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.

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 |.

MONETA — First responders in Moneta didn’t have to travel far to respond to an emergency.

That’s because a car crashed through the rear of the Moneta Rescue Squad building Monday afternoon.

The driver, whose name has not been released, came to a stop in the bathroom.

Continue reading… Car crashes into Moneta Rescue Squad building | Lynchburg News Advance.

A Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue member was charged today with a misdemeanor sexual battery.

John Brandrup, 62, was arrested after Deputy M. Tillman interviewed a female Chancellor volunteer EMS provider, who inquired about what she needed to do to obtain a warrant against Brandrup.

Tillman took her report and then obtained the misdemeanor warrant against Brandrup, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

Continue reading… Chancellor Volunteer charged with sexual battery – Spotsy govt.-the odds and ends.

July 6, 2010 (ROANOKE COUNTY) — Due to the lack of rainfall and severe dry conditions, Roanoke County is banning all campfires and reminding residents of the region’s burning ban established by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality(VDEQ) on all open burning.

Several years ago, the VDEQ established the Western Virginia Emissions Control Area, which includes Roanoke County and town of Vinton, Botetourt County, Frederick County, Roanoke City, Salem City and Winchester City. Each year burning is prohibited in the Western Virginia Emissions Control Areas during the months of May, June, July, August and September. Campfires have been the only exception to the burning restriction.

Throughout the year, the Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office regulates all open burning and ensures County compliance with state agency burning regulations by requiring a permit for anyone in Roanoke County requesting to burn. Campfires are exempt from the burn permit process.

Due to the severe dry conditions and three reported outside fires over the July Fourth holiday weekend, the Fire Marshal’s Office is banning all campfires until further notice. Once the County has received significant rainfall, the ban will be lifted and notification to the public will be made. In summary, this means that no open burning is allowed at this time in Roanoke County.

A Suffolk boy will spend more time in a detention home for the arson of three homes on Franklin Street in June 2009, and he has been ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution.

Kelly Golden Jr., 16, received his sentence in court Wednesday. Judge Carl Eason sentenced Golden to four years in a juvenile detention home in Chesapeake. The case will be reviewed after two years, at which point Golden could be released.

Continue reading… Suffolk News-Herald | Boy gets four years for arson.

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – A train carrying hazardous materials derailed overnight in Richmond. The rail company, CSX is handling this investigation as crews try to figure out what caused a couple of train cars to jump the tracks.

Continue reading… Train derails overnight in Richmond – NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA |.

Richmond, Va. –Rescuers were unable to revive a woman who was pulled from the James River yesterday evening.Richmond police said the 40-year-old woman swam with a male friend from the shore near the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar toward a small island some distance offshore just before 7 p.m. The emergency call came at 6:58 p.m.

Continue reading… Woman dies after James rescue attempt | Richmond Times-Dispatch.

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – Two new audits said the police department is doing a good job of protecting the people of Richmond, but it can do better. A consulting group needed 400 pages to analyze the operational structure of the Richmond Police Department. The report released to City Council Tuesday looked at how RPD does business every day.

They conducted more than 100 interviews, participated in ride-along's and examined anonymous employee surveys. The Matrix Consulting Group concluded the Richmond Police Department has many strengths including a homicide clearance rate higher than the national average and an effective community policing program.

Continue reading… Audit: Richmond Police Department could improve structure – NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA |.

By JOE MACENKA AND BILL MCKELWAY | TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS

Published: July 07, 2010

Authorities are investigating alcohol as a factor in the high-speed crash of a boat operated by a Richmond fire captain that claimed one life and left nine people injured, two critically.

All 10 people aboard the boat involved in the crash late Monday night on the Rappahannock River were from suburban Richmond, including Amanda Brady, 25, of Glen Allen, a Henrico County teacher.

Brady's body was recovered from the river yesterday morning within several yards of the crash scene about a half-mile offshore from the Middlesex County community of Water View.

One of the survivors, Patrick Nixon, listed Brady as his fiancée on his Facebook page.

Continue reading… Details emerge in weekend boating fatality | Richmond Times-Dispatch.

By Carrie J. SidenerLynchburg News & AdvancePublished: July 6, 2010» 0 Comments | Post a CommentFOREST — Plumes of dark smoke were visible from Lakeside Drive Tuesday as a Lynchburg fire crew headed back to the station in the midday heat after responding to a car crash.The crew went to investigate the cause and found flames and black smoke rolling out of a house at 305 Hunter’s Creek Road just across the Bedford County line. No one yet had called 911 to report the blaze in the suburban neighborhood, said Lynchburg Battalion Chief Ed Jones.The fire appears to have started at the front of the house, burning through the porch and front rooms and causing smoke and heat damage throughout the rest of the house.“It’s a pretty major loss,” Jones said.

Continue reading… Fire destroys Bedford County home | WSLS 10.

A fire in a single-family Henrico County home this afternoon has displaced the residents.

Assistant Fire Marshall Will Shumate said that a fire started in an upstairs room of a home in the 6000 block of Almond Creek North Lane around 3:25 p.m.

Continue reading… House fire in eastern Henrico displaces five | Richmond Times-Dispatch.