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 personnel, and engines sometimes respond with only one or two crew members—conditions that limit how the department can fight structure fires or manage concurrent emergencies. The chief and his deputies cited NFPA guidance and the department’s ISO evaluation as reasons to build staffing and operational resilience now.

Details in the budget request: The department’s FY26 operating request shown to the board reflects an 11.7% increase driven partly by moving some capital items (station repairs, parking work) into the operating budget. Ferguson noted recent vehicle deliveries and higher apparatus costs and described a nearly doubling of Fire Rescue’s full‑time staffing over five years (from about 41 to 84). The proposed new positions would be career firefighter/EMTs; Ferguson asked the board to fund 12 now and allow application for the SAFER staffing grant to pursue another 12 positions the department would onboard through its training academy if awarded.

Department operations and performance: The chief said average fire engine dispatch‑to‑on‑scene times averaged roughly 11 minutes 19 seconds across the county and that ambulance transports increased, putting crews out of county and out of service for longer intervals. Mutual aid was given 154 times and received 47 times in 2024. Fire Rescue collected roughly $1 million in ambulance billing revenue in 2024, with proceeds entering the county’s general fund.

Other asks and upgrades: Ferguson also urged a market adjustment for advanced life‑support (ALS) stipends for paramedics and intermediates, saying the stipend has not been updated since 2021 and pay differentials risk losing clinically trained staff to neighboring jurisdictions. He described a regulatory change affecting controlled medication exchange (Drug Chain Security Act) that requires new secure storage investments and that will increase operating costs.

Board members pressed for details about SAFER grants and alternatives if federal awards do not materialize. Chief Ferguson confirmed the SAFER staffing grant, if available, typically funds salaries for three years but is competitive; the county would not be expected to immediately absorb the full long‑term cost if a grant is not awarded. Supervisors also asked about volunteer capacity: Ferguson said volunteer hours have declined and that a combination model—career staff plus volunteers cross‑trained for both fire and EMS—remains the department’s operating approach.

Looking forward: The chief warned that large commercial developments, in particular a proposed Amazon facility, could generate roughly 100 additional calls a year and would require a much larger initial response for a rare but catastrophic fire. He said comparable facilities statewide have first alarms that send 25–35 personnel. The department asked the board to fund 12 positions in FY26 so Fire Rescue can start the recruitment and training pipeline and improve on‑duty staffing levels now.

Ending: The Board did not act immediately to add positions during the meeting; supervisors asked staff for cost detail and flagged public‑safety priorities as they consider the FY26 budget. Ferguson thanked the board for past support and reiterated that the department will return with additional detail for the budget process.