Updated: For those in the procession with or without apparatus:

From FirefighterCloseCalls.com:

The Virginia Department of Transportation, working with the town of Rocky Mount, has planned road closures to accommodate funeral traffic on Virginia 40 and U.S. 220 as well as Virginia 718 in Glade Hill. VDOT will post message boards in the area containing information.

DIRECTIONS: Your best bet is MAPQUEST using Roanoke, VA as a point of reference from the Interstate:

CLICK HERE for an area MAP to help you: http://tinyurl.com/3y5me5x

Basically show up in the vicinity and you will see where to stage your apparatus!

Updated: Apparatus and Funeral Procession information…

I have not gotten any solid plans sent to me. All I have heard is to call for info.

Contact Annett Law (Franklin County Dept. Public Safety) at 540-483-3091 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              540-483-3091      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and she will get you the info you need. I left a message as well. If anyone has the information for the procession(s) I would love to post it for everyone who is looking for it.

Here are the various addresses you might need for the funeral and visitation:
Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department – P. O. Box 631 Rocky Mount, VA 24151
Phone: 540-483-7181
Fax: 540-484-1995

Main Station – 1250 North Main StreetRoc ky Mount VA

Rocky Mount United Methodist Church – 35 North Main Street Rocky Mount, VA

Franklin Heights Baptist Church – 110 Hilltop Drive Rocky Mount, VA

Franklin Memorial Park – 21440 Virgil H Goode Hwy Rocky Mount, VA

Glade Hill Baptist Church – 6627 Colonial Turnpike Glade Hill, VA

For more information on the deaths of Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice follow the following links:

• Initial coverage including links on VAFireNews.com
• Continued coverage including external links on VAFireNews.com

View the obituaries and arrangements for our fallen brothers below.

Posey Dillon
Visitation: 4-8pm at the Rocky Mount VFD on Thursday
Funeral: Friday at 11am at Franklin Heights Baptist Church

Danny Altice
Visitation: 5-9pm at the Rocky Mount VFD on Thursday
Funeral: Friday at 3pm at Rocky Mount United Methodist Church.

William Daniel “Danny” Altice (view guestbook)

William Daniel (Danny) Altice, 67, of Rocky Mount, Virginia passed away Monday, July 26, 2010 while serving his community as a member of the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department. He was born October 12, 1942, son of the late William Oliver Altice, of Rocky Mount and Annis Davis Altice, of Henry. He is survived by his fiancée, Frances C. Holley; his son, William Carey Altice, of Rocky Mount; his daughter, Christie Altice-Weaver and husband, David, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; his granddaughter, Kayla Denice Altice; a sister, Phyllis Fadely and husband, Jon and two children, of Fairfax Station; brother, Barry Oliver Altice, wife, Jennifer and two children, of Rocky Mount. He was a member of the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department for 47 years, serving as active Chief from 1977 to 1984. He received a Lifetime Achievement Service Recognition Award in February 2008 from the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of the Rocky Mount United Methodist Church. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Funeral services will be conducted from Rocky Mount United Methodist Church 3 p.m. Friday, July 30, 2010 with the Rev. John Plummer and Chaplain Richard Gore officiating. Entombment will follow in Franklin Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Posey W. Dillon and William Danny Altice Memorial Fund c/o Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department, 1250 North Main Street, Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151. The family will receive friends Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department. Arrangements by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home and Crematory Route 220 @ Wirtz Road, Rocky Mount, 334-5151. www.connerbowman.com.

Posey W. Dillon (view guestbook)

