Virginia Fallen Firefighters & EMS Memorial Service Scheduled for June 4

Virginia Fallen Firefighters & EMS Memorial Service Scheduled for June 4

Annual service to be held in the Exhibition Hall at the Richmond Raceway Complex

RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) invites the public to attend the 2022 Virginia Fallen Firefighters & EMS Memorial Service on Saturday, June 4 at the Richmond Raceway Complex.
The memorial service will begin at noon in the Main Exhibition Hall. The Virginia Fallen Firefighters & EMS Memorial Service will be streamed live for those who cannot attend in person. Visit: 2022 Virginia Fire & EMS Memorial Service live stream - YouTube.
The service will honor four fallen firefighters:
  • Lyndell N. Woods – Fort Lewis Volunteer Fire Department
  • Lawrence J. Phipps, Sr. – Hanover Fire and EMS
  • Todd A. Landreth – Norfolk Airport Fire Department
  • Sean H. Land – Virginia Beach Fire Department
Now in its 25th year, the Virginia Fallen Firefighters & EMS Memorial Service was established to honor firefighters and EMS personnel who perished in the line of duty, in accordance with the Virginia Line of Duty Act (§ 9.1-400).
Emergency response personnel, government officials, and public safety members gather to celebrate the courage and dedication of each honoree. The Memorial Service includes a keynote address, a Virginia Fire Services Honor Guard procession, a musical performance, and a fire and EMS apparatus display from departments throughout the Commonwealth.

Creasy Appointed Executive Director

Governor Youngkin appointed Brad Creasy as the Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

Creasy is an accomplished public safety professional with more than 26 years of fire and emergency service experience.

He began his career with the Bedford Volunteer Fire Department before becoming a career firefighter with the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department. Creasy served in Roanoke City for 21 years and rose through the ranks to Captain. Creasy has served the past 15 years as the fire chief for the Town of Bedford.

Creasy received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Liberty University. He is a Virginia Fire Officer Academy graduate and holds the Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFO) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Garrett Dyer Appointed as Executive Director

Garrett Dyer Appointed as Executive Director of VDFP

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RICHMOND – March 18, 2022 – Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the appointment of Garrett Dyer as Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

Dyer, who has served as Acting Executive Director since January 2021, will oversee 79 full-time employees and more than 300 adjunct instructors used to deliver more than 130 courses to Virginia’s fire service. In addition, he will manage the enforcement provisions of the Statewide Fire Prevention Code.

Dyer is an accomplished public safety professional with more than 35 years of fire and emergency service experience. He began his career with the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department and became a career firefighter and nationally registered paramedic with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Dyer served in Fairfax County for 30 years and rose through the ranks to Assistant Fire Chief. He joined VDFP in 2018 as the Virginia Fire Marshal Academy Chief before becoming the State Fire Marshal.

Dyer received his bachelor’s degree in Fire Science from the University of Maryland University College. He received his paramedic training from George Washington University and law enforcement training from the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy. Dyer is a graduate of Leadership Fairfax and the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia – Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.