Governor Spanberger Recognizes Recipients of 2025 Governor's Fire Service Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Feb. 18. 2026)

Richmond – Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced the recipients of the 2025 Governor’s Fire Service Awards. These prestigious awards, established in 2002, recognize excellence in Virginia’s fire service and were presented during the annual Virginia Fire and Rescue Conference in Virginia Beach.

"These award recipients embody excellence, dedication, and leadership in the fire service. I am honored to recognize their commitment to protecting the lives and safety of our fellow Virginians," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "We are grateful to these professionals for their unwavering dedication, bravery, and commitment to serving our Commonwealth."

"The Commonwealth is incredibly grateful for the sacrifice of these fire service professionals," said Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Stanley Meador. "Their bravery, commitment, and partnerships keep Virginia safe and we appreciate their dedication to protecting their communities."

“I commend each of these departments and individuals for their outstanding service and dedication,” said Virginia Department of Fire Programs Executive Director Brad Creasy. “Their tireless commitment to protecting our communities and bravery in the face of danger is inspiring. These recipients exemplify the very best of the fire service and it is my honor to recognize their contributions to the fire service.”

2025 Governor’s Fire Service Award Recipients

EXCELLENCE IN CAREER FIRE SERVICES
James Templeton, Virginia Beach Fire Department

A firefighter since 2002, James Templeton has demonstrated extraordinary technical skills under extreme conditions as a Heavy Equipment and RiggingSpecialist with Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2). Templeton’s unique ability to operate heavy excavators to breach collapsed structures and perform critical welding on failing buildings enabled the rescue of trapped victims in some of the nation’s most devastating disasters. He has offered thousands of volunteer hours over more than two decades for Virginia Beach. In addition to the direct impact he has had on residents, Templeton has greatly contributed to the training process of the next generation of firefighters through designing and building dozens of training props, collapse simulators and support structures. These have transformed the training center in Virginia Beach to become one of the nation’s best facilities to train firefighters and rescue specialists from across Virginia and the United States.

EXCELLENCE IN VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICES
Charles Pruitt, Accomack County Department of Public Safety

Charles Ray Pruitt’s dedication to the Eastern Shore community (Accomack and Northampton Counties) has been evident through his strong leadership and commitment to keeping his community safe. Pruitt excels in communication, which has been instrumental in keeping all the career and volunteer entities (20 different agencies) of the Eastern Shore informed to ensure safe and timely responses to incidents. Although the Eastern Shore is geographically separated from the commonwealth by the Chesapeake Bay, Pruitt has proven effective in assisting localities throughout Virginia by educating firefighters as an adjunct instructor for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP).

EXCELLENCE IN CAREER FIRE SERVICE TRAINING
Department of Fire Programs, Water Rescue Curriculum Development Group

The VDFP Water Rescue Curriculum Development Group is comprised of the Surface and Flood Water, Swift and Flood Water, and Watercraft work groups. It has exemplified exceptional dedication in building and sustaining the commonwealth’s water rescue capability. Subject matter experts completed a comprehensive update of all Virginia water rescue programs, which encompassed all instructional levels, including awareness, operations and technician. These working groups successfully produced new administrative guides, course outlines, curriculum schedules, master rosters, instructor guides, student materials and fully updated practical skills components that now serve as the foundation for all water rescue training in the commonwealth.

EXCELLENCE IN VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE TRAINING
Jane Crawford, Scruggs Volunteer Fire & Rescue

Throughout 51 years of dedicated service, Jane Crawford has demonstrated unmatched passion, integrity and leadership in the fire service. She served as an adjunct instructor for the commonwealth, teaching firefighter and hazmat instructor courses in local high schools to help educate and prepare countless emergency responders. Crawford continues to give back by mentoring young firefighters even after she entered retirement. She exemplifies true dedication to public safety and community service through her lifelong commitment to training mentorship and improving the fire service.

