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Up Close &Personal
Chesterfield FirefighterEric Weyant, aftera recent structure fire. - Fire News photo by Carter Killorn & Hayden Lear
Firefighters from the Richmond Fire Department.
- Fire News photo by Carter Killorn & Hayden Lear
Chesterfield Firefighter Brandon Leonard, aftera recent structure fire.
- Fire News photo by Carter Killorn & Hayden Lear
Fort Lee Captain Mike Smith Retires
Captain Mike Smith retired on June 30, 2021, with 22 years of service! Congratulations on yourretirement Captain Smith. Thank you foryourknowledge and dedication to Fort Lee Fire and Emergency Service. You will be missed. - Photos courtesy of Fort Lee Fire & Emergency Services
Norfolk’s FFRick Rickman Calls it a Career
Afterserving the citizens of Norfolk for25 years, FirefighterRick Rickman worked his final shift on August 30, 2021. Station 6, in the Ghent section of Norfolk, was Rick’s final assignment, and Chief DiBacco was there to give him a properfarewell. Rick, thank you for yourservice to Norfolk Fire-Rescue. Enjoy yourretirement! - Photos courtesy of Norfolk Fire Rescue
The Alexandria Fire Department officially graduated Recruit School 49 on July 22, 2021, and Recruit Schools 50 and 51 on July 23, 2021, at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial after postponing the ceremonies due to the Covid-19 pandemic. AFD welcomed and celebrated 45 new firefighter/EMTs.
City of Alexandria’s Circuit Court Clerk Greg Parks presided over the swearing-in after remarks from City Manager Mark Jinks, Vice-Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and Fire/EMS Chief Corey Smedley. Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Fire Chief Denise Pouget also offered remarks during the July 22 ceremony. AFD and MWAApartnered for recruit school in 2019-2020 bringing recruits from both organizations together for necessary training to become certified firefighters and EMTs.
“It is a privilege and a great honor to look at these recent recruit school graduates with pride,” said Fire/EMS Chief Smedley. “In addition to the rigorous academic curriculum and physical fitness required throughout recruit school, they endured a global pandemic as well. That, in itself, is admirable.” - Photos courtesy of Raytevia Evans, PIO
Patches
Hampton Fire Rescue Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department Namozine Fire & EMS
Obituary
Fairfax’ Kevin Weaver
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was deeply saddened to announce the death of Firefighter Kevin Weaver, who passed away August 28, 2021.
Firefighter Weaver has been a valued member of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department since joining in September 2018 as a member of Recruit Class 144. He was assigned to Fire Station 1, McLean, at the time of his passing.
Firefighter Weaver will be greatly missed. On behalf of Fire Chief Butler and the men and women of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, we extend our deepest condolences to Firefighter Weaver’s family, friends, and anyone whose life he touched. - Photo courtesy of Fairfax Fire & Rescue
Virginia Fire Services Board Members
Chief Keith Johnson is the current Chief at Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. Chief Johnson is a fourth generation firefighter who began his fire service career in 1982 as a volunteer with the North Merrick Volunteer Fire Department in New York. After accepting a recruit firefighter position, Chief Johnson started his operational career in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, (FCFRD) graduating from the Training Academy in September 1983. Chief Johnson was promoted to Deputy Chief in 2009, and led three divisions. Chief Johnson served as a past member and Deputy Chief of the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue Team and is the former Fairfax County Task Force Leader of the National Medical Response Team.
In December 2014, he retired from the FCFRD and became Assistant Chief of Operations with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. In May 2018, he was appointed Chief responsible for overseeing and leading the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System.
Chief Johnson is a graduate of the Northern Virginia CC with an AAS degree in Fire Science Administration, and graduated from the University of Maryland University College with a BS in Business Administration, minor in Fire Science. Chief Johnson completed his MA in Security Studies; at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
He serves on the Governor’s appointed Fire Services Board as well as a member of Governors appointed Virginia’s Board of Housing and Community Development. - Submitted by Travis Rickman
As an accomplished fire chief with over 27 years of proven fire services, emergency management and leadership experience, Chief R. Scott Garber has served as the City of Staunton’s Fire Chief for the past 10 years. Through his leadership and progressive fire services management, pre-planning and emergency response tactics, Chief Garber oversees the department’s tactical response for an average of 4000 calls annually.
Chief Garber earned his BS degree in Management and Organizational Development from Eastern Mennonite University. In 2008, Chief Garber received both the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and completed the Executive Fire Officer Program from the National Fire Academy. He also holds the designation of Member status from The Institution of Fire Engineers. Chief Garber is also a 2015 graduate of the; University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, Leading Educating and Developing (LEAD) program and Virginia Commonwealth University's Virginia Executive Institute. Chief Garber serves on tseveral professional boards and received the 2014 Governor’s Virginia Fire Service Award for Excellence in Virginia Fire Service Management and the 2015 Governor’s Virginia Fire Service Award for Excellence in Virginia Fire Service Training. Also in 2015, Scott received the John B. Noftsinger Alumni Award for Public Service from James Madison University.
