LODD: Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice Die in Accident

VAFireNews.com began coverage minutes after the news of an accident involving a fire truck in Rocky Mount. Initial reports indicated a fatality. We were very sad to hear that this news soon turned into a double Line of Duty Death.

We will continue to cover this tragedy in Franklin County.

View our coverage here.

This photo is one of many at The Franklin News Post

Firefighters Expect To Lose Push For Home Sprinklers Mandate, For Now

The Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development is expected to cast a final vote Monday on amendments to the state building code, putting to rest a debate that has raged for years between fire-fighting organizations and the building industry over whether sprinkler systems should be mandatory in new home construction, an action that will open the next chapter for those who are still hoping to see sprinklers become a part of all new development. Read More

Ruptured gas line fueled fire

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – Virginia natural gas crews are working to fix a ruptured gas line that fueled a fire late night Sunday.

A thunderstorm rolled through the Colonial Place neighborhood in Norfolk around 11 p.m.

Firefighters say lightning struck a tree and caused a ruptured gas line which fueled the fire. Read More

Fire at Grey’s Point sends one man to the hospital

On Sunday, July 18, at 7 a.m., a fire at Grey’s Point Campground at Topping caused about $70,000 worth of damage to a camper and sent one person to the hospital, said Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department chief Alan Blake.

Photo by Jeff Cherry

Fluvanna County Mother and Children Lose Home in Fire

The smell of charred wood filled the air at 183 Little Mountain Road in Fluvanna County Sunday morning. Angel Bowles rents the property with her four children, who are all under the age of seven. The American Red Cross disaster services volunteers were called out to help the now homeless family.

“We come out and provide emergency services, immediate services,” said Shelley Murphy, a Red Cross disaster services volunteer.

Bowles and her kids will stay in a hotel the next nights. Read More

Burson Dr. fire, courtesy of the Chesapeake Fire Dept.

No one hurt in Chesapeake house fire

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) – Chesapeake firefighters battled an early morning fire in the 1700 block of Burson Dr. Saturday.

Fire crews responded to reports of a structure fire at 2:47 a.m. When crews arrived on the scene they found a single story, brick home on fire, with heavy flames breaking through the roof, Capt. Mike Thibeault of the Chesapeake Fire Department said in a released statement. Read More

Suffolk brush fire contained to 85 acres

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Crews have contained a Suffolk brush fire to about 85 acres along Gates Road near the Isle of Wight County line.

It’s been burning since Wednesday, July 21.

The Suffolk Fire Department and the Virginia Department of Forestry are monitoring the smoke and flames. A fire line has been established, said city spokeswoman Debbie George. Read More

Photo by Dana Glass

Valley Firefighters Battle Flames and Weather

Lt. Chris Ritenour from Rockingham County Fire and Rescue enjoyed the air conditioning inside the Grottoes Volunteer Fire Station Friday.

Just hours earlier, he was fighting a scorching mulch fire miles down the road.

Ritenour says, “The heat that you feel is like walking into a furnace. Trying to work with that is very consuming on the body.” Read More