Clarke County Fire Rescue

06/11/2026

☀️Beat the Heat This Summer!☀️

The Clarke County Department of Fire, EMS, and Emergency Management reminds everyone to take steps to avoid heat-related illness. Extreme summer heat can make you very sick, but a few simple precautions can help keep you safe.

💧Help Your Body Stay Cool:
• Drink plenty of water—don't wait until you're thirsty.
• Stay indoors when possible and take advantage of air conditioning or cooling centers during extreme heat.
• Schedule outdoor activities for the coolest parts of the day and take frequent breaks in the shade.
• Wear sunscreen (SPF 15+), lightweight clothing, sunglasses, and a hat.
• Never leave children or pets in vehicles. Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise nearly 20 degrees in the first 10 minutes, even with windows cracked.
• Check on neighbors, older adults, children, and pets.

🌡️Know the Heat Alerts:
• Heat Advisory – Dangerous heat is expected; limit outdoor activity and stay hydrated.
• Extreme Heat Watch – Dangerous heat is possible; prepare now and make cooling plans.
• Extreme Heat Warning – Dangerous heat is occurring or imminent; avoid strenuous activity and stay in a cool indoor location.

⚠️ Know the Signs of Heat-Related Illnesses:

⚠️ Heat Stroke (Medical Emergency)
• Signs: Confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, hot skin, excessive sweating, or a body temperature of 103°F or higher.
• First Aid: Call 911 immediately. Move the person to a cool area, remove excess clothing, and cool them with cold water, wet cloths, ice packs, or fans until help arrives.

⚠️ Heat Exhaustion
• Signs: Headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, thirst, heavy sweating, or elevated body temperature.
• First Aid: Move to a cool area, loosen clothing, provide cool water, apply cold compresses, and seek medical attention. Call 911 if symptoms worsen.

⚠️ Heat Syncope
• Signs: Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting after standing too long or suddenly standing up.
• First Aid: Sit or lie down in a cool place and slowly drink water, juice, or a sports drink.

⚠️ Heat Cramps
•Signs: Painful muscle cramps or spasms in the abdomen, arms, or legs.
• First Aid: Drink water or a sports drink, rest in a cool place, and seek medical attention if cramps last longer than an hour or if you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet.

Before heading outdoors, check the Virginia HeatRisk Forecast and local weather conditions. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay safe this summer! ☀️💧https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-public-health-tracking/climate-weather/heatrisk-forecast/

05/17/2026

May 17–23, 2026 is Emergency Medical Service week.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our EMS providers—both career and volunteer—for your unwavering dedication and service. Your commitment to providing excellent care to the residents, visitors, and businesses of Clarke County is truly appreciated.

Every day, your lifesaving skills, professionalism, and compassion are put to the test, and you continually rise to the challenge. Thank you for being there when it matters most.

05/04/2026

May 4th is International Firefighters Day!

Please join us in celebrating and honoring the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. We owe our gratitude to these every day heroes who work tirelessly to protect our homes and community.

Let's show our appreciation by thanking them for their service and recognizing their sacrifices.

04/16/2026

Due to current Red Flag Warnings, Clarke County residents are strongly encouraged not to burn today. Conditions are especially favorable for fires to spread quickly.

⚠️ As a reminder, the Virginia statewide 4:00 p.m. burn ban remains in effect through April 30.

Please help keep our community safe by postponing any outdoor burning and staying alert to fire conditions.

04/12/2026

Huge thank you to our county dispatchers and all others nationwide! You truly are the first first responders! 🎧🚒🚑

🖤💛🖤Today marks the start of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, a time to recognize the voices behind the scenes when help is needed most. 🎧

📞 Every day, telecommunicators/ dispatchers answer calls during life’s most critical moments, remaining calm, focused, and steady while guiding callers and supporting first responders.☎️

⭐️They are the unseen first responders, the first voice in an emergency, the first of the first responders. This week, we thank them for their dedication to serving our community and supporting our Sheriff’s Office, Police Department and Fire & Rescue.
A special thank you to the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center and our mutual aid partners for all that you do in contributing to keeping our citizens and communities safe🖤💛🖤

03/31/2026

You may notice a new name associated with our emergency alert system. CodeRED is now operating as “Crisis24.”

Important for users:
ℹ️There is no new app, but mobile app users may need to update or reinstall the app.
ℹ️Some users—whether they receive alerts by app, text, or email—may need to resubscribe to continue receiving alerts.

We encourage everyone to confirm or update your contact information to ensure you continue receiving important notifications from Clarke County.

Sign up or verify here: https://accountportal.onsolve.net/clarkecountyva