson's Mill area. Organizers put the ride together after recent flooding across central West Virginia showed just how much reliable rescue equipment matters when conditions turn bad.

Justin Rittenhouse, a firefighter with the Jacksonville Fire Department, said crews leaned on their rescue boat, life jackets, and other flotation gear during the flood response, and the money raised at the ride is meant to keep that equipment current and add to it. "We're just using this money to better prepare ourselves to have better rescue equipment or updated rescue equipment to help in future events," Rittenhouse said. Down the road, organizers also want to raise enough to buy additional tools for vehicle extrications and other emergencies.

Flooding is a recurring threat in this part of the state, and it often cuts off roads and access points that trucks and standard vehicles cannot reach. ATVs and side-by-sides give first responders a way to get into flooded or damaged areas when the pavement is gone or blocked. That connection between what riders drive and what rescue crews need made the event a natural fit for the local off-road community.

The department already runs a UTV that handles a range of rescue jobs. Crews have used it in winter when snow or bad road conditions keep traditional emergency vehicles from reaching certain spots. It has also responded to side-by-side rollovers and other off-road emergencies. When needed, the same UTV can be set up as a brush unit to fight fires in wooded areas, which makes it one of the more versatile pieces of gear the department owns.

Organizers picked an ATV ride on purpose, betting on the area's strong turnout of side-by-side, four-wheeler, and Jeep owners. "We have a lot of people that ride side-by-sides, four-wheelers, some Jeeps, and just figured it'd be a good idea to raise money because none of the fire departments around here do it and wanted to try something different," Rittenhouse said.

The cost was simple. Riders paid $20 per buggy for the driver and $10 for each passenger, and children 10 and under got in free. The registration fee came with biscuits and gravy and home fries. Beyond the food, the event featured a dice game along with T-shirts, can koozies, and stickers for sale.

Tiffany Smith, who grew up in the community, said gatherings like this one pull people together and said she plans to bring her family back if the department runs it again next year. "We just enjoy being outdoors and supporting a good cause," Smith said.

Joe Oliverio of Tomaro's Bakery came out to support the fundraiser, part of the bakery's practice of joining local events when it can. "They all seem to grow the more they do them," Oliverio said.

The department is treating this first ride as a starting point rather than a one-time event. Organizers said they hope to make the Ride to Rescue an annual fundraiser and grow participation in the years ahead. For a volunteer fire department, events like this are often one of the few ways to fund equipment that budgets alone cannot cover.

For riders in central West Virginia, the takeaway is straightforward. Turning out for a ride like this puts your machine to work for a cause that can directly affect your own community when the next flood hits. Volunteer departments depend on the people they serve, and a fundraiser that combines riding with support for rescue gear gives local ATV and UTV owners a direct way to pitch in.

The Jackson's Mill Volunteer Fire Department has not yet announced a date for a second ride, but the plan to make it annual means riders in the area can expect the event to return. Anyone interested in future rides should watch for announcements from the department as it builds on this first outing.