Goochland fire chief requests 12 new career firefighters as county readies for rapid growth

Goochland County Fire Rescue Chief Eddie Ferguson asked the Board of Supervisors on March 4 to fund 12 new full‑time firefighter/EMT positions and to permit staff to apply for federal SAFER grant funding to add another 12. Ferguson said 2024 was the busiest year on record for the department, with 4,867 incidents, a 56% rise in ambulance transports since 2020 and increasing delays tied to hospital turnaround times.

The chief told the board that the county’s population and commercial growth are driving demand: new skilled‑nursing beds, multi‑family housing, Avery Point’s campus build‑out and an anticipated Amazon fulfillment center will all raise call volumes. “When you look at it from that standpoint, you know, if you try to put [a lithium battery fire] out, then the water running off…the environmental impact could be worse,” Ferguson said in describing new industrial hazards and the need for trained staffing and equipment.

Why it matters: Ferguson framed the ask as risk management and continuity of service. He said some stations have frequently staffed as few as two…