He is also a technical rescue instructor for Spec Rescue International. - Submitted by Travis Rickman
Chief Johnston began her fire service career as a volunteer in her community’s fire department and rescue squad following the September 11, 2001, attacks. She served with the Lynchburg Fire Department for 15 years and became a Nationally Registered Paramedic and achieved the ranks of Master Firefighter and Captain, in the Training Division for two years before assignment as an engine company Captain.
She accepted the Deputy Chief of Operations position with Bedford County Fire and Rescue in April of 2019.
She earned a MAin Executive Leadership from Liberty University and graduated in April from the Executive Fire Officer Program. - Submitted by Travis Rickman
Donald Hart was first elected to the Accomack County Board of Supervisors in 1979. In his 40-plus years in this role, he has served as Chair and Vice-Chair numerous times, most recently helming the Board as Chairman in 2019.
Hart has been a longtime member of the Virginia Association of Counties. He is a past president of VACo (20082009) and continues to serve on the VACo Executive Committee as Secretary-Treasury. Besides his work as a member of the Accomack County Board of Supervisors, Mr. Hart worked as an educator, volunteered as a fireman, and works with the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission. Hart earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Masters in Education and Guidance from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. - Submitted by Travis Rickman
JA‘Jim’Calvert is the current BWXT, Corporate Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Audit Programs Manager and the Corporate OSHAAdjudicate. Jim has performed EH&S compliance audits at many of our Nation’s Department of Energy and Weapons Complex Facilities. Jim also serves as the Senior Technical Specialist and Chief of Emergency Operations for the Nuclear Operations Group - Lynchburg site. Jim’s previous work experience includes working as a Safety Engineer with NASA’s Manned Spaceflight Program during the Space Shuttle Program. Jim has served as an Adjunct Professor for the Central Virginia Community College for over 20 years teaching Principles of Industrial Safety and various Fire Science classes. - Submitted by Travis Rickman
Ernie Little is a retired career Battalion Chief with the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue where he served for over 38 years. He retired in January 2013.
He began his fire service career as a volunteer firefighter with the Sterling Park Volunteer Fire Department from January 1970 to February 1977. He is also a past instructor with the Northern Virginia CC Fire Science Department. He is now a fire plans reviewer for the Prince William County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Ernie holds a BS degree in building construction., an AS degree in Fire Science Management. Ernie possess designation as “Chief Fire Officer” by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, “Executive Fire Officer” by the National Fire Academy, and is certified as a Fire Official, Fire Inspector, Fire Plans Examiner, and Fire Protection Inspector in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also maintains certification as an Adjunct Fire Instructor, Fire Instructor IV, and Fire Officer IVcertifications. - Submitted by Travis Rickman
Bettie Reeves-Nobles is a retired leadership professional member of the Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue. She retired as an Assistant Chief with 29 years of service. Her leadership responsibilities were a variety of administrative assignments and suppression functions.
Bettie graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science, a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Administration and a Master’s in Public Administration. She holds a Chief Fire Officer Designation credential from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
She is serving a second term appointed by Virginia’s governor on the Virginia Fire Services Board as the General Public Member. She continues her membership and servant-hood in her church along with involvement in other organizations. Bettie thoroughly enjoys her retirement by spending some much needed time with her family and friends. - Submitted by Travis Rickman
FireNews.com Fire News, October/November2021, Page 43 The Darlington Fire Department Celebrates Their 50th Anniversary
- Submitted by Dan Pempel
Come on Down to Florida in February
The Florida Antique Bucket Brigade will be hosting the 2022 SPAAMFAAconvention on February, 23-26, 2022, at the Wyndham Hotel in Kissimmee, Florida. We have tours scheduled to visit the Pierce plant, Tampa Fire Department, Cape Canaveral Fire Department Training site, Daytona 500 Experience and Lake Ridge Winery. There will be seminars during the week, 2-½ days of vendors and the apparatus show on Saturday, February 26, 2022. Visit ourwebsite formore info: www.fabbfire.org orcontact Bob Romig at 863-427-4717.
Suffolk Fire & Rescue Gets $3.4 Million FEMAGrant
Suffolk Fire & Rescue has been awarded a grant of $3,410,000 from the Department of Homeland Security through the Fiscal Year 2020 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program to hire 18 additional firefighters.
The funding, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is part of a total of $355 million dollars awarded to an estimated 300 fire departments across the country intended to assist in the increase of the number of firefighters to meet industry minimum standards and to attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
Upon learning of the grant award, Chief Michael Barakey noted, “Suffolk Fire and Rescue is excited to receive the SAFER grant award. Funding from the grant will allow Suffolk Fire and Rescue to provide the citizens of Suffolk with even further reduced response times and a more effective emergency response.”
The 18 firefighters hired with the SAFER grant will come onboard later this year, and will supplement the needed 36 firefighters for the opening of a new North Suffolk Fire and Rescue Station to be located in the Harbour View area of Suffolk. - Submitted by Diana Klink
