VDFP Closes at noon on Wednesday, November 21
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs Headquarters and Division offices are closed beginning at noon on Wednesday, November 21 through Friday, November 23 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The agency will reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 26.
VDFP closings through the end of the year:
VDFP Divisions 4 & 6 Opening on a 2-Hour Delay, November 15
VDFP Division 4-Chilhowie and Division 6-Roanoke are opening on a 2-hour delay on Thursday, November 15.
Both localities are under a winter storm warning from 7 p.m. tonight until 1 p.m. Thursday. Up to 1 inch of sleet and snow is expected with the potential of ice accumulation, possibly resulting in hazardous conditions for the Thursday morning commute.
All Virginia Firefighters will receive preferred pricing on tickets for the game.
$70 Lower Level Tickets
$40 Upper Level Tickets
NFIRS Systems Maintenance
Maintenance will be performed on the NFIRS systems starting on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at 7:00 AM (EST) and will continue until Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 7:00 PM (EST). During this time, all NFIRS online tools will be unavailable. Users should log off from the systems prior to the maintenance. Users who have uploaded files for processing, just prior to or during this maintenance window, should review their log files to verify that data was saved successfully.
VDFP Closed November 6-8 for Planning and Professional Development Training
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs Headquarters and Division offices will be closed for business November 6-8, 2018 for the agency’s annual all-staff planning and professional development training. If you need assistance regarding VDFP matters during this time, please call 804-612-7273.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
Governor Northam Announces $343,000 Federal Grant for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs
October 25, 2018
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) has been awarded $343,000 in federal grant funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s 2017 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The funding will be used to purchase new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for technical rescue and structural firefighting gear and a mobile training tower.
“Our fire services personnel risk their lives every day to protect our communities and it is vital that they have proper equipment and quality training facilities to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Governor Northam. “These federal dollars are essential to our ability to support firefighters across the Commonwealth, and I commend the Department of Fire Programs for its consistent effort in securing federal funding for three consecutive years.”
The mobile training tower will be utilized for remote training throughout Virginia, an advantage for localities that cannot afford their own training building. The tower will be at least three-stories and equipped with apparatus and simulation capabilities for self-rescue, firefighter rescue, rescue from confined spaces, and elevated rescues with fire trucks and various lengths of ground ladders. The tower can be taken apart and reassembled as needed.
“Ensuring our fire fighters are equipped with the latest gear is critical to the safety of these brave first responders,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran. “Proper equipment will not only further allow our firefighters to train more effectively and efficiently as they prepare for the ever-evolving threats faced daily, but ensure safer outcomes in the performance of their duty to protect our Commonwealth’s citizens.”
VDFP has obtained a total of $927,640 of federal funding during the past three AFG program cycles, beginning in 2016. In this time, VDFP will replace a total of 321 sets of turnout gear, exceeding the initial commitment of 314 sets of turnout gear announced in 2016.
“Securing this funding aligns Fire Programs with Governor Northam’s mandate to provide training and education, and the purchase of products to reduce cancer risks among firefighters in the Commonwealth,” said VDFP Executive Director Michael Reilly. “The work on this grant is a testament to our persistent and unwavering commitment to remain innovative and advance our training curriculum forward.”
VDFP is to provide $51,450 in matching funds and has 12 months to complete the purchases under the grant.
Contacts
Office of the Governor
Contact: Ofirah Yheskel
Email: Ofirah.Yheskel@governor.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Contact: Vanessa Copeland
Email: Vanessa.Copeland@vdfp.virginia.gov
In Memoriam: Chief David Creasy, Sr.
On October 15, 2018, we lost our fire services brother and mentor, retired Richmond fire marshal Chief David ‘Chico’ Creasy, Sr.
In 1968, Chief Creasy began his career in the fire service as a volunteer with Chesterfield Fire and EMS and in 2008 accepted the Fire Marshal position in the City of Richmond. In the summer of 2014 Chief Creasy was diagnosed with cancer. Even after his diagnosis he continued to serve as Richmond’s Fire Marshal for three years before retiring in 2017. Read more about Chief Creasy’s career in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Chief Creasy was an advocate for taking action against cancer in the fire service and throughout the years his words and actions have touched the lives of many.
Visitation will be held on October 21 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Morrissett Funeral and Cremation Service, 6500 Iron Bridge Rd. N. Chesterfield, VA 23234. The funeral service will be held on October 22 at 11:00 am at Victory Tabernacle Church of God, 11700 Genito Rd. Midlothian, VA 23112.
In Memoriam: Lieutenant Brad Clark
On October 11, 2018, we lost our fire services brother, Lieutenant Brad Clark of Hanover County Fire-EMS, Station 6.
VDFP Early Closing
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs is closing at 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 11 due to inclement weather. The impacts of Tropical Storm Michael may result in flash floods, tropical storm force winds, tornadoes, and power outages in Virginia.
Virginians should visit www.VAemergency.gov to learn about how to prepare for hurricanes, tornadoes and flood threats. Remember to “turn around and don’t drown.” Do not drive across any flooded roadway, as it only takes six inches of water to move a vehicle and roads may be washed out beneath the floodwaters. Visit www.511Virginia.org or call 511 for real-time road conditions.
To learn more about what a state of emergency declaration does and does not do, visit http://www.vaemergency.gov/what-we-do/state-of-emergency/.
To read the text of the Governor’s Executive Order declaring this state of emergency visit https://www.governor.virginia.gov/executive-actions/.
October 4, 2018 Under a new county government program, Fauquier homeowners who lack working smoke detectors can get replacements at no charge. Homes without smoke alarms also qualify for the program. Read more from Fauquier Now.com.