The Tygart Valley Volunteer Fire Company held its annual ‘Santa on a Fire Truck’ event where children were treated to Kris Kringle as he made his way through the backroads on one of Company 41’s trucks.

Santa and fire fighters with the fire company departed the Dailey Firehouse at 6:30 p.m. before making their first stop at Wildwood Manor in East Dailey.

From there Santa made his way to Valley Bend off Oak Lane. The truck then made its way to the Valley Bend Church and onto the Back Road before concluding the trip at East Restaurant, where visitors were treated to cookies and drinks.

Tygart Valley Volunteer Fire Company Chief Noah Gilroy said even though he’s only been a part of “Santa on a Fire Truck” since he was selected as Fire Chief in 2023, the tradition has been going on for several years.

Tygart Valley Volunteer Fire Company Chief Noah Gilroy departs the firehouse with Santa Claus in the back of a fire truck Sunday evening. Company 41 took Santa on a trek through Dailey, East Dailey and Valley Bend to greet children.

“My uncle Bob Elbon started doing ‘Santa on a Fire Truck’ during COVID around 2021 when he was Fire Chief,” said Gilroy. “There were some people in the community trying to figure out how to get kids to see Santa with social distancing going on, so basically all the fire departments started having Santa on their fire trucks. It really helped allow the kids to see Santa and we just haven’t stopped doing it.”

Gilroy said kids get excited when they see Santa coming down the road on a fire truck with lights and sirens going.

“They love seeing Santa, but they get just as excited to see the trucks with the lights and sirens going,” he said. “Doing this also allows the kids to get to know some of us in the fire company and lets people know that we are still here for them.”

During the trek around Randolph County, the truck made several stops along the way for children to meet and take photos with Santa Claus.