Posey W. Dillon, 59, of Rocky Mount, Va., went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, July 26, 2010. He was the son of Hilda Dillon, of Glade Hill and the late Posey L. Dillon. He was also preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Frances Hutchinson. Posey was a member of Glade Hill Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and Finance Director. He was a 33-year veteran of the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as Captain and Assistant Chief, before becoming Chief in 1990. He served on Rocky Mount Town Council from 1980 to 2000 and was reappointed to Council August, 2006. He served as Vice-Mayor of Rocky Mount from 1992 to 2000 and again from July 2008 to present. He served on the West Piedmont Planning District Commission from December, 1982 to June, 1993 and served on other numerous Town Projects/Committees. He retired from American Electric Power with 30 years of service on June 1, 2010.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife and best friend of 35 years, Ann Dillon; and his constant companions, “Nikki” and “Vikki;” brother and sister-in-law, Davy and Carrol Dillon, of Glade Hill; sister and brother-in-law, Tammy and Wes Angell, of Boones Mill; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Nancy and Don Mitchell, of Roanoke; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, James and Pam Hutchinson Jr., of Rocky Mount, Charles and Fran Hutchinson, of Vinton; nieces, Katelyn and Kelsey Angell, Amy Dillon and Becky Holland; nephews, Brian and Eric Dillon, Shannon, Jeff, and Charles Allen Hutchinson; one great-niece, Kaytlynn Holland; and one great-nephew, Gray Hutchinson.
Funeral services will be conducted from Franklin Heights Baptist Church 11 a.m. Friday, July 30, 2010, with the Rev. David Long and Pastor Eddie Hawks officiating. Interment will follow in the Hutchinson Family Cemetery at Glade Hill Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Posey W. Dillon and William Danny Altice Memorial Fund, c/o Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department, 1250 N. Main Street, Rocky Mount, Va. 24151. His family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2010, at Rocky Mount Fire Department, North Main Street, Rocky Mount. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Rocky Mount, Va.(

Updated 0900 hours July 28th:

Story from Roanoke Times: Investigation continues as Rocky Mount mourns loss

Updated 1900 hours:

Added a video at the bottom of this post. It is an interview that Jamey Singleton did with the Rocky Mount VFD including Fire Chief Posey Dillon. The event was a fundraiser for Owen Lewis. Owen Lewis was a Rocky Mount firefighter who was battling cancer and recently lost his battle. VAFirenews.com ran a story on Owen here.

Updated 1805 hours:

Fire Chief Posey Dillon’s Funeral Arrangements

Visitation: Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m at the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department.

Funeral: Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Franklin Heights Baptist Church(Hilltop Road in Rocky Mount).

Donations be made to the Posey W. Dillon Memorial Fund, in care of the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department.

***

This is continuing coverage of our initial report on the Rocky Mount LODD’s of Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice. To view our initial coverage click here.

VAFireNews.com continues its coverage of the Line of Duty Deaths (LODD) in Rocky Mount (Franklin County) Virginia. We will be bringing you the latest news as it is released including the funeral and memorial arrangements. We will also have information for departments wishing to be in any funeral arrangements.

Please remember that this is a time for grieving the loss of our fallen brothers. We will let the LODD reports decide on the facts related to the deaths of our brothers.

At this time the Governor of Virginia has ordered the State flag be flown at half-staff.

The flag of the Commonwealth of Virginia may be flown at half-staff on all state buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in respect and memory of Rocky Mount Fire Chief and Vice Mayor Posey Dillon, Rocky Mount Firefighter William Daniel Altice, and Tazewell County Deputy Shawn Hess, who gave their lives in the line of duty. The flag shall be lowered immediately today, Tuesday, July 27, 2010, and remain at half-staff until sunset. Furthermore, the flag shall be lowered at sunrise on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 and remain at half-staff until sunset. Source

Pictured is Rocky Mount Wagon 1A. The apparatus was a total loss in the accident. Photo Courtesy of the Franklin County Department of Public Safety. View the entire fleet here

*Charlie Robinson has been named interim Fire Chief and Fire Marshal for the Rocky Mount Fire Department.

*The Commonwealth’s Attorney will be deciding on whether or not any charges will be placed in the wake of this deadly accident.

Chief Dillon was driving the fire engine and died at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Firefighter Altice was riding in the passenger seat and died on scene. Niether of the two firefighters were wearing seatbelts. The fire engine (Wagon 1A) was a 1988/1989 Pierce Custom engine which carried 1000 gallons of water. The accident occurred at an intersection in Rocky Mount on Route 40 near Sheetz. The SUV had the green light. The driver of the SUV was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One other vehicle, a ford mustang, was involved in an accident when the fire engine hit it once it rolled.

Firefighters from all over the area are assisting the Rocky Mount Fire Department with their needs.

