Stafford County will establish the Rockhill Fire and Rescue Station along Mountain View Road near Willowmere Park, consolidating Fire Station 8 and the Rock Hill Volunteer Rescue Squad. The project, costing nearly $17 million, will include a three-bay facility designed for both career and volunteer personnel. Construction is set to begin in spring 2025.
Press Release:
A sign will soon mark the future site of Stafford County’s newest fire and rescue station. Future Station 8, the Rockhill Fire and Rescue Station, will be located along Mountain View Road, near Willowmere Park. This new facility will unite current Fire Station 8 resources and the Rock Hill Volunteer Rescue Squad, under one roof.
The location was strategically chosen for its central position within the Rock Hill District, improving response times across the area. Both Fire Station 8 and Rescue Station 8 are currently located near the edge of the district, bordering Marine Corps Base Quantico. The new, more central location of the station will allow more effective access to the station’s response area. The construction project is currently in the design phase, with plans for a groundbreaking in the spring of 2025. Access to the station will be via Mountain View Road.
This nearly $17 million project, including land acquisition and construction costs, represents a major investment by the County in public safety. The 17,000-square-foot, three-bay facility will serve both career and volunteer personnel. The bays will be bidirectional, or drive thru bays, allowing for efficient responses to emergencies.
Additionally, the Rockhill Fire and Rescue Station will be Stafford County’s first LEED-certified government building. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is the most widely recognized standard for green buildings, promoting energy efficiency, sustainability, and cost savings.
*”Rock Hill” concerning the electoral district is two words. “Rockhill” is one word in relation to the fire station.
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a lease agreement to store the county's new fireboat at Hope Springs Marina. The fireboat delivered a few months ago will now be housed in a wet boat slip at the 4 Hope Springs Lane marina.
The lease agreement, approved during the board's meeting, includes a 10-year lease with two optional five-year renewals. The base rent for the slip is set at $3,000 per year, with a 3% annual escalation.
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As Hurricane Helene intensifies and approaches Florida’s Big Bend with the potential to become a major Category 4 hurricane, swift water rescue teams from Virginia are mobilizing to assist with the expected impacts.
The Prince William County Swift Water Rescue Team, a FEMA Type 3 team comprising six technicians and a Battalion Chief, was activated by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and deployed to Norton, Virginia. They left at 10:00 AM today from the Prince William Public Safety Training Center, aiming to coordinate with local authorities and manage water rescues in hurricane flood waters.
Simultaneously, the Stafford County Fire and Rescue’s Swift Water Team, recently validated under an MOU with VDEM and undertaking their first deployment, departed on Friday with eight members to southwestern Virginia. Both teams are equipped to be fully self-sufficient and handle operations in harsh conditions for extended periods, with Stafford County ensuring their local swift water response capabilities remain unaffected during this deployment.
Hurricane Helene is moving north-northeast at 12 knots and is expected to land this evening. It has shown a significant drop in pressure to 960 mb and increased wind speeds to 90 knots. The storm’s large size means impacts such as storm surge, wind, and heavy rainfall will extend far from the center, especially on the east side. These conditions will persist as Helene moves inland over Georgia and potentially stalls over the Tennessee Valley. Authorities urge that all preparations in the hurricane warning area be completed swiftly.
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.
“In many ways, you represent the best of Virginia,” said Jason Miyares, the attorney general of Virginia. He compared them to World War II’s ‘greatest generation’ and the soldiers that landed at Normandy. “You go to work each morning and put on the bulletproof vest,” he added. “The hardest thing I have to do as Attorney General is speak at the funerals of the fallen first responders,” he said.
As the awards were presented, some details were shared about the officers’ criminal enforcement and other community improvement actions.
Captain Crystal Hill of the Fredericksburg Police launched the city’s first lobotomy program, while Fire Captain John Hanson honed the water rescue program on the Rappahannock River. “The efforts of his work are recognized,” said Stafford Fire Department Chief Joseph Cardello. There were many stories that day that showed the professionalism of all involved.
For the first time at this event, the Chamber introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award to honor exceptional contributions in the field. Retired chief of the Fredericksburg Fire Department, Eddie Allen, presented the award to current Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones.
