Buckingham County Department of Emergency Services

07/20/2024

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Due to the current weather conditions and the predicted forecast, we are moving the tractor pull to our rain date, tomorrow Sunday July 21st. The gates will open at 12 noon and the pulling will start at 2pm. Please share this to get the word out and we hope to see everyone tomorrow!

07/17/2024

A strong line of storms has moved through the area causing downed trees and power lines across the county. Travel with caution and be aware that numerous fire department and VDOT resources are currently out clearing the road.

07/16/2024

Our area is under a heat advisory today from 12-8 PM. Heat index values of 105 degrees are possible with a small chance for isolated strong storms.

-Limit your exposure to the heat and take frequent breaks if you have to be outside.
-Do not leave pets or children in a vehicle for any amount of time.
-Ensure you have had enough water and continue to hydrate throughout the day, particularly if you are working outside.

The Buckingham branch of the Central Virginia Regional Library is open from 9 AM until 7 PM with plenty of internet access, good books to read and air conditioning!

07/14/2024

Don’t forget we are collecting school supplies to give away next month! Drop offs located at Station 1 and Station 2

BCDES is looking for school supply donations! Starting tomorrow, July 5th, there will be a clear tote outside of Station 1 (side door next to the parking lot) and Station 2 (front door.) We are looking for new, unopened supplies that we will be giving out during an event at the beginning of August. We will post more details about the event when we have everything in place! These totes will remain in place until August 1st. We look forward to making this a successful event!

Any questions may be directed to Ashlee Finch at [email protected].

07/05/2024

BCDES is looking for school supply donations! Starting tomorrow, July 5th, there will be a clear tote outside of Station 1 (side door next to the parking lot) and Station 2 (front door.) We are looking for new, unopened supplies that we will be giving out during an event at the beginning of August. We will post more details about the event when we have everything in place! These totes will remain in place until August 1st. We look forward to making this a successful event!

Any questions may be directed to Ashlee Finch at [email protected].

07/04/2024

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday! 🇺🇸

07/04/2024

**The road has reopened**

This includes route 20 at the James River bridge. If you're traveling to Charlottesville this morning you will have to seek alternate routes.

07/03/2024

July 4th holiday update: We're expecting high temperatures and humidity, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. If you're celebrating, remember to use sunscreen, stay hydrated, and be mindful of heat's impact on your health.

Additionally, our area is extremely dry, heightening fire risk. Please exercise extreme caution with any outdoor fires, including fireworks, to avoid potential tragedies for you and your neighbors.

06/26/2024

06/22/2024

Don’t forget that today is the 25th anniversary celebration for James River State Park! Come hang out with us and enjoy events, food, and prizes!

Remember to stay hydrated by drinking water and stay cool this weekend!

06/20/2024

Here are some more tips to stay safe this weekend as we deal with the first high-temperature event of the year. If you need a place to go, the Central Virginia Regional Library has plenty of AC, books, and internet access to keep you cool and entertained all weekend long! You can check out their hours and locations @ https://cvrl.net

06/17/2024

Temperatures toward the end of this week will exceed 90 degrees, reaching the high 90s over the weekend. It's crucial to prioritize heat safety: educate yourself, make smart choices when outdoors, and remember to check on those who might be more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

Stay safe and cool!

06/16/2024

**Update: The roadway is back open**

‼️‼️ Be advised that Rte 60 at Scott’s Bottom will be shut down for an extended amount of time due to a two vehicle accident. Please avoid this area. There will be numerous emergency vehicles in the area so please drive with extreme caution. ‼️‼️

06/14/2024

06/06/2024

Chief’s Appreciation Recognition

Today at the BCDES June Huddle, staff member M. Sutherland received the Chief’s Appreciation Recognition. Sutherland’s tenure with the agency may not be very long, but her impact has been large. Sutherland is recognized for the following:

-persistent strong clinical care of patients
- constant display of empathy and respect to all who call upon and interact with the agency
- vital role in the start-up of the partnership with Arvonia VFD for Station 3
- regularly responding, while off-duty, to calls when BCDES on-duty resources become overextended

I always appreciate being able to employ Buckingham natives and locals. Not only do these staff members have an intimate knowledge of the County that cannot be replicated through training, but their being readily available to respond even when off-duty is of great benefit. Sutherland has quickly become a perfect fit in BCDES. We are excited to assist as her career in EMS blossoms.

