Off-Duty Firefighter 1st To See Fair Oaks Townhouse Fire, Calls 911

An off-duty Fairfax County firefighter was the first to spot the fire that caused an estimated $175,000 in damage to a Fair Oaks townhouse on Wednesday morning, according to a Fairfax County Fire & Rescue blog post. After calling 911, the firefighter knocked on the townhouse door to alert its two occupants, who were able to exit safely. County fire and rescue units were dispatched around 6:37 a.m. to the townhouse, which was located in the 12000 block of Dorforth Drive. When fire crews arrived on the scene, they observed smoke showing from the roof of a three-story, middle-unit townhouse, according to the blog post. They quickly located the fire on the rear deck and saw that it was extending to the roof and attic. A second alarm was issued, bringing units from the Fairfax City Fire Department to provide assistance.
Fairfax City Patch

Gloucester firefighters donate old fire truck, ambulance to flood-ravaged Kentucky

The Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad has donated an old firetruck and ambulance to help Kentucky firefighters recently hit by major flooding. Officials say the 1992 fire engine and 2008 ambulance were no longer certified to be used by Gloucester firefighters, but they will be able to be used by crews in Perry County, Kentucky, who they say lost everything. The vehicles were also stuffed with donated supplies from the Lower King & Queen Volunteer Fire Department and Mathews Volunteer Fire Department. More than three dozen people were killed after flooding hit Perry County and other parts of Eastern Kentucky back on July 26. A teenager in Perry County, Aaron “Mick” Crawford, also died after volunteering to help flood victims.
WAVY-TV NBC 10 Portsmouth

Worker pinned on roof by downed tree rescued by Chesapeake Firefighters

Chesapeake Firefighters rescued a roof worker that was pinned by a downed tree Thursday morning. According to the department's Facebook page, crews performed a complex technical rescue. A downed tree shifted onto a roof worker pinning him down, officials say. The rescue was led by the technical rescue team. The call came in at 10:51 a.m., and crews responded to the 1200 block of Hawthorne Dr in the Indian River section of the city. Crews were able to safely remove the man from being trapped under the tree. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
WTKR-TV CBS 3 Norfolk

Major Crozet house fire

At Approx. 5:28pm on Thursday August 11, 2022 career and volunteer units from Albemarle County were dispatched to the 1000 block of Old Trail Drive in Crozet for a reported fire in a structure. The first apparatus arrived on scene 6 minutes after dispatch. While in route the incoming units observed a large column of smoke in the area, indicative of a fire. When they arrived on scene, they observed fire coming from the residence. Occupants were home and observed the fire in its beginning. One occupant was transported via Western Albemarle Rescue Squad to UVA for smoke inhalation. Crews did rescue 2 box turtles from the residence. The fire caused extensive damage to one unit displacing the residents.
WINA-AM 1070/FM 98.9 Charlottesville

Puppies born as Portsmouth and Chesapeake Fire respond to residential fire

Portsmouth Fire and Rescue along with Chesapeake Fire responded to a residential structure fire early Friday morning, August 12, 2022. Crews responded to a fire at 702 Dorset Ave. Upon arrival, crews found heavy fire in the front of the residence and made an aggressive interior attack. Authorities say the occupant of the house was outside when crews arrived to battle the fire. The person remained on scene due to a dog having puppies. The puppies were unaffected by the fire. No injuries were reported. The cause is still under investigation by Portsmouth Fire Marshals.
WTKR-TV CBS 3 Norfolk

Woman in Falls Church killed, set on fire

A woman in Falls Church, Virginia, was found dead Wednesday and investigators said the victim had been set on fire. According to Fairfax County Police Maj. Ed O’Carroll, officers were called to an apartment near the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Wilson Boulevard for a report of a domestic dispute. “Police officers and the fire and rescue department located a female who was on fire,” O’Carroll said, adding that the woman could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene. “This is a homicide investigation,” O’Carroll said. According to O’Carroll, police had been called to the home before for previous reports of domestic disputes.
WTOP-FM 103.5 Washington, D.C.

Harrisonburg firefighter attains safety certification

Harrisonburg fire officials report Master Firefighter Chris Daniels has attained certification as a National Passenger Safety Instructor. Currently, there are more than 43,000 nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. The safety certification is a program of Safe Kids Worldwide and was created back in 1997. H-F-D partners with the Virginia Department of Health to participate in the installation and inspection of safety seats for city residents and Fire Chief Matt Tobia stated that Daniels achieving this credential will allow the city to meet the needs of the community.
WSVA-AM 550/FM 92.1 Harrisonburg

Fire safety organization in Virginia Beach seeking public support

A newly formed nonprofit organization in Virginia Beach is seeking public support. The Virginia Beach Fire Foundation (VBFF, established in 2021, is dedicated to funding community risk reduction efforts, safety education programs, and improving firefighter safety and quality of life for the Virginia Beach Fire Department (VBFD). Virginia Beach is safeguarded by an all-hazards metro fire department that responded to more than 45,400 calls for service last year, according to the VBFF. The majority of Virginia Beach Fire Department’s operating budget is dedicated to support personnel costs, leaving a small fraction to pay for items such as uniforms, personal protective equipment, firefighting equipment, training, and information technology needs.
WAVY-TV NBC 10 Portsmouth

Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle ECC using new 911 technology

VIDEO: The Charlottesville, UVA, Albemarle County ECC is using new 911 technology to make its response to calls even faster with a click of a button. If a dispatcher thinks its necessary, they can send a link to the caller to join a video chat. From there, ECC says it can get a better idea of where the person is and even communicate over text. “As soon as those permissions are granted, the call taker will see your camera on their screen in real time. They can see where you are, they can see what’s going on, and that can really help improve the situational awareness and the ability to locate you if you’re not sure where you are,” Deputy Director of Support Services Josh Powell said. This can also help people from out of town who are lost, or even those who are blind. The ECC is also sending out feedback surveys to callers over text.
WVIR-TV NBC/CW+ 29 Charlottesville

Man dies after tree branch falls on car while driving in Williamsburg

A Williamsburg man has died after a tree fell on his car on Wednesday. Williamsburg Fire Department responded to a motor-vehicle incident at 3:48 p.m., on Jamestown Road near the intersection with Bayberry Lane. A 2018 Chevy Malibu was traveling northeast on Jamestown Road when a tree branch fell onto the car. The driver, 42-year-old Hakeem A. Conway, of Williamsburg, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger had minor injuries and was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center. No other passengers were in the vehicle. National Weather Service reported high winds and lightning in the area at the time of the incident. The felled tree branch is likely weather-related, but it's still under investigation.
WTKR-TV CBS 3 Norfolk