Jones began his fire service career in 1979 with the Falmouth Volunteer Fireman’s Association. He excelled in training and became a key member of the team. Jones followed in his father’s footsteps, who was a firefighter for Fairfax County. His commitment to excellence saw him rise through the ranks from Lieutenant in 1987 to achieving his dream of becoming Fire Chief in March 2020, a challenging time marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a crucial role in public outreach, recording daily updates to inform and reassure the community during those dark months.
Throughout his career, Jones has been dedicated to community service and building relationships with civic organizations, state agencies, and the Fredericksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, where he has been a member for over 38 years. He has also been a mentor, preparing others for leadership roles and actively participating in community programs like Leadership Fredericksburg.
Kevin Dillard, Chair of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and this event stated, “Serving as chair of the annual First Responders event provided me the opportunity to do some research whereby I discovered that our organization had never honored a first responder for a lifetime of service in the Commonwealth. I strongly believe that the men and women who have served for many years, whether as volunteer or career first responders, deserve recognition for their many years of public service.”
The sponsors were highlighted as well, and the list included Goodwill Rappahannock, The Oberle Academy, Pierpoint Construction, Lifecare Medical Transports, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, Mullins & Thompson, Tire Tread Service, Dominion Energy, Spartan, Fredericksburg Public School Foundation, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Riphean, Fredericksburg Nationals Baseball Team, CIP Finishes, Arsenal Events, Truist, Found and Sons, Hilldrup, Matern, Germanna, Little Tire, Discover Next Step, Topside, PRSA, The UPS Store, Virginia Credit Union, Black Rifle Coffee, Mattaponi Springs and RSQ.
A residential fire broke out on Thursday afternoon in the 800 block of Walnut Drive, prompting a swift response from Stafford County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) units. The fire was reported just before 2:40 p.m., and firefighters arrived on the scene within five minutes to find flames engulfing multiple sides of the single-family home.
Despite challenges posed by the steep terrain and the distance to the nearest hydrants, the fire was brought under control within 30 minutes. Fortunately, no occupants were in the home at the time, and there were no reported injuries among the residents. The occupants, one adult and four children, are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.
Although four dogs survived the fire unharmed, two cats have not been located. One firefighter was evaluated on scene but declined further treatment.
The Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the fire. The Fredericksburg Fire Department and Fauquier County Fire and Emergency Services provided additional support during the operation.
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.
One firefighter was evaluated on scene for a minor injury.
SCFR would like to take this opportunity to offer a friendly reminder to call in any controlled burns at 540-568-4440.
Stafford County Fire and Rescue swiftly extinguished a structure fire at a two-story residence on Lake Bluff Court early Friday, with all occupants safely evacuated and receiving assistance from the American Red Cross; the cause is under investigation.
Press release:
Just before 1:30A.M. On Friday, August 16th, units with Stafford County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) were dispatched for a reported structure fire in the 100 block of Lake Bluff Court, near Abel Lake. First arriving units marked on scene approximately five minutes later to find heavy fire coming from the side and rear of a two-story, single family residence. Crews quickly began working to extinguish the fire, bringing the fire under control in approximately 15 minutes.
All five occupants of the residence self-evacuated prior to the arrival of units. All were evaluated on scene. The occupants are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.
The fire is under investigation by the Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office. SCFR units were assisted on scene by the Fredericksburg Fire Department.
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.
The accident took place near the Lidl grocery store, causing a temporary road closure as emergency services responded to the scene.
Local law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Police closed Warrenton Road at Cardinal Forest Drive to investigate the crash.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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:
Just before 9:30 p.m. [Friday, August 9, 2024,] Stafford County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched for a reported swift water rescue along the Rappahannock River in the area of the 300 block of Ingleside Drive. Crews first arrived approximately 5 minutes later, and made contact with the two kayakers in need of assistance. Crews, along with units from the Fredericksburg Fire Department, worked against strong currents to access the victims, each in a different location, which required different access points. All units were off the water before 10:45PM, with both kayakers safely on shore. Both denied injury. Thank you to our partners at the Fredericksburg Fire Department and Office of Stafford County Sheriff – David “DP” Decatur, Sheriff.
