Virginia’s 4pm Burning Law in Effect until April 30
Read an overview of the local burning laws.
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Upcoming Events
Watch a recent departure of the Nightingale Air Ambulance that was called for a motor vehicle collision.
GVFRS routinely uses Nightingale and LifeEvac Air Ambulances for serious injuries or illnesses and utilizes landing zones throughout our district.
Recent News and Events
Yesterday, the GVFRS Fire Prevention Team hosted 46 home schooled children and 20+/- parents at Station 1 for a fire Read more
On Friday October 7th, Gloucester Volunteer Fire & Rescue Junior Members will be holding our Annual Blood Drive in memory Read more
Where were you on 9/11? It’s a rhetorical question. You don’t have to answer and we really don’t want you Read more
Need to get tested for COVID-19? Please review this information from the Virginia Department of Health. Read more
The architect has generated a set of concept drawings based on the design so far. The concept includes: 6 drive-through Read more
GVFRS would like to alert the public of an apparent fund drive that is being mailed to our local residents, Read more
Give Back to Your Community
Become a GVFRS Firefighter or Medic
GVFRS is always looking for new members. Training provided free of charge.
Station 1 Long Range Planning
GVFRS has outgrown our Main Street Station, Station 1, which can no longer properly support the needed equipment and personnel. GVFRS has been working for nearly two years to develop options to meet the needs of the department and the community for at least the next 50 years.
You can track our progress on our Long Range Planning pages.
Our Stations
Station 1 – Main Street
6595 Main Street
Gloucester, VA 23061
804-693-2148
Station 4 – Harcum
7070 Ark Road
Gloucester, VA 23061
804-693-0724
Station 6 – Sassafrass
7070 Ark Road
Gloucester, VA 23061
804-693-0724
IT PAYS TO BE PREPARED!!!![]()
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Here's a story with a good ending because the homeowner was prepared. Yesterday at dinnertime, GVFRS was dispatched to an oven fire "with flames showing". Fortunately, the homeowner had TWO fire extinguishers on hand, which was a good thing because the first one that she grabbed did not discharge! She grabbed the second, and discharged it into the oven putting the fire out! ![]()
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One of our Assistant Chiefs who lives nearby was first on scene and pulled the oven away from the wall. He advised Dispatch that the fire was already out and had Engine 14 continue in so that we could utilize its on-board fan to blow smoke out of the home. He found that it was an electric oven that had experienced a power surge or failure of some sort causing the broiler element to catch fire while the homeowner was broiling hamburgers.![]()
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The moral of this story is that everyone should have at least two ABC fire extinguishers on hand! ABC fire extinguishers can be safely used on most every type fire: 1) CLASS A comprised of wood/paper, etc., 2) CLASS B comprised of petroleum and alcohol based liquids, and CLASS C being electrical fires. ![]()
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When looking to purchase any fire extinguisher, look for those having metal handles that discharge the extinguisher's contents. While they are a little more costly, they can be refilled after being used. Those with plastic handles are single use and cannot be refilled. But, those with plastic handles are certainly better than nothing as the homeowner who used her's yesterday can attest. She saved her home from extensive damage that otherwise would have occurred!
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN: ![]()
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This afternoon our Fire Prevention Team visited Bethel Elementary School for their Kindergartners “Community Helpers Day” and what WE learned is very concerning! What started out as a talk about the various ways firefighters help the community quickly turned into a lesson on the importance of children knowing their home’s numerical address and street or road name. When discussing having to call 911 in the event a parent or guardian is injured or ill and cannot call for help themselves, we were astonished that the majority of the children were unable to give their house number, road or street name, or both! Without being able to provide that basic information, help may not arive in time! (Yes, we know the 911 system is supposed to automatically bring that up, but not everyone uses “land lines” nowadays!) When we discussed this with the teachers, we were told that teaching children the importance of knowing their home address “is no longer part of the curriculum”! SO, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and concerned friends, please take a moment to see if the small children in your life can recite their address and if they can’t, please work with them until they can!
Here's some important information from the NFPA that applies to lots of property owners in our Response Area! ![]()
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BE PROACTIVE, PREVENT AND PREPARE FOR WILDFIRES DURING WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH!![]()
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Living in a house surrounded by nature and woodlands can be peaceful and beautiful, but it can also be risky. Wildfires across the United States have cost more than one hundred lives and more than $40 billion in property losses since 2017. Many Virginians living in and around wildlands need to consider the fire-prone nature of these ecosystems. There are simple things one can do in an afternoon or over a weekend that are proven to help protect your property and help alleviate the spread of wildland fires. ![]()
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- CAN you see your home’s address number from the street? How about your neighbors’? If not, trim overgrown vegetation covering or blocking the numbers on your home in case firefighters need to find you. ![]()
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- LOCATE two alternate routes out of your neighborhood (besides the one normally used) and plan and practice a family evacuation drill using those alternate routes. ![]()
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- MEASURE how close wood piles are located to the home. If any are closer than 30 feet, move them farther away from structures. Screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire screening no larger than 1/8-inch mesh to help keep embers out during a wildfire.![]()
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- CHECK your possessions. Get tips from the Insurance Information Institute on how to document your belongings. ![]()
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- CHECK in on others! Help elderly relatives or neighbors enter emergency numbers into their cell phones. Using large type, post their phone number and street address above their landline phone so it can easily be seen when providing information to an emergency dispatcher. ![]()
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Despite all prevention efforts, wildfires will occur. However, there are actions you can take to prepare and protect your home, property and community. Living in a woodland community requires careful planning to protect homes and property from wildfires. Learn how to live safely in the wildland/urban interface area by becoming a Firewise Community by clicking on this link:
www.nfpa.org
NFPA's Firewise USA® program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. Join the growing network of recognize...
Yesterday nine of our members attended a Safe Driving event at Gloucester High School. Here, FF/EMTs are demonstrating how an injured person can be carried strapped to a backboard so that their airway is kept open in case they are vomiting, etc.
This morning 98 Botetourt Elementary Kindergartners came to Station 1 to learn about fire and life safety concepts appropriate for their age. Thereafter, they were shown fire apparatus and a medic unit and some of the equipment carried by them. Today’s most important message for the children AND adults is for everyone to sleep with their bedroom doors CLOSED! SMOKE from elsewhere in your house will kill you well before the fire ever reaches you! Sleeping with bedroom doors closed keeps the smoke “at bay” allowing occupants time to escape. Take a couple minutes to watch this video titled "Close Before You Doze" that clearly demonstrates the difference in survivability:![]()
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu5ICj3LwqE