Here are some important links for everyone to follow:

• VAFireNews.com initial coverage of the LODD
• Follow the discussion on FirefighterNation.com
• Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department
• View the entire fleet of Rocky Mount FD
• Franklin County Department of Public Safety
• WDBJ7 has the story on the house fire that Dillon and Altice were responding to here.
• Roanoke Times story from July 27th paper
• WSLS is reporting here
• WDBJ7 is reporting here
• Roanoke Times is reporting here
• TheFranklinNewsPost.com
• Roanoke.com photos
• WDBJ7 photos
• The Franklin News Post Photos

If you have anything to add, please contact us at editor@vafirenews.com or use our contact form.

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

Posey Dillon (right) is pictured above with Danny Altice during a ceremony in February 2008 when Altice was presented a lifetime achievement award by the Rocky Mount Town Council. They were killed Tuesday afternoon in a collision with a car while responding to a call. Photo Courtesy Franklin News Post

Update July 27th:

Follow the discussion on FirefighterNation.com

WDBJ7 has the story on the house fire that Dillon and Altice were responding to here.
Here are some links to photo galleries:

• Roanoke.com photos
• WDBJ7 photos
• The Franklin News Post Photos

Update 2145 hours:

It is being reported that Fire Chief Posey Dillon was driving Wagon 1 when it was involved in the deadly accident in Rocky Mount Today. Firefighter Danny Altice was riding in the passenger seat.

Neither of the two men were wearing their seatbelts.

According to TheFranklinNewsPost.com:

Dillon had served on town council for 24 years, including 10 years as vice mayor, and was re-elected vice mayor by council earlier this month. He had been fire chief for 20 years.

Altice joined the fire department in 1963 and served as chief from 1977 to 1984.

Be sure to stay up to date with the following in the LODD’s:

WSLS is reporting here

WDBJ7 is reporting here

Roanoke Times is reporting here

TheFranklinNewsPost.com

Update 2115 hours:

The fallen firefighters from today’s tragic accident have been named.

Fire Chief and Vice Mayor of Rocky Mount Posey Dillon died along with Firefighter William Daniel “Danny” Altice.

Both men will be missed. More information following.

Posey Dillon was just re-elected Vice Mayor of Rocky Mount on July 5th. (link)

He was mentioned on VAFireNews.com previously when his dual role as Vice Mayor and Fire Chief were put into question. (link)

Here is a picture of Fire Chief Posey Dillon and Firefighter Danny Altice from the TheFranklinNewsPost.com (click for more pictures).

UPDATE 1845 hours:

Details are emerging about the accident in Rocky Mount.

Rocky Mount VFD Wagon 1A withwas responding to a house fire heading East on Route 40 when a vehicle pulled out and hit the fire engine. The accident occurred near the Sheetz in Rocky Mount.

Two firefighters were killed in the collision. One was pronounced dead on scene and the other was flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Wagon 1A is a 1988 Pierce Dash Custom which carried 1000 gallons of water. (Not a 1992 as I first reported).

Video has been added to the bottom of this post

UPDATE 1815 hours:

We have confirmation of two firefighter fatalities in Rocky Mount this evening. The firefighters are members of the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department located in Franklin County, Virginia. We are not releasing any names until families are notified.

Please keep all of the firefighters in Rocky Mount and Franklin County in your prayers.

The apparatus was responding to a call for a house fire. The fire apparatus reportedly swerved to miss a vehicle that pulled out in front of it.

Here is a shot from the scene from WDBJ7

***

photograph posted on Facebook by Sandra Turner Young

Police are on scene of an accident involving a fire truck in Rocky Mount (Franklin County) on Route 40. The State Police are reporting that there was a fatality in the accident.

There is no word on whether or not the fatality was a civilian or a firefighter.

WSLS is reporting here

WDBJ7 is reporting here

Roanoke Times is reporting here

VAFireNews.com will be following this story and updating as we have more information.

Richmond July 22, 2010

At 0816 hours, someone walked up to station 5 alerting them of an accident one block from the station. The person reported that it was an accident at Belviedere and Leigh Street with a lady trapped in the car. While responding to the call, Quint 5 requested the remainder of the assignment. Quint 5 arrived on scene to find a 2-car accident with one person still in the car. Quint 5 quickly “popped” the driver’s door and placed all other units back in service. Richmond Ambulance and Quint 5 packaged the patient. Units cleared shortly after 0900 hours.

Lt. Shawn L. Jones, CFO
City of Richmond Fire & Emergency Services

Story from HamptonRoads.com

A tree caught fire in the 4700 block of Mayflower Road during a thunderstorm Sunday, and a ruptured gas line fed the blaze.

