Local departments invite agencies to drills, announce Norfolk Southern workshop and a shift to 24‑hour staffing

Several local operational updates were presented at the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Commission’s August meeting: an invitation to a Sept. 19 drill at the Radford ammunition plant, a planned railway‑safety workshop from Norfolk Southern in November, and a departmental shift to 24‑hour staffing at the Eliston station starting Aug. 31.

A Blacksburg representative said Radford’s main ammunition plant invited fire and EMS agencies to participate in a drill on Sept. 19 and asked agencies to indicate participation at least a week in advance to arrange clearances. The representative said the exercise is typically an active‑threat or anti‑terrorism drill held annually and offered to forward the invitation to departments that did not receive it.

A county official said Norfolk Southern will run a three‑day railway safety workshop in November for county first responders and that the company’s safety coordinator expects to bring a hands‑on first‑responder rail car for practical training, most likely staged at the Radford rail yard.

A department representative reported completion of hiring and orientation steps to move new staff onto 24‑hour shifts at the Eliston station, with administrative orientation this week and operational orientation next week, aiming for a start date of Aug. 31. The representative said the transition is intended to provide full‑time 24/7 coverage from that station.

Commissioners also heard brief acknowledgments of mutual aid assistance from Richburg Rescue and Blacksburg Rescue on recent calls. The meeting did not include votes on these items; staff asked interested agencies to contact the listed presenters for drill invitations and training registration.