NEWS INSIDE
Page 2 - SFMO Supports Safety at Metallica
Page 4 - VDFP Spotlight: Chad Riddleberger –Special Operations Chief
Page 6 - VDFP Adjunct Spotlight: Rodney Krone
Page 7 - IT Corner
Page 8 - Make it to the Moon Challenge
SFMO Supports Safety at Metallica Concert at Virginia Tech
On May 7, the Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) played a key role in ensuring public safety at one of the largest events hosted at Virginia Tech — the Metallica concert at Lane Stadium, which drew a crowd of approximately 70,000 attendees.
VDFP Spotlight: Chad Riddleberger – Special Operations Chief
Tell me what your day to day looks like? Day to day, I’m coordinating Special Operations training programs all across the Commonwealth. The Special Operations Division incorporates “Tech Rescue” which includes the vehicle extrication program, passenger and heavy vehicle, and machinery rescue.
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Enhancing public safety throughout the Commonwealth
Concert at Virginia Tech
SFMO Supports Safety at Metallica Concert at Virginia Tech
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Assistant State Fire Marshal Bower, Chief Deputy Yingling, Deputy Kincer, and Deputy Bona were on site both May 6 and 7, overseeing event preparations, pyrotechnic safety, and crowd control logistics. Deputy Bona was instrumental in planning the event, collaborating with Virginia Tech and concert organizers for more than eight months leading up to the show.
“This was one of the largest events I’ve worked,” said Assistant Fire Marshal Bower. “With the crowd size and staging setup, it really pushed the stadium’s capacity.”
While the concert included fewer pyrotechnics than a typical Virginia Tech football game, the layout presented unique challenges. The team worked closely with organizers to address egress concerns, including the construction of a secondary egress route to accommodate merchandise stands and food concessions that blocked existing exits.
The SFMO team also ensured compliance with safety codes, emergency planning for weather-related incidents, and the safe operation of all food trucks and vendor setups.
The long hours were worth it—team members were on site from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on concert day to ensure every detail went smoothly.
The effort paid off. “It went off without a hitch,” Troy Bower said. “Metallica’s team mentioned this stop on their tour was one of the easiest to work with. That’s a testament to the collaboration between our office and Virginia Tech.”
Although Lane Stadium isn’t traditionally a concert venue and required a custom stage build, the event proved successful thanks to strong planning and cooperation between stakeholders. Events of this magnitude highlight the importance of SFMO’s involvement. “Large events carry large risks,” stated T.Bower. “When something goes sideways, a lot of people can get hurt. That’s why early involvement from our office is critical. We want everyone to enjoy the event—and go home safely.”
The SFMO regularly supports events across the Commonwealth—from football games at UVA, JMU, ODU, and others, to large-scale fireworks shows and public gatherings. The Metallica concert marked one of the largest single events in recent years, and the SFMO’s presence was vital in delivering a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
VDFP Spotlight: Chad Riddleberger – Special Operations Chief continued from page 1
Tell me what your day to day looks like?
We have the rope program, confined space, trench, an emergency building and shoring program through FEMA. I also do water programs, and aircraft rescue programs through indexed and regional airports. On a day-to-day, I’m building curriculum, scheduling programs, working with localities that host it, and I’m involved in work groups across the Commonwealth including the Urban Search and Rescue State Committee and the Water Rescue Committee on the state level. I collab with national publications and curriculum entities on updating programs and making VDFP much better and up-to-date with standards and techniques while working with NFPA Standards Committee. I can be anywhere between Eastern and Western Virginia, out of my truck or virtually.
How did you get involved in fire services?
I got to spend 27 fabulous years as a career fireman in the City of Roanoke. I retired three years ago. I started my fire services as a volunteer in Botetourt County. One of the Godfathers of Tech Rescue Dean Paderick was my original fire chief, so I got instilled into special operations very early in my career. I was fortunate enough to become an adjunct instructor with VDFP. I became the captain of the tech rescue station for 11 years, and then I was promoted to Battalion Chief and got to run special operations program for the City in Roanoke. I’ve had a lot of vested time and operations into the fire service that allowed me to take a passion that has run really rich and deep for me.
What are the most rewarding/ challenging parts of your position?
