FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND RES CUE S QUAD S
About
The County provides funding for the five volunteer fire departments and the five volunteer rescue squads that deliver emergency services to citizens.
Retirement and Insurance
The County has coverage for fire and rescue members which includes accident and sickness, workers compensation, life insurance, and retirement benefits.
Fire Departments
Fire departments provide volunteer fire services to County and town residents. The Virginia Department of Fire Programs’ basic training for firefighters involves a minimum of 192 hours, which includes 160 hours of Firefighter Level 1 training and 32 hours of hazmat training. This does not include the in-house training required to operate the equipment of individual departments.
Rescue Squads
Rescue squads provide volunteer rescue services to County and town residents. The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services and local squads offer training for squad members. The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is required to complete a minimum of 154 hours of training, enhanced rescue members have 256 hours of training, the intermediate rescuer has 528 training hours and paramedics have a minimum 781 training hours. This prepares rescue squad volunteers to provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for patients. Local squads require volunteers to answer calls at will and on assigned call nights.
Regional Fire and Rescue Training Center
The Regional Training Center is available to all agencies in Montgomery County as well as Floyd, Giles and the Radford Army Ammunition Plant Fire Departments. The Training Center property is owned by the Blacksburg Fire Department Foundation with a 25 year lease to Montgomery County. All buildings on site have been purchased through private donations and grants, and the County insures the property. The Town of Christiansburg and the Town of Blacksburg provided labor and equipment for site development. Volunteer fire personnel constructed training aids such as a maze, ladder tower, and ventilation simulator for use at the center.
Highlights • Fire Departments responded to 2,592 calls for service. • Rescue Squads responded to 10,721 calls for service. • Completed renovations at the new Riner Rescue station. • Fire Departments and Rescue Squads have assisted with numerous COVID-19 testing sites and influenza vaccination distribution sites. • Riner Rescue received a new response vehicle. • Elliston Fire received a new response vehicle.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND RESCUE SQUADS : 187