Thank you for all that you do,
Cody

06/04/2024

We hope to see you on June 22nd as we help to celebrate James River State Park and their 25th anniversary!

05/29/2024

Between calls yesterday, A Shift did a little hands on training with some of Virginia State Police’s Division III troopers. It’s quite often that we are working together on a scene, and the troopers we work with are always quick to lend a hand when needed. We are thankful that we got the opportunity to go over the truck, and stretcher operations, to make things more seamless when the two departments are working together.

05/29/2024

At approximately 11:45 today, BCDES, Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department, and Toga Volunteer Fire Dept., Inc were dispatched to a two vehicle accident with one vehicle overturned, possible entrapment, and injuries near the intersection of Rt 15 and Saw Mill Rd. Due to the nature of the call, Farmville Fire Department and Prince Edward Rescue were also requested. Upon arrival of emergency personnel, it was determined that there were no surviving occupants in either vehicle. Route 15 was shut down for an extended amount of time in order for VSP to conduct their investigation. All hazards were mitigated and the road was reopened at approximately 1500. We’d like to send our gratitude to Dillwyn Fire, Toga Fire, Farmville Fire, PEVRS, Virginia State Police, and Buckingham County Virginia Sheriff's Office for their response and assistance.

We also send our deepest condolences to the family, and friends, of those involved in the accident.

05/28/2024

****The road is now reported to be open. Please continue to travel with caution****

Be advised that RT 15 in the area of Saw Mill Rd will be closed for an extended amount of time due to a motor vehicle accident. Emergency personnel and vehicles will be in the area. There will be a detour in place that will take you around the scene. PLEASE USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH THE AREA.

05/27/2024

While we hope that everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day, we also ask that you take a moment to reflect on the meaning of this holiday and to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

05/24/2024

This week marks the 50th anniversary of EMS Week. The theme being “Honoring Our Past, Forging Our Future”. A reminder to us all the proud history of the EMS profession and to those who came before us, especially those who challenged one another and raised the bar for all of us. At the same time, we look forward, building on their efforts and committing ourselves to forge a future for the next generation of EMS professionals to serve their communities.

We would like to take the time to honor those members of Buckingham County Volunteer Rescue Squad who forged a strong foundation for our future at Buckingham County Department of Emergency Services. To continue moving forward, BCDES has created core values together as an agency to represent who we are and what we want to accomplish. Now and in the future.

The values we decided on that mean the most to us as an agency are: Respect, Excellence, Professionalism, Accountability, and Connection.

We hope that with establishing our core values as an agency, and sharing them with you, that we can continue to better ourselves for the citizens of Buckingham County and to be better coworkers, peers, and friends. We hope to continue striving to be the best versions of ourselves for years to come.

05/18/2024

Yesterday evening BCDES was dispatched for a patient who had a tree fall on both legs in the woods. Upon hearing the initial dispatch, Utility 1 and UTV 1 were added to the call for possible access issues. Medic 2-4 arrived on scene and initiated pt care. Utility 1 and SERV 1 arrived on scene moments later and deployed UTV 1. One pt was stabilized in the woods and then extracted with UTV 1. The pt was then transported to UVA with critical, but non-life threatening, injuries. We’d also like to thank BCSO Deputy Travis and Deputy Warner for all of their assistance as well.

05/17/2024

At the May Huddle, part-time staff member Sarah Fury received the Chief’s Appreciation Recognition.

