Rockingham County Department of Fire & Rescue

08/28/2026

Feel Good Friday!
It has been an exciting month for RCFR with the addition of these two gentlemen to our administrative staff!
Lt Lee Kite has been promoted to EMS Captain responsible for field performance and provider development. Captain Kite started with our Department in 2008 and was most recently stationed at the Port Republic Road Emergency Response Station as a paramedic and station officer. He will be reviewing ALS and BLS EMS incidents, promoting consistency in patient care outcomes, conducting provider evaluations and giving constructive feedback.
FF Ryan Pettit has been promoted to Fire & Life Safety Technician and is responsible for providing public education programs. Tech Pettit joined the Department in 2022 and has been assisting with programs at the elementary, middle and high school levels for the past several years. His new responsibilities will include home safety visits, senior programs and emergency training for the public.
Each of these gentlemen has a passion for their new roles, a commitment to this Department, and a deep dedication to providing the best possible customer service to the residents of Rockingham County. We are excited for the future of these new leaders at RCFR!

08/27/2026

08/25/2026

Our current recruits spent the day performing Firefighter CPR evolutions. While most training is centered on helping the citizens we serve, your firefighters also have to prepare for taking care of their crew members in the event of a medical emergency. While we hope this type of incident never happens, mastering skills such as this, in the training environment, ensures our firefighters are confident and competent in the event this scenario would occur.

08/24/2026

It is not just the kids that went back to school last week! FF Ryan Pettit spoke with a group of over 60 seniors at the the Parks & Rec facility on 33 East last Thursday. We have been invited to participate in their Senior Wellness Days since they opened and the most recent presentation discussed the hazards associated with lithium ion batteries and how to safely use fire extinguishers. Many of the attendees took the opportunity to practice with the digital trainer! Senior Wellness Days are held on the third Thursday of every month starting at 10 am, each event starts with an hour of bingo, followed by a short program and a light lunch.

08/21/2026

Engine 910’s crew visited Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA today to meet another four-legged friend and remind you that Fostering Saves Lives!

08/21/2026

By following these rules and guidelines, you can ensure a safer and more harmonious experience on the road for both cyclists and motorists. Stay vigilant, obey the laws, and ride safely!

Changing Lanes and Signaling
Hand Signals: Use hand signals to indicate stops and turns. A right turn may be signaled with either the right arm or the left arm.
Left Turns: Cyclists can make left turns as motorists do or as pedestrians by crossing the intersection straight, turning left at the corner, and proceeding.
References: §§ 46.2-846, 46.2-847, 46.2-848, 46.2-849

Passing
For Cyclists: You may overtake and pass vehicles when safe. You can pass on the right or left and may ride off the road if necessary. Avoid passing on the right side of a vehicle that might turn right.
For Motorists: Drivers must pass cyclists at a reasonable speed and leave at least three feet of space. If the lane is not wide enough, motorists must change lanes to pass safely. Motorists should not cross a solid line into a bicycle lane to pass.
References: §§ 46.2-839, 46.2-907, 46.2-841

08/20/2026

HELP US HELP YOU! We are looking for residents who have a structure on their property that they no longer use and would like to remove but do not know how. This is your opportunity to help your community! Our training division is looking for training sites for employees and volunteers. There are some safety guidelines that must be met, but if you are interested in seeing if your property qualifies please fill out the survey below.

https://www.rockinghamcountyva.gov/FormCenter/Fire-and-Rescue-Training-SignUp-10/Property-Donation-Program-226

08/20/2026

The students in Rockingham County will be heading back to school TODAY!
Please be extra vigilant as you travel the roads the next several days - kids can be excited and distracted near the roadway as they wait for the bus or walk to school. We want everyone to get to their destinations safely!

08/19/2026

SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES!!!!
This week crews responded to a structure fire involving a mobile home. On arrival, this smoke alarm was still active despite its molten appearance. Thankfully, the occupant who was sleeping behind the closed bedroom door had a working alarm that alerted him to the fire and he was able to escape out the bedroom window uninjured. Please let this be a reminder that checking your smoke alarms monthly and changing the batteries once a year are critical to proper maintenance of this life-saving device. If you, or anyone you know, do not have working smoke alarms please contact out office at 540-564-3175 and we will gladly come install them to keep you and your family safe!