Stafford Professional Fire Fighters Local 4012

08/17/2026

Today at approximately 1225 hours, Stafford 2nd Battalion units responded to the 00 block of Castle Ct in the 10-04 Box Area for a reported structure fire.

Crews arrived to find a single-story mobile home with smoke showing. Firefighters quickly deployed attack lines, located and extinguished the fire, while searches of the residence were completed simultaneously.

The fire was brought under control quickly, limiting further damage to the rest of the home.

08/14/2026

Today at approximately 0857 hours, Stafford 1st Battalion units were dispatched to Box Area 12-19 in the 200 block of Noble Court for a reported townhouse fire.

Battalion Chief 1501 and Engine 1512 arrived to find smoke showing from the attic of a middle-of-the-row townhouse.

Engine 1512 completed a 360 and identified fire on the Charlie side of the structure. The crew stretched the initial attack line to the rear and quickly extinguished the exterior fire and then made a push to the 2nd floor.

Simultaneously, Engine 1501 stretched a second line into the residence and advanced to the attic, where firefighters located and extinguished fire that had extended into the attic space. Truck companies completed searches in the main fire unit and both exposures as well as vertical ventilation.

With attached townhomes on both sides, rapid fire attack and early recognition of the attic extension were critical. Crews worked quickly to contain the fire to the involved residence and prevent further extension throughout the row of townhomes.

Strong work by all personnel operating on Box 12-19.

08/13/2026

As of July 1, Virginia officially recognizes the need for a 42-hour workweek for career firefighters. Your Stafford Firefighters are currently working 56 hours a week.

HB 1333 directs the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to encourage employers to implement schedules that do not require paid firefighters to work more than an average of 42 hours per week.

This is not a mandate, but moving toward a 42-hour workweek can provide meaningful benefits, including improved sleep and recovery, better physical and mental health, stronger recruitment and retention, more time with family, and greater career longevity.

Stafford County firefighters currently work 56 hours per week.

08/11/2026

CAREER STAFFING RETURNS TO COMPANY 5

Following our recent posts and continued efforts regarding the lack of staffing at Company 5 – Brooke, we are pleased to report that career members are now back in quarters at Company 5.

Career personnel are currently cross-staffing Medic 1505 and Tanker 1505, restoring a career presence in Brooke’s first-due area and helping reduce the response delays our community recently experienced.

We appreciate everyone who shared our concerns, spoke up, and helped bring attention to this issue. This is a positive step forward for both our members and the citizens of Stafford County.

We will continue advocating for the staffing, resources, and working conditions necessary to provide our community with the level of service it deserves.

Stafford County Professional Fire Fighters – IAFF Local 4012

08/11/2026

This morning, while responding to a motor vehicle crash, one of our EMS Supervisors became involved in a secondary collision while attempting to access the incident scene.

The EMS Supervisor was stopped in the opposing lanes, waiting for a vehicle to yield so he could safely access the scene. Instead, the approaching driver had their attention focused toward the original crash scene, continued forward and struck the EMS Supervisor’s vehicle head-on resulting in airbag deployment.

Thankfully, this serves as a reminder rather than a tragedy.

When approaching an emergency scene, slow down, stay alert, and keep your eyes on the road. Emergency lights, damaged vehicles, and active scenes naturally draw attention, but taking your eyes off the roadway for even a few seconds can create another emergency.

Our Firefighters, EMT’s, Law Enforcement Officers, and roadway workers already face enough hazards while operating along our roadways.

08/08/2026

THE COMMUNITY NEEDED COMPANY 5, BUT NO ONE WAS THERE.

Early this morning, at approximately 0145 hours, Stafford County 2nd Battalion units were dispatched to Box 05-54 in the 100 block of Indian Point Road for a reported structure fire in Company 5’s first-due area.

When the call was dispatched, the career-staffed Tanker 1505 and Medic 1505 were not at Company 5. They remain relocated to Company 2 due to the ongoing untenable living conditions at the Brooke Volunteer Fire Department.

Engine 1502 responded from Company 2 and was the first suppression unit to arrive on scene. Tanker 1505 was also forced to respond from Company 2 — approximately 10 minutes farther away than its assigned station.

Had Tanker 1505 been in quarters at Company 5, it could have arrived at the fire in approximately 11 minutes, bringing 2,000 gallons of water to the scene significantly sooner.

By the time Engine 1502 arrived, heavy fire had already extended throughout the home, and conditions required defensive operations. Instead of firefighters being able to immediately enter the structure to search for occupants and attack the fire from the interior, crews were forced to fight the fire from the exterior.

The structure was ultimately a total loss.

Brooke needed its fire protection today. That protection was staffed, but was 10 minutes farther away at Company 2.

This is exactly why the ongoing conditions at Company 5 cannot continue. When seconds count, it also matters where firefighters and apparatus are stationed.

The residents of Brooke deserve better. Our firefighters deserve better.

07/31/2026

At approximately 2:31 p.m., Stafford County Fire and Rescue 2nd Battalion crews were dispatched to the 300 block of Montpelier Drive for a reported structure fire.

First-arriving units encountered a two-story single-family home with heavy fire showing from an attached garage that had extended into the family room and kitchen.

Engine 14 quickly deployed the initial attack line into the garage, knocking down the bulk of the fire before advancing into the family room to stop further extension into the residence. Engine 8 followed with a second attack line through the front door, advancing across the smoke-filled first floor limiting exposure to the 2nd floor, while Tower 4 conducted a primary search of the home.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of responding crews, the fire was contained before it could spread further throughout the residence.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

07/23/2026

It’s encouraging to see another jurisdiction who understands the importance of protecting their service members with the addition of a 4th shift. Stafford County Fire Department members and citizens deserve healthy and rested first responders in their time of need. I hope we don’t continue to see a members leaving to join other jurisdictions offering this schedule. It’s time the stafford county board of supervisors starts taking the mental health of their first responders seriously.

Maya Guy for Aquia

Supervisor Crystal Vanuch- Rock Hill

Deuntay Diggs - Stafford County Supervisor George Washington District

Tinesha Allen Stafford County Supervisor for the Griffis-Widewater District

Pamela Yeung for Garrisonville

Darrell English, Hartwood Supervisor

Kecia Evans for Supervisor

Norfolk is moving forward with plans to hire a fourth shift of firefighters to reduce burnout — and a neighboring city is taking notice.

The city of Norfolk committed $1.8 million to create 34 new firefighter positions, aiming to reduce weekly working hours from 52 or more down to 42. The effort comes after concerns about the physical and mental toll of long shifts on firefighters.

"The number one cause of firefighter death is heart disease. So that comes directly from being burnt out," Norfolk firefighter union president Mark Old told News 3 earlier this month.

07/17/2026

Announcement to the Citizens of the Aquia Election District Maya Guy for Aquia

Three separate times this year, Brooke Company #5 has been declared untenable.

The volunteer leadership has refused to sign a lease agreement with Stafford County. As a result, members of IAFF Local 4012 have had to deal with septic system failures, well water issues, electrical problems, and now roof leaks and water damage that have led to unplanned renovations. A lease agreement would allow Stafford County to use county funds to address these issues.

The result? The personnel who normally staff this station are being forced to operate out of Station 2, leading to significantly delayed response times for residents in the Brooke area.

Situations like this send a message that the health, wellness, and safe living conditions of our members are not a priority. Neither is ensuring the level of service our community deserves.

It’s time to stop playing games and start solving these problems.

Brooke residents deserve better—and so do the responders who serve them!

07/06/2026

Congratulation’s to our newly promoted Master Technicians!