Watching us make our curriculum better and continuing to update our equipment and techniques to the most updated international and national standards! Also, providing tip of the sphere training. It’s a pleasure seeing stakeholders responding to calls and seeing them put it on the street and make a difference day in and day out. A challenge is having enough time. I always say “If I had a 13th month.” We put on 80+ programs every year.
What keeps you motivated?
I think it’s the evolution of fire service and ever-changing parts of what’s going on in tech rescue. I’ve always been a steward of education and change, I want to be the best for the stakeholders for the Commonwealth of Virginia. To work with statewide and national groups, we’re getting recognized nationally by what we’re doing and it keeps me fired up. We’re making a difference and that’s what motivates me. We’re making changes in a positive way.
What’s the most memorable part of your tenure?
Making battalion chief. I was really supported by my wife that I could make a major impact in the department and making an influence on the department. I was allowed to run special operations program there. But now, the achievement for VDFP, would be updating curriculum and re-accreditation. I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by great people here.
Tell us about your family?
We’re fortunate. We’re a blended family. We’ve been together 9 years coming up. We have a daughter who is in grad school in Boise State and our son who is a straight A kid in high school. We love being together and outdoors. We’ve just been blessed to come together at this stage our life.
VDFP Adjunct Spotlight: Rodney Krone
Tell me what your day to day looks like?
I’ve been in the fire service now for 45 years and I’ve been with Hamilton for 35 years. For 15 years, I’ve been the lead Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) instructor for the county. I do 12 every year. I get in early, I get set up, and make sure I have everything I need and make sure students leave with a full understanding. Often, I’ll pull someone to the side, not to embarrass them, but go over things. If I think they’re struggling, I make sure they get a full understanding and leave with all the knowledge.
How did you get involved in fire services?
My dad was the captain of the fire department, and we didn’t have a training center at the time, so every company took turns hosting trainings. It happened that they were training at Philomont where I grew up. My brother and I watched the “Cowboy Indian” movie that had flaming arrows, and we accidentally set a field on fire and weren’t able to stop it. The Assistant Chief told me I could go to Leesburg and go to court….or join the fire department and learn to fight fires. So, that is how I got my start. I’m not ashamed of how I got started.
What are the most rewarding/ challenging parts of your position?
Months down the road after you’ve helped somebody, they come back, not just to say thank you, but you learn the rest of the story. You find out how they’re doing and what the outcome was. So many times we help someone and we never learn the end of the story, so learning the end of the story is rewarding. Also, watching people continue to climb up the chain and become station leaders or watching them come back to the training center and teach is a big reward for me.
The most challenging is getting people to take training serious. I’ve been working part time at the training academy for 15 years. I also teach for Loudoun County Public Schools, so training is very near and dear to my heart.
What keeps you motivated?
What got me started in training was my son joined the system, and I wanted to make sure he was trained properly and came home at night.
Tell us about your family?
My wife was in the system, my son was, my daughter was for a short period of time, so for us it’s kind of a family event. The people that we run with, they become family, so it just grows your family.
IT Corner
This month, I’d like to offer some steps to keep your device clean and up to date.
Are you RESTARTING your computer at least once a week? To ensure internal cache memory and processes reset, it is important to restart your computer once a week, at a minimum. Personally, I restart three to four times. Shutting down the computer and powering the unit back up does not have the same benefits as a restart. Although, it is a smart idea to shut the computers down and give them a rest, the clearing of processes and resetting cache memory do not occur with a shut down.
Close unused applications and browser windows. Every application and browser window open on your PC is draining resources, whether you’re using them or not. Remember to save your work and shut down applications and close windows that aren’t being used.
Does your desktop look like a junkyard? Are there more than 20 icons (shortcuts) sitting on your desktop screen? The more icons on the desktop, the more resources are being used and the longer it will take for your computer to boot up. It’s a smart idea to only have essential icons on the desktop.
Lastly, make a habit of emptying your Recycle Bin. Simply right-click the icon and select Empty Recycle Bin. You’ll be asked if you are sure, click yes. If you’re not sure what’s in the Recycle Bin, you can double click the icon and browse the contents. You can select items and click restore if something is there in error.
Remember, the IT Staff is here to assist in your IT issues and needs and are reachable at itsupport@vdfp.virginia.gov. The VITA help desk is also available to assist, you can call them at 866-637-8482 or email at vccc@vita.virginia.gov
Robert Steele
VDFP IT Manager | Deputy ISO
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