Thunder rattled the Colonial Place neighborhood shortly after 11 p.m., and soon after the fire sparked, the smell of gas was prevalent. Battalion Chief Harry Worley said it appeared the storm was to blame for the fire and underground gas line rupture. Read more

Lightning sparked a fire that was fed by a ruptured gas line in the 4700 block of Mayflower Road in Norfolk late Sunday night. (Maria Carrillo | The Virginian-Pilot)

Video below from Wavy.com

Coverage from Wavy.com

Story, Photo, and Video here

Story below from The Virginia Pilot

1 of 8 photos: A fire in the 5200 block of Bathley Place in Virginia Beach on Thursday, July 22, 2010, burned one home to the ground and heavily damaged two adjacent homes. (Steve Bancroft | Special to The Virginian-Pilot)

Fire destroys one home, damages 2 others in Virginia Beach

Pat Kaplan sat on her neighbor’s front porch Thursday afternoon and watched as firefighters doused her fire-ravaged home with water.

Wiping away tears, she said she was glad her daughter made it out of the house OK but lamented the loss of her family photos, her mother’s ashes and the new clothes she’d bought for her new job.

“They’re still in there with the tags on,” she said. “You never think it’s going to happen to you.” Read More

This photo was sent in to Wavy.com by Matthew Chow

HUDSON, Herman Wesley Sr., 85, passed away July 23, 2010. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Helen; son, Rocky (Cindy); daughter, Suzanne; stepdaughters, Vickie Dance (Gerald) and Vivian McCutcheon (Joey); sister, Jewell Wright; grandchildren, Wes Hudson (Jeanna), Stephen; stepgrandchildren, Jonathan Dance (Kyla), Jessica Smith (Allen), Jaime Condrey, and Baker, Dorie, and Nicholas McCutcheon; stepgreat-grandchild, Rilynne Smith; and many friends from Henrico and Richmond Fire Departments, Mall Walkers and Hardee’s. Wesley worked for Richmond Rubber Company for 50 years and was general manager for 31 years. He was a longtime member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Wesley contributed many years of community service to the Richmond Metropolitan Area. The family would like to thank Sunrise at Bon Air Assisted Living and Hospice Community Care for all their kindness and loving care. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 25 at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Avenue. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 26 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Va. Interment will follow at 3 p.m. at Dale Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2319 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Va. 23223.

Sorry there have been few updates the last week. I have been in Baltimore for the Firehouse Expo with Firefighter Netcast. Stay tuned to Firefighter Netcast for many podcasts we recorded while there including one with Henrico Firefighter Robbie Owens and Richmond Firefighter Danny Owens (direct link to blog post ).

Welcome to a new and improved VAFireNews.com (potentially). We are going through a format change. We are not redesigning the web site, merely changing it from a news type format to a blog type format. Now all you have to do is scroll down to see the new stuff. You don’t have to search the homepage for news updates.

Please let us know what you think.

This new format will include a “Daily News Update” (title subject to change). The Daily News Update will include many external links to stories carried off our site. It will also include text only stories.

We will try to offer a Daily News Update each day, however it might be published early in the morning or late in the evening.

Videos will now be in the individual posts and not carried on the sidebar anymore!

Bear with us and let us know what you think!

Here is today’s Daily News Update:

Roanoke County Firefighter Jeff Edwards Fundraiser

Saturday July 31st

As many of you know, Jeff Edwards went on dialysis in March of this year due to Polycystic Kidney Disease. On June 29th, his sister, Debbie Bryant, courageously donated a kidney to him. The surgeries went well for both Jeff and Debbie and their recovery is progressing each day. Jeff has been out of work since March 2010, And he will be without insurance soon and faces paying Cobra Insurance and even more expensive anti-rejection drug costs and general bills. We are asking you to donate any amount
possible to help with these expensive costs or to donate any items you may have for a yard sale we are having to benefit Jeff.

Download the full information = Jeff Edwards Fundraiser

Heat wave brings another scorcher; EMS crews ready

By Gene Petriello – bio | email
Posted by Shawn Maclauchlan

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – Right now, the temperature is soaring outside. And while that is happening, crews at the Richmond Ambulance Authority are preparing for what could be a very busy weekend.

We caught Howard Hicks at the end of his daily workout, one workout he got in much earlier than usual.

