News Flash

Posted on: May 15, 2023

Member Spotlight - May 2023

Ingram, Hamp (jpg)

I am a lifelong resident of Henry County, grew up in Collinsville, VA., and graduated from Fieldale-Collinsville High School. In 1989, I was a passenger in an automobile accident involving a pedestrian, and the pedestrian unfortunately passed away. I reme...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: December 30, 2022

Member Spotlight - December 2022

Steve Bowyer (pdf)

Steve Bowyer - Glade Hill Fire Co

Being blessed with 2 brother-in-law's Elton Cundiff, one of the founding members of Glade Hill Volunteer Fire Department and his brother Rodney Cundiff, longtime Chief of Glade Hill Fire Department I decided to jo...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: November 9, 2022

Member Spotlight - November 2022

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Tom Firebaugh - B Shift Operations Lieutenant

I am a Franklin County native and have lived here for most of my life. After graduating from FCHS and Virginia Tech, I worked in the business world for 20ish years before I said to myself “Geez, this ...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: October 13, 2022

Member Spotlight - October 2022

Ashlynn and Aaron Haigler

I joined RMFD in January of 2022 as a student member. I decided to further my knowledge in the fire service by taking the Fire Fighter 1 class which started in July. I have passed my HAZMAT course and will officially graduate in December of this year. I w...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: September 12, 2022

Member Spotlight - September 2022

Lieutenant Christopher Knight

Chris Knight - A Shift Operations Lieutenant

A native of Collinsville, VA. I have been involved in the Fire & EMS field for 16 years, with around 10 years as a career Firefighter/Paramedic. I am a graduