VDFP Hurricane Florence Preparations

Published 11:05 a.m., Friday, September 14

Governor Northam lifts the mandatory evacuation order for Coastal Virginia, effective 11 a.m. The VDFP Division 5 office remains closed through Sunday.

Agency Closings

• VDFP is open for business on Friday, September 14. Division 5 – Hampton remains closed.

Published 4 p.m., Thursday, September 13

Training

• The VFMA Basic Law Enforcement Academy is canceled Thursday and Friday.

Emergency Operations

• Four (4) state-managed shelters are now open at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and Virginia State University in Ettrick/Petersburg.

Agency Closings

• VDFP is open for business on Friday, September 14. Division 5 – Hampton is closed.

Published 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 11

Updates per VDFP Senior Leadership. **Remember that safety is paramount. Stay aware and be prepared.**

Training

• All VDFP courses on Thursday-Sunday are canceled; rescheduling will occur next week.
• VDEM has canceled all of its courses through the end of September.

Emergency Operations

• Six (6) VDFP personnel will staff the Emergency Operations Center in Chesterfield, starting Wednesday, as part of the statewide preparation and response effort.
• The State Fire Marshal’s Office has completed inspections of state shelters in Virginia.
• All of VDFP trailers and resources will be staged at the Public Safety Training Center.

Agency Closings

• VDFP will follow closing protocol that is declared by the Governor’s Office.
• Check the DHRM website, DHRM Facebook and Twitter, and local media for closing information. Subsequently, we will share that information on the VDFP website and VDFP social platforms.
• Division 5 – Hampton is in the mandatory evacuation zone and is currently closed for customers; will close at noon on Wednesday for VDFP staff.

Events

• The Virginia Hazmat Conference is cancelled as of Monday evening, September 10.
• Sound the Alarm on September 17 is cancelled.

 

Published 10:50 a.m., Tuesday, September 11

VDFP Senior Leadership will meet at 1 p.m. today to discuss the action plan for the agency and training in preparation of Hurricane Florence. Further information for VDFP instructors and students will be provided here on the VDFP website, the VDFP Facebook and Twitter social media platforms, and via the VDFP email list.

VDFP piloted this two-part program at The Virginia State Firefighter’s Conference earlier this month and will again offer this program in two upcoming regional fire schools:

• Wise Regional Fire School – September 7, 2018
• Tri-Cities Regional Fire School – October 20 -21, 2018

The program will be delivered in a train the trainer type format where we provide you educational materials and reference materials. This will allow departments to deliver training to better protect their members. In development is a resource web page to store these materials. Students may bring flash drives to obtain most of the materials before the end of class. Learn more about the program.

Questions can be directed to VDFP Chief Safety Officer Briant Atkins at briant.atkins@vdfp.virginia.gov, 804-371-0220.

The City of Richmond Department of Fire & Emergency Services, along with co-host the Charlottesville Fire Department, invite you to attend the 2018 Virginia Fire Equity & Diversity Conference in Richmond. Conference registration is now open. Take advantage of early bird pricing through September 28.

Visit the VFED Conference website for more details.

The International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2019 I-Women Leadership Conference in April. Submissions are due August 31, 2018.

The I-Women Leadership Conference includes hands-on training and workshops, education, networking, and mentoring.

Learn more about I-Women.

 

VDFP Stakeholder Input Meetings

The Virginia Department of Fire Programs hosts a series of Stakeholder Input Meetings to provide an opportunity for input and feedback from Virginia’s Fire Service. Many of the Division Chiefs are present to answer questions from both a division and program management aspect.

We cordially invite you to attend these meetings to give feedback and input that will assist the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to better service Virginia’s Fire Service.

Leadership Symposium – Central Shenandoah Valley Emergency Services

September 8 in Verona 

Learn about usable “street smart” tactics and strategies from technical studies and fire-ground footage. Also witness interactive presentations about how attention to detail, combating complacency, and understanding how the difference in tradition versus comfortable practices play a role in reducing preventable line of duty deaths.

Topics:

• Front Door Decision Making: Presented by James Kenney, Lieutenant, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue
• Leading Strategically-Acting Tactically – Building a Culture of Safe Extinguishment: Presented by Matt Tobia, Assistant Chief, Loudoun County Fire & Rescue

The cost is free. Registration is online only.