“Got my towel, water in my vehicle and we actually cheated today. We cut across the track instead of walking the complete path,” says Hicks. Read More

1 of 8 photos: A fire in the 5200 block of Bathley Place in Virginia Beach on Thursday, July 22, 2010, burned one home to the ground and heavily damaged two adjacent homes. (Steve Bancroft | Special to The Virginian-Pilot)

Fire destroys one home, damages 2 others in Virginia Beach

Pat Kaplan sat on her neighbor’s front porch Thursday afternoon and watched as firefighters doused her fire-ravaged home with water.

Wiping away tears, she said she was glad her daughter made it out of the house OK but lamented the loss of her family photos, her mother’s ashes and the new clothes she’d bought for her new job.

“They’re still in there with the tags on,” she said. “You never think it’s going to happen to you.” Read More

Richmond firefighters battle heat as well as flames

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – An apartment fire in Richmond goes to two alarms, but not just because it was a big fire.

The flames broke out just after six Friday evening in the 1200 block of Admiral Gravely Boulevard. Firefighters arrived and quickly called for help. Partly because of the oppressive “heat.” Read More

Suffolk wildfire grows to 30 acres, could reach 100

By Kristin Davis
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 23, 2010

A wildfire sparked Wednesday spread to more than 30 acres Thursday and could ultimately claim a 100-acre patch of young pine trees.

“Being so hot, it’s very dangerous to put any people or equipment into the area,” said Fred Turck of the Virginia Department of Forestry.

That means firefighters will have to work around the blaze now burning in the pine stand, he said. Read More

Firefighters battle a three-story mulch blaze Thursday night on U.S. 340. (BradZinn/The News Leader)

Three-story-high mulch pile ignites

HARRISTON — A three-story mulch pile caught fire Thursday afternoon at a Harriston pallet company as eight fire departments responded to the three-alarm blaze.

No injuries were reported at the TB Pallets LLC on U.S. 340. Lt. Chris Ritenour of the Rockingham County Fire Department said firefighters were expected to be at the facility throughout the night.

“We’re still at the containment stage,” he said at 8:30 p.m. The fire was called in shortly after 5 p.m. Read More

Fire at Lynchburg gas station

LYNCHBURG – Gas fumes at a Boonsboro Road gas station briefly ignited late Thursday night, sending flames dozens of feet into the air, Lynchburg Fire Department officials said.

Battalion Chief Paul Kilgore said crews responded to the Marathon gas station, next to the Exxon station, for a report of a fire on top of the gas tanks.  Read More

Two Charged With Setting Fire

Fairfax County fire investigators charged Tegee Rogers, 33, Herndon, and Justin Fedorchak, 39, Manassas, with multiple felonies in connection with a fire at 697 Spring Street, Herndon, Saturday, July 24, 2010, at approximately 12:30 a.m..

They are both charged with three felonies, 18.2-85, manufacturing and using and explosive device; 18.2-86, setting a fire capable of spreading; and 18.2-79, burning or destroying a meeting house. They were also charged with several statewide fire prevention code misdemeanors.

Damage to property is estimated at $200.00.

Both subjects were released on $1,000 bond.

Two-Alarm Lorton Townhouse Fire

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a townhouse fire Saturday, July 24, 2010, at approximately 3 a.m. in the Lorton area of Fairfax County. The townhouse is located 8501 Golden Ridge Court.

Firefighters saw heavy fire and smoke coming from an end unit townhouse upon arrival. Due to heavy fire and the potential for spreading to adjacent townhouses, a second alarm was struck bringing over 60 firefighters to the scene. The fire was brought under control in approximately 20 minutes.

The fire extended to the townhouse at 8503 causing considerable fire damage. Additionally, the townhouse at 8505 received water and smoke damage. The occupant from 8501 was transported to the Washington Hospital Burn Center for non-life threatening injuries.

Damage estimate for all three townhouses was $220,000. The townhouse at 8501 was a complete loss. The fire is under investigation.

Accidental West Springfield House Fire

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a house fire Thursday, July 22, 2010, at approximately 6:30 a.m., in the West Springfield area of Fairfax County. The single family home is located at 8114 Viola Street.

