Henry Volunteer Fire Department

06/01/2026

Congratulations are in order for Life Member Troy Traylor as he starts his retirement today from Hanover County Fire-EMS Department.

Life membership status is someone who has put in 10 or more years of service in as a volunteer. Troy, from all of us at Henry Company six we wish you the best in retirement and hope the best on your future endeavors! 

Hanover Fire-EMS recognizes Firefighter David “Troy” Traylor as he retires on June 1, 2026, after more than 40 years of service to Hanover County.

Troy began his fire service in October 1984 as a volunteer at Station 6, where he is a Life Member, and was hired by Hanover Fire-EMS in June 1999. Over his career, he worked at Stations 4, 6, 3, 10, 11, 2, and in Logistics.

He also managed the hose and nozzle shop, small engine repair shop, and various other specialty shops at different points in his career, helping keep equipment and gear ready for use.

Please join us in thanking FF David “Troy” Traylor for his years of service and wishing him well in retirement.

06/01/2026

Congratulations Chief! We wish you a long and happy retirement!

Today, June 1, 2026, Hanover Fire-EMS proudly honors Assistant Chief Wade Sanders on his first day of retirement after an outstanding 31-year career in public safety, including 27 years of dedicated service to Hanover County.

Chief Sanders began his career serving four years as a medic in the United States Army before joining Hanover Fire-EMS in 1999. Throughout his career, he served in Operations at Henry Station 6 and Eastern Hanover Station 3 before being promoted to Lieutenant at Doswell Station 4. He was promoted to Battalion Chief, serving at Ashland Station 1 and Mechanicsville Station 7, as well as Battalion Chief of Training & Safety. In 2023, he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Operations.

During his career, Chief Sanders played a vital role with the Central Virginia All-Hazards Incident Management Team, supporting large-scale incidents across the United States. His deployments included major special events, missing persons searches, disaster response operations, wildland fire support in Virginia and the western United States, and COVID-19 operations. He also earned credentials as a Type I Medical Unit Leader through the National Wildfire Coordination Group. In addition to his operational leadership, Chief Sanders served as a member of the Central Virginia Operations Chiefs Committee and the Central Virginia Training and Safety Committees.

Reflecting on his career, Chief Sanders shared that his greatest memories are the relationships built throughout Hanover County and the Central Virginia region. He expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Hanover County, the Board of Supervisors, County Administrators Harris and Budesky, and Fire Chiefs Harman, Crosby, Piland, and Anderson.

“I’ve had the extreme honor to serve with the best men and women in public safety on good days and bad days, and look forward to them continuing to do awesome things every day. The citizens and guests of Hanover County are in great hands.”

In retirement, Chief Sanders plans to continue giving back to the community in Virginia’s Northern Neck — a place he often refers to as “God’s Country Dude” — while spending more time with his wife, Danielle, and daughters, Abigail and Cassidy, whose love and unwavering support carried him through the many demands of a career in public safety.

06/01/2026

We wish you well in retirement Chris! Thank you for all those years of dedicated service!

Hanover Fire-EMS recognizes Firefighter Chris Hollins as he retires on June 1, 2026, after more than 46 years of service to Hanover County.

Chris began his fire service in 1980 with Company 3 Eastern Hanover Volunteer Fire Department, where he held many offices, including serving as Chief, and contributed to numerous committees, such as training and apparatus. He was hired by Hanover Fire-EMS on May 1, 2011, and served at Stations 6, 3, and 12, as well as a member of the Technical Rescue Team and Water Rescue Team.

Over more than four decades, he has met and worked with many people he is proud to call friends and family, both in the volunteer and career ranks. As Chris retires from Hanover Fire-EMS, he returns to the family business full-time.

Please join us in thanking FF Chris Hollins for his many years of service to Hanover County and wishing him well in this next chapter.

05/30/2026

Congratulations are in store for two of our members as they have completed a milestone in their life on high school graduation! We wish y’all both the best and look forward to your success with the department and where life takes you!

05/26/2026

Career and Volunteer staff assigned to Station 6 taking advantage of a break in the rain, training on DPO and hose line advancement and control. Just because it’s a fire department “Monday” doesn’t mean training isn’t important!

05/25/2026

05/09/2026

‼️DPO Release Hot off the Press‼️

Not only are we extremely proud of our members continuing to train and take classes, we are also extremely excited to see our career staff continuing their education and progressing forward in their careers.

Congratulations are in store for C platoons newest Driver Pump Operator Bri Shaw! Bri, thank you for showing up ready to work everyday while being positive doing so. Congrats!

05/08/2026

Congratulations are in order to Probate Rigsby! Tyler has obtained FF1, FF2, Hazmat and EVOC since September of 2025 and has graduated this evening from the joint academy with our neighboring partners in Goochland. Thank you to Hanover County Fire-EMS Department for providing solid instructors to train the next generation! Tyler, we are proud of your dedication and commitment as shown this evening for receiving the class leadership award. Remember to keep pushing, keep training and never stop learning!

The Henry company has produced some solid fireman and will continue to hold to that standard!
Congratulations Probate Rigsby!

05/04/2026

Co. 6 Rocking the block! A little station pride project completed this afternoon thanks the to the help of president Tucker and his equipment. The department wants to extend a huge thank you to Lt Fessler and his crew for the help today along with member Phil Taylor.

Station 6 is a home away from home for staff, and little projects like these around the station help it make it feel more like a home!

05/02/2026

‼️RURAL WATER OPS‼️

Recently crews have been taking advantage of good weather and getting outdoors working on drafting evolutions. Drafting is a vital skill in this profession that every operator should be able to understand how to complete several ways to be released as a Driver Operator.

The Henry district sits off of 301 northbound. When the alarm sounds for any kind of fire where large water is needed or drafting operations are required then the tanker will roll with. This valuable asset supply’s 3,000 gallons of portable water. 301 northbound past the high school is all rural water ops, so training repetitions are crucial to our success.

Thank you to the crews for continuing to further their education and skills while training the next generation of Driver Operators!