Fury received this recognition for a number of reasons, including but not limited to:

- Exceptional patient interactions and care throughout tenure
- As a part-time staff member, she contributes regularly and consistently to fulfilling staffing needs of the agency
- Willingness and ability to first-respond within James River State Park on behalf of BCDES
- Recently completing an impressive spring landscaping job at Station 1, under her own initiative
- Fury secured all plants and mulch for this project at no cost to BCDES by working out donations from Saunders Brothers Inc. for the plants and Yardworks for the mulch
- Consistent team-minded demeanor making her a joy to work with and have on the team

Sarah, thank you for all that you continue to do for our County. My fingers are crossed for that full-time application!

Cody

05/14/2024

Join us in congratulating J. Barr, part-time AEMT, and his wife Gabby on the delivery on a healthy baby girl!

Mallory Christine Barr
5/12/24 @ 12:39 am
7lbs 10oz
19in

Mom and baby are both doing well! Congratulations to the Barr family! 🩷🎉

05/14/2024

We would like to send a HUGE thank you to Buckingham dispatch for giving us not one, but three snack baskets for EMS week! One of them is on vacation next week and wanted to give us the gift personally. We couldn’t do what we do without them!

Pictured left to right: Dispatcher Smith, Lt. Gormus, A. Finch, Emergency Manager Kirby, and Dispatcher Morgan

05/04/2024

Happy International Firefighters Day to our public safety partners from Dillwyn, Toga, Arvonia and Glenmore Volunteer Fire Departments! We appreciate the sacrifices you make to keep our community safe.

A special thanks also goes out to the many members of our staff who serve as volunteer and career firefighters both here in Buckingham and throughout the Central Virginia region.

04/27/2024

Introducing the newest addition to our fleet, Utility 1. In 2021, our new Unit 2 was involved in an accident where it was t-boned on Rte 20. Unfortunately the damage to the box made it unusable. Despite reaching out to several manufacturers, no one would replace just the box due to liability issues. In order to prevent a perfectly good chassis going to waste, Chief Davis and Fleet Manager Lt. Gormus put their heads together to come up with a solution to several problems, and thus the idea of Utility 1 was born. After a year of planning and gathering quotes, Amos Smucker, owner of Farmville Repair LLC, was up to the job. The flat bed was custom built, and installed by him. He also fabricated the front frame to attach the winch housing. After that was done, Lt Gormus, Emergency Manager Kirby, and part time employee J. Fury took care of the wiring for the lights, sirens, and radios.

Utility 1’s main purposes are to pull the HazMat trailer, the Special Operations Trailer & UTV 1, and to assist apparatus if they were to get stuck on a call due to rain and mud.

We’d like to thank everyone involved in this process and look forward to getting good use out of Utility 1 for years to come!

04/23/2024

B Shift took advantage of the beautiful weather to get some training in on winch operations. Both Utility 1 and UTV 1 winches were utilized to simulate pulling out apparatus if it were to get stuck.

04/23/2024

Recently, BCDES had the privilege of hosting Bryan Saunders, Chief of Special Operations with Virginia Department of Emergency Management at our Huddle.

Chief Saunders spoke to staff regarding their roles as leaders within public safety. He then led the staff in hands-on training regarding initial Search and Rescue (SAR) tactics and patient litter packaging and handling in remote egress operations.

The training and interaction with state partners is invaluable and we are appreciative that VDEM could assist BCDES.

01/09/2024

In addition to a Tornado watch our area is also under an area flood warning until 700 AM tomorrow. Continued rain will cause ponding of water on roads and flooding of creeks, streams and low lying areas.

A strong line of thunderstorms will also impact our area over the next 1 to 2 hours with 60 MPH wind gusts possible. Take precautions now and stay tuned to local media, government officials and the national weather service as we continue to monitor this storm system.

A Tornado Watch has been issued by the NWS until 9pm tonight for Buckingham, Appomattox, Prince Edward and Cumberland Counties.