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Several police officers and fire and rescue crew were honored during the First Responders Appreciation Event on Wednesday, August 21, at the Fredericksburg Convention Center. [Photo: Fredericksburg Chamber Of Commerce]
Several police officers and fire and rescue crew were honored during the First Responders Appreciation Event on Wednesday, August 21, at the Fredericksburg Convention Center.

The event covered first responders from the Fredericksburg and Caroline, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, filling the main ballroom at the Convention Center. There were 19 awards given out to local Virginia State Troopers and county police officers from all over the area. Included in the 19 awards was a lifetime achievement award given to Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones, Caroline County Citizens Valor awards given to Shericka Twyner, Russell Trainer, and Desiree Dushane, and the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Citizens Valor Award went to Guillermo Shelton and Austin Leonard.

“We are a better region because of you,” added Steve Cox of Rappahannock Goodwill, one of the sponsors at this event, which the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce hosted.

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Fire and rescue units responded to a townhouse fire on William Harris Way in the Rippon area of Woodbridge. Smoke was visible, and all occupants were safely evacuated. The basement-origin fire was quickly extinguished without injuries, though the home was deemed unsafe. Three adults were displaced, and the American Red Cross assisted.

Press release:

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Firefighters extinguished a 3-4 acre brush fire on Daisy Hill Lane with the assistance of nearby fire departments, and no serious injuries were reported.

Press release:

Just after 2PM yesterday, [Stafford County Fire and Rescue] units were dispatched for a large brush in the 100 block of Daisy Hill Lane. First arriving units marked on scene approximately 15 minutes later and reported spot brush fires across 3-4 acres. Crews worked to extinguish the fire, and were challenged by some of the difficult terrain. The fire was brought under control in approximately 15 minutes, but crews remained on scene to monitor hot spots. SCFR crews were assisted on scene by King George County (Va) Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, Fauquier County Fire Rescue System and the Virginia Department of Forestry.

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The Prince William County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating two incidents of illegally dumping 55-gallon drums containing waste on Reid Lane in Nokesville, posing significant environmental risks.

The Hazardous Materials Team secured the site, and the removal of the drums is being handled by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Press release:

The Prince William County Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating two past separate incidents of illegal abandonment of multiple 55-gallon drums containing a waste product on Reid Lane in the Nokesville area. This type of dumping poses significant environmental threats.

Upon receiving citizen complaints regarding these drums, the Hazardous Materials Team and the Fire Marshal’s Office promptly secured the drums and ensured there would be no impacts to the environment. It was determined that the barrels were located on state-managed property. Accordingly, the responsibility for their removal rested with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The Fire Marshal’s Office maintained close communication with these agencies to ensure the removal of the drums.

Assistant Chief Matt Smolsky, Chief Fire Marshal of Prince William County, emphasized the critical role of community vigilance and cooperation: “We are committed to investigating and mitigating any potential hazards to our community promptly”. The public is being asked to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 703-792-6360 if you have any information regarding the incidents described above.

Any information about the illegal dumping could assist in the investigation and/or prosecution. Intentional release or intentional dumping of hazardous materials is a class one misdemeanor, and if convicted, an individual could be fined up to $2500 and face up to a year in jail.

If you observe any illegal dumping, please report it immediately. If you see something, say something by calling 911.

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On Monday, August 12, 2024, fire and rescue crews from Prince William and Fairfax counties were dispatched to Mountcastle-Turch Funeral Home in Woodbridge’s 13400 block of Woodbridge Street. The call was received at 10:23 a.m. after reports of extra smoke coming from the funeral home’s chimney and garage.

Upon arrival, crews investigated the source of the smoke and found a malfunctioning crematorium. Initial information from the scene indicated that a body was being cremated at the facility. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

The units cleared the area at 10:40 a.m.

Mountcastle-Turch Funeral Home & Crematory provides funeral and cremation services to Woodbridge and Dale City residents.

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A serious head-on collision on Route 17 (Warrenton Road) in south Stafford County left two adults with significant injuries late Saturday night. The crash occurred at approximately 9:32 p.m. near the intersection of Warrenton Road and Cardinal Forest Drive and involved two vehicles.

According to initial reports, five people, including two children, were inside one of the vehicles. The two adults in the car suffered severe injuries and were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The two children were also taken to a hospital suffering "significant trauma." The condition of the third person is unknown.

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Photo: Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department

Stafford County Fire and Rescue and Fredericksburg Fire Department successfully rescued two kayakers from the Rappahannock River on Friday night, August 9, 2024. Despite strong currents and challenging conditions, both kayakers were safely brought to shore without injury. A Stafford County fire and rescue spokeswoman said the two were both adult women.

Press release:

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