NFIRS Systems Maintenance

NFIRS Systems Maintenance

Maintenance will be performed on the NFIRS systems starting on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at 7:00 AM (EST) and will continue until Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 7:00 PM (EST). During this time, all NFIRS online tools will be unavailable. Users should log off from the systems prior to the maintenance. Users who have uploaded files for processing, just prior to or during this maintenance window, should review their log files to verify that data was saved successfully.

In Memoriam: Chief David Creasy, Sr.

In Memoriam: Chief David Creasy, Sr. 

On October 15, 2018, we lost our fire services brother and mentor, retired Richmond fire marshal Chief David ‘Chico’ Creasy, Sr.

In 1968, Chief Creasy began his career in the fire service as a volunteer with Chesterfield Fire and EMS and in 2008 accepted the Fire Marshal position in the City of Richmond. In the summer of 2014 Chief Creasy was diagnosed with cancer. Even after his diagnosis he continued to serve as Richmond’s Fire Marshal for three years before retiring in 2017. Read more about Chief Creasy’s career in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Chief Creasy was an advocate for taking action against cancer in the fire service and throughout the years his words and actions have touched the lives of many.

Visitation will be held on October 21 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Morrissett Funeral and Cremation Service, 6500 Iron Bridge Rd. N. Chesterfield, VA 23234. The funeral service will be held on October 22 at 11:00 am at Victory Tabernacle Church of God, 11700 Genito Rd. Midlothian, VA 23112.

In Memoriam: Lieutenant Brad Clark

In Memoriam: Lieutenant Brad Clark

On October 11, 2018, we lost our fire services brother, Lieutenant Brad Clark of Hanover County Fire-EMS, Station 6.

Lt. Clark was among four Fire-EMS personnel who were providing assistance involving a two-vehicle crash on southbound I-295, just north of exit 38B in Hanover County, when a tractor trailer struck the engine in the rear. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Lt. Clark was a member of Hanover County Fire-EMS, Station 6 in Mechanicsville since 2005.

VDFP closing at 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 11

VDFP Early Closing
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs is closing at 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 11 due to inclement weather. The impacts of Tropical Storm Michael may result in flash floods, tropical storm force winds, tornadoes, and power outages in Virginia.

Virginians should visit www.VAemergency.gov to learn about how to prepare for hurricanes, tornadoes and flood threats. Remember to “turn around and don’t drown.” Do not drive across any flooded roadway, as it only takes six inches of water to move a vehicle and roads may be washed out beneath the floodwaters. Visit www.511Virginia.org or call 511 for real-time road conditions.

To learn more about what a state of emergency declaration does and does not do, visit http://www.vaemergency.gov/what-we-do/state-of-emergency/.

To read the text of the Governor’s Executive Order declaring this state of emergency visit https://www.governor.virginia.gov/executive-actions/.

 

In Memoriam: VDFP IT Manager Andrew Brodie

In Memoriam: VDFP IT Manager Andrew Brodie

On September 28, 2018, we lost our brother and colleague, Andrew Brodie of Hanover, Virginia.

Andrew joined the VDFP in 2008. In his decade-long tenure, he rose to the IT Manager position and kept the technology engine running at Fire Programs along with his staff.

Andrew was extremely dedicated and stayed on top of deadlines, oftentimes rallying colleagues and resources. Andrew also provided IT and audio-visual support of behalf of the VDFP at conferences in the state. He was an efficient and reliable member of the VDFP family.

Andrew will be missed at Fire Programs. He left such an indelible impression on us all.

View the obituary of Andrew Brodie, provided by Bliley’s in Richmond, Virginia.

In Memoriam: Lieutenant Charles W. Davis, Jr.

In Memoriam: Lieutenant Charles W. Davis, Jr.

Retired Alexandria Fire Department Lieutenant Charles W. Davis, Jr. of Alexandria, Virginia passed away on September 17, 2018 from pancreatic cancer. He served with the City of Alexandria Fire Department for 30 years and retired in 2011, and was also a member of the IAFF 4th District Local 2141.

VDFP Hurricane Florence Preparations

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.

Carcinogen Reduction/Cancer Prevention and Burn Prevention Program

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:

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.