Home Update: Augusta County trying to work around mass volunteer fire, EMT resignation
Local News

Update: Augusta County trying to work around mass volunteer fire, EMT resignation

Chris Graham
riverheads fire ems
Photo: Facebook

Update: Tuesday, 5:52 p.m. Augusta County leaders met Tuesday to develop a plan for continuing fire and EMT coverage in the Riverheads area in the wake of a mass walkout of members of the Riverheads Volunteer Fire Department Monday night.

County Administrator Tim Fitzgerald wrote in an email to AFP later in the day on Tuesday that the department will continue to respond to fire and EMS calls in the Riverheads community with members that remain the department.

According to member Justin Brown, one of the 22 volunteers who resigned, citing issues with the new leadership of the fire department, the mass exodus leaves the department with just a few trained fire and EMT personnel.

Per Fitzgerald, the county’s paid fire and EMT staff will continue to cover calls from the Riverheads station.

“Augusta County will continue to work with the Riverheads Volunteer Fire Department and is committed to ensuring that all calls are covered to ensure the safety of our citizens,” Fitzgerald said.


Twenty-two members of the Riverheads Volunteer Fire Department resigned from the department Monday night, according to a report from one of the members, citing issues with the department’s president and board of directors.

The impact will be felt in the southern Augusta County coverage area for the department and along a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 81.

“You will immediately see a drop on response time and quality of people that show up to these calls,” said Justin Brown, a now-former volunteer with the department who is also a member of the Waynesboro Fire Department, in a post on Facebook last night.

Riverheads runs fire and EMT calls in a wide area including Greenville, Stuarts Draft, Raphine, Spottswood and Mint Spring, and responds to calls on Interstate 81 from the 205 mile marker to the 220 mile marker.

“Residents in the Greenville area can expect a long wait time for 911 calls, or if Riverheads fire does respond, it will be around four members in there 60+ with very little to no fire training,” Brown said in his Facebook post.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

Latest News

uva basketball andrew rohde shooting
Basketball, Sports

Live Coverage: UVA Basketball grits out 73-70 win at Virginia Tech

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in Florida
Sports News

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in Florida

The Daytona 500 will zoom into action on Sunday, February 16th, 2025 and it promises to be one the best races of the year. The NASCAR season will kick into high gear this week and the best Florida sportsbooks are giving away up to $5,625 in free bets for the race. Read on to learn...

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in South Carolina
Sports News

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in South Carolina

The 67th annual Daytona 500 is right around the corner and NASCAR fans in South Carolina can put the pedal to the metal by cashing in with some of the top online sportsbooks. With the season-opening race set to kick into high gear on Sunday, the best offshore betting sites are giving away up to...

5 Best Betting Apps for the 2025 Daytona 500
Sports News

5 Best Betting Apps for the 2025 Daytona 500

uva ryan dunn ncst
Basketball, Sports

UVA Basketball alum Ryan Dunn set for NBA All-Star Game Tournament on Sunday

South River Greenway
Local News

Waynesboro: Section of South River Greenway to close for 30 to 60 days for improvements

uva football o line
Football, Sports

UVA Football: Elliott adds talent, depth, experience to O line from the transfer portal