OUTSTANDING CAREER FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE

Primary: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire and Rescue Department. Supporting Agencies: Arlington County Fire Department, City of Alexandria Fire Department, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and Prince William County Fire and Rescue Department

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire and Rescue Department’s (MWAA FRD) extraordinary efforts on the night of January 29, 2025 was the culmination of training and partnerships forged through mutual aid agreements. Following an alert from the FAA Tower of an aircraft crash of a US Army Sikorsky helicopter and PSA Airlines flight 5342 operating a CRJ 700, MWAA FRD Battalion Chief 301 cleared the airfield to the approach end of Runway 33 and requested the launch of rescue boats. An immediate search to locate wreckage and passengers ensued. Boats were deployed in the water for assistance by multiple partner agencies. Over twenty mutual aid fire and EMS teams responded to the incident, including several Virginia departments. The immediate and unwavering decisions made by Potomac River Command (Battalion Chief 301) set up the incident for a well-managed response. Without the training and dedication of mutual aid partners, the response would not have been possible.

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE

Primary: Blackstone Volunteer Fire Department. Supporting Agencies: Crewe Volunteer Fire Department, Burkeville Volunteer Fire Department, Kenbridge Fire Department, Nottoway County Emergency Squad, Nottoway County Emergency Management, Virginia State Police MedFlight 1, and LifeEvac 1 and 3.

The Blackstone Volunteer Fire Department is recognized for its response to a motor vehicle crash involving two cars with three patients, one reportedly trapped beneath the dashboard. Within minutes, a member of Blackstone VFD arrived on scene and immediately established command. The need for extensive resources was evident and two medevac helicopters were requested to assist in the transportation of patients to the nearest trauma center. A combined effort from multiple agencies helped support the emergency with patient assessment and traffic management. An additional entrapment in the second vehicle required mutual aid from the Kenbridge Fire Department and the Crewe Volunteer Fire Department with additional ambulances from Burkeville Fire & EMS and the Nottoway County Emergency Squad.

CAREER FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Brian Grimes, Hanover County Fire-EMS

As a company officer, a regionally known instructor and a mentor to many in Virginia’s fire service, Brian Grimes has served with distinction in various fire departments across the commonwealth. Grimes currently serves as a company officer assigned to Station 1 in Ashland, Virginia. As a career representative to the equipment committee, he has helped direct over $80,000 in spending to support the volunteer fire company. An advocate for training and professional development, Grimes has been instrumental in organizing and executing monthly training nights and evaluation processes to ensure all firefighters from junior to senior level are proficient. He also serves as a regional instructor, teaching hose movement and nozzle-work to firefighters from across Virginia. Grimes is well regarded within the department for his focus on excellence and willingness to go the extra mile for everyone, regardless of status as a career or volunteer firefighter.

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Garry Russell, Big Stone Gap Fire Department

A 19-year veteran of the Big Stone Gap Fire Department, Garry Russell responds to 90% of the department’s calls and goes above and beyond to ensure that the fire department is fully efficient. From running a fire scene as the incident commander, to actively engaging in fire suppression as an interior firefighter, to directing traffic on a motor vehicle crash, Lieutenant Russell effectively fills whatever role is needed to make the department and incident successful. As the First Lieutenant of the department, he oversees the department’s Engine 51 and is also an adjunct instructor for VDFP.

CAREER CHIEF OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Eddie Ferguson, Goochland Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services

A lifelong resident of Goochland County, Chief Ferguson has dedicated over forty-three years of service to his community through Goochland County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services. Ferguson rose through the ranks as company officer, district chief and volunteer deputy chief of EMS. He guided the department through large-scale changes that included major advances in technology, shifts in county leadership and the transition from an all-volunteer organization to a strong combination system. In addition to his service in Goochland, Chief Ferguson also had an integral role in Chesterfield County Fire and EMS, serving on specialized assignments to include the Hazardous Incident Response Team and the Virginia State Police MedFlight 1 program.

VOLUNTEER CHIEF OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Zachary Hottel, Woodstock Fire Department

In his nearly two decades in the fire service, Chief Zachary Hottel has led the Woodstock Fire Department through a period of unprecedented growth. Under his leadership, the department completed its first comprehensive strategic plan and ongoing renewal. While many volunteer agencies across Virginia are challenged with recruitment and retention, Chief Hottel has been a statewide leader. His comprehensive recruitment and retention program for the department increased active volunteers by approximately 15%, bringing 19 new members into the department over the past three years. Chief Hottel has also showed unwavering persistence in securing funding for the department through multiple grant programs and advocacy through local government for essential support for personal protective equipment, apparatus, equipment, and training and staffing.