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Board endorses Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management strategic plan focused on staffing, resilience and PFAS reduction
Summary
Supervisors unanimously endorsed the department’s draft strategic plan, which sets 10 goals including workforce development, data systems, community risk reduction and exploring PFAS‑free firefighting foams and materials to improve personnel health.
The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors endorsed the Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management department’s updated strategic plan at its Nov. 12 meeting.
The department presented a draft that outlines mission and vision statements and ten high‑level goals: developing a prepared workforce, enhancing staffing, advancing emergency preparedness and recovery, improving data and process management, optimizing community‑driven service delivery, strengthening training and credentialing, expanding effective technology use, developing community risk‑reduction models, ensuring adequate facilities, and establishing employee‑centered health and wellness programs.
The chief said the plan was developed over multiple stakeholder meetings beginning in 2022, with internal and external input from staff, volunteers, businesses and limited public meetings in each of the county’s seven districts. The department also intends to pursue a PFAS‑free firefighting foam and evaluate materials without PFAS for turnout gear to reduce carcinogenic exposure, and to expand community risk‑reduction efforts aimed at lowering avoidable calls for service.
“I think Mike Tyson said everyone has a plan until they get punched in the legislature,” the chief quipped, acknowledging plans must adapt. Several supervisors praised the department’s progress, noted the ISO classification work that reduced homeowner insurance premiums for many residents, and said the plan will guide staffing and CIP requests. The motion to endorse the plan passed 7–0.
