Virginia Fire Services Board

The Virginia Fire Services Board is created within the Virginia Department of Fire Programs pursuant to § 9-153.1 of the Code of Virginia as seen below. The Board is comprised of 15 members appointed by the Governor. Board members serve four-year terms.

§ 9-153.1. Virginia Fire Services Board; membership; terms; expenses; officers. The Virginia Fire Services Board within the Department of Fire Programs shall consist of fifteen members. Subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, the Governor shall appoint to the Board the following persons: a representative of the insurance industry, two members of the general public with no connection to the fire services, one of which shall be a representative of those industries affected by SARA Title III and OSHA training requirements, and a representative from each of the following organizations: the State Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia, the Virginia Firemen's Association, the Virginia Association of Professional Firefighters, the Virginia Fire Service Council, the Virginia Fire Prevention Association, the State Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, the Virginia Municipal League, and the Virginia Association of Counties, and a member of the Virginia Chapter of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors who is a faculty member who teaches fire science at a state institution of higher learning. Of these appointees, at least one shall be a volunteer firefighter. In addition to the gubernatorial appointees, the following persons shall be members of the Board: the State Fire Marshal, the State Forester and a member of the Board of Housing and Community Development, to be appointed by the chairman of that Board.

Each of the organizations represented shall submit names for the Governor's consideration in making these appointments.

The members of the Board appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of four years. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term. No appointee shall serve more than two successive four-year terms but neither shall any person serve beyond the time he holds the office or organizational membership by reason of which he was initially eligible for appointment. The members of the Board shall be paid their necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

The Board annually shall elect its chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership and shall adopt rules of procedure

Back to top