Firefighters saw smoke coming from the second floor of the two-story, split-foyer home upon arrival. Firefighters quickly conducted an interior attack in the master bedroom and brought the fire under control in approximately 15 minutes. The fire was contained primarily to the bedroom; however, there was some additional fire extension and smoke and water damage on the second floor.

A smoke alarm activated when the lone occupant opened the door to the master bedroom. The occupant escaped unharmed. One adult and three children have been displaced. Red Cross is assisting the family. There were no injuries.

Damage is estimated at $97,000.

According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental. The fire was caused by an electrical irregularity, specifically high resistance heating of the electrical wiring.

Investigators say fire at Norfolk furniture store was arson

NORFOLK — A fire at a Norfolk furniture store in the spring has been classified as an arson, and investigators are looking for anyone with information. Read More

Grand Furniture Store on 6359 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard was severely damaged by fire on March 22. (Norfolk Fire Department / March 22, 2010)

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Flames were shooting a hundred feet into the air when Ray Richardson Jr. arrived at Fairview Road around 2:16 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, 1999. Maneuvering the Wytheville Fire Department pumper truck through the snow to the natural gas substation, which had just exploded, he braced against the freezing cold for a major battle with fire and ice.

“That was the worst fire I ever worked,” noted Richardson, who is retiring at the end of July after 30 years as a paid firefighter with the town of Wytheville. “That and anytime there was a fatality. We’re fortunate there’s not been a fire-related death since I guess back in the late 90s.”

The January 1999 fire destroyed Hilltop Cycles and a rental house. Thousands of natural gas customers were without heat for a couple of days and Appalachian Power Co. customers had no electricity.

“That was scary,” Richardson stated.

The Fort Chiswell area native’s career began when late Sheriff Buford Shockley hired him as a deputy/jailer. After 19 months, he joined the Wytheville Fire Department as a paid firefighter on July 14, 1980.

Continue reading… Firefighter set to retire.

MCKENNEY – A family lost nearly everything but each other after taking the time to ensure their neighbors escaped the flames of a motel fire yesterday.

James Earl Gay and Rachael D. Curtis went door to door after smelling smoke and spotting flames only doors down at the Economy Inn on Boydton Plank Road.

According to a news release by the American Red Cross, a total of 40 people were displaced because of the fire. At least 35 of them received immediate assistance from the Red Cross in the form of food, clothing and other emergency needs.

Continue reading… Early morning fire spread fast, survivor says – News – Progress-Index.

MATHEWS – A circuit court judge stunned a crowded courtroom Monday and ordered Paul Reardon jailed after the former treasurer for the Mathews County Volunteer Fire Department admitted he embezzled more than $200,000 from the organization.

Judge R. Bruce Long said it would “send the wrong message” to let Reardon go home before his sentencing in September.

“He's stolen $200,000 in the course of two years while holding a position of public trust,” Long said. “If I let him remain on bond, the message that sends is that it is OK to steal $200,000, come in plead guilty, be found guilty, and go back home that afternoon. That's not going to happen.”

Continue reading… Former Mathews Co. Volunteer F.D. treasurer admits in court to embezzling $200,000 from the organization – wtvr.

July 19, 2010 (ROANOKE COUNTY) — Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department was dispatched to the 4800 block of Goodman Road at 10:10 last night for a reported structure fire.
When the first crews arrived, they found heavy flames coming from an early 1900s single-story house. Fire crews initially entered the structure searching for occupants along with the seat of the fire, but were soon evacuated after learning no one lived in the home and fire conditions were too unsafe. It took volunteer and career firefighters from the Mount Pleasant, Clearbrook and Vinton stations more than three hours to get the flames under control in part due to the solid construction of this older home.
Fire Investigators have determined the fire was accidental and started from the electrical wiring of a stand-alone freezer that was kept on the back porch. The house is considered a total loss and damages are estimated to be $120,000 for the house and its contents.
The woman who had lived in the home had passed away earlier this year.
Two firefighters were transported to a local hospital for minor injuries and have been released.

This event is being held at the Richmond Diamond. Home of the Flying Squirrels.

The deadline for the tickets is the 26^th.  They would like some firefighters in uniform for a parade of hero’s around the field.

Home Town Hero – click for more information

Fire rips through Petersburg warehouse – NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA |
By Sunni Blevins – bio | email

PETERSBURG, VA (WWBT)–NBC 12 continues to follow breaking news out of Petersburg where crews are still on the scene of a serious fire at the old Brown and Williamson tobacco factory. That's located on Brown Street near Wythe street downtown.

