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Fire and EMS report: agency logged 625 calls, seeks grants for boat, UTV and gear for reservoir rescues
Summary
County Fire and EMS leaders reported higher call volume, described water-rescue planning at a local reservoir and outlined multiple grant applications for ambulances, UTVs and protective gear.
Cumberland County’s fire and emergency medical services told the Board of Supervisors on April 8 that call volume has increased and that responders are pursuing grants and equipment to improve water-rescue capability at the county’s reservoir.
The Fire & EMS presenter reported that volunteer fire departments and the rescue squad responded to 625 calls across January–March, a rise he attributed partly to an extended severe-weather response. The presenter said rescue and fire leaders are seeking multiple grants for equipment, including a Rescue Squad Assistance Fund application for a replacement ambulance and a Firehouse Subs Foundation request for an all‑terrain UTV with combined firefighting and EMS capabilities.
The presenter also described efforts to improve search-and-rescue and access at the county’s concrete reservoir (referred to in the meeting as the “Cop/Co/Concrete Reservoir”). He said the reservoir’s capacity is 14,800,000,000 gallons and that it was “about 3 quarters full of water” during the site visit. The department has added Knox Box security cabinets at two reservoir access points to give emergency crews keyed access without damaging gates, and is pursuing water‑rescue gear, throw ropes and other equipment through grants and donations.
County responders said they currently rely on mutual-aid partners for full water-rescue capability. The presenter said Goochland County has agreed to bring a rescue boat if needed and that Henrico Fire leadership recommended using the Virginia Emergency Operations Center for state-level support. The presenter said those arrangements can delay response times and emphasized grant applications — including to the National Volunteer Fire Council and Virginia State Firefighters Association — to build local capability.
Other items in the report included plans to program 25 new volunteer pagers, updates on a state police radio rollout, and volunteer recruitment and training events. The presenter highlighted a recent joint American Red Cross and volunteer effort that knocked on doors in the Randolph district, installed 24 smoke alarms and made more than 130 face‑to‑face contacts.
Board members asked about outreach to station personnel regarding the new state radio system and accepted an offer to present the system vendor’s PowerPoint to individual stations to ensure volunteers have accurate technical information.