Calls about the blaze started pouring into our newsroom at about 4 this morning. Folks who live nearby could see the flames from miles away.

At least sixty firefighters and six departments are on scene helping out. That includes Petersburg, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Fort Lee, Dinwiddie and Prince George.

Continue reading… Fire rips through Petersburg warehouse – NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA |.

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) – In less than two weeks a heated statewide debate will come to a head: will over-head sprinklers be required in all new home construction?

We first told you about the sprinkler debate earlier this year when it was up for discussion at the Virginia Board of Housing a Community Development. Since then homebuilders have shared with us statistics they say make smoke alarms more than adequate.

In February the line was drawn between firefighters and homebuilders who say working smoke alarms are safe enough.

Continue reading… State board to make decision on fire sprinkler debate – NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA |.

When Upper Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department chief George Longest heard a call for help over his monitor at 9:52 p.m. on Monday, July 5, he had no idea then he would be involved in a search-and-rescue mission involving one of the worst boating accidents in history on the Rappahannock River.

A 25-year-old Glen Allen woman died and nine people were injured, some seriously, when a 22-foot fiberglass Chaparral bow-rider ran head-on into the steel legs of the #10 channel marker near Morattico in Lancaster County. The boat was traveling about 35 miles per hour at the time of the crash, according to marine police.

Even though Millstone Landing at Water View was on the other side of the river in Middlesex County, the deep water and large parking facilities at the Water View landing provided a better staging site for search-and-rescue efforts than any site in Lancaster County that was close to the accident scene.

Continue reading… Team effort by EMS groups credited with successful rescue operation at Water View.

Three members of Virginia Task Force 1 (VATF-1) under the direction of the U.S. Agency for International Development, (USAID) deployed to Cap Haitien, Haiti, to train 25 first responders for local disaster response, July 12, 2010. They anticipate to return Monday, July 19, 2010.

The training will build the skills needed to locate and extricate trapped victims, focusing on the proper use of urban search and rescue equipment donated to the Haitian Volunteer Firefighters Association, following VATF-1′s departure from Haiti in February, 2010. The equipment valued at $500,000, was used by several USAR teams in the rescue of 47 Haitians trapped in rubble following the earthquake in Haiti, January 12, 2010.

Training highlights include: safety, engineering, resource management, rescue operations, lifting and moving portions of collapsed structures, shoring operations, and construction and use of rope rescue systems.

Several members from the Los Angeles USAR team are also participating.

EMS Fall Turns in to Technical Rescue in Lexington
Submitted by Jimmy Swink

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 -
At 2225 hours, EMS was dispatched to the Preston Library at VMI for Injuries from a fall. Rescue 15 and RS1 (EMS Supervisor) responded and arrived on scene within minutes to find the victim had fallen approximately 25 feet down a hole onto some type of storage tank. RS1 immediately requested an upgraded assignment to a Technical Rescue response and established command.

Engine 92 and Chief 9 arrived on scene and started working to gain access to the patient. Command was transferred to Chief 9. E92′s crew provided access to the patient with an extension ladder for EMS to asses the patient.

Truck 9 arrived on scene and worked to establish a haul system to extricate the victim. Crews utilized a stokes basket and elevated haul lines to remove the victim from the hole. Once the patient was extricated, they were then transported to Carilion Stonewall Jackson hospital where Lifeguard 10 was awaiting to MEDEVAC the victim who suffered only a leg fracture from the fall and mild hypothermia.

Units operated on scene for just over an hour to extricate the victim. Units operating were Rescue Engine 92, Truck 9, Utility 9, Rescue 15, RS1 (EMS Supervisor) and Chief 9.

SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (WUSA) — It was a night of unwanted sexual taunting and touching in the place where she volunteers. The Station 1 firehouse with the Spotsylvania Fire and Rescue Department.

“If you don't get hold of it and follow it up with criminal charges and prosecution it's just going to run rampant,” says Lt. Col. Michael Timm with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Department.

The 17-year-old female volunteer firefighter told a detective that two of her male counterparts, one a juvenile, and another 20-year-old Steven Tyler Perry

Continue reading… Nine Firefighters Fired In Sexual Harassment Investigation | WUSA9.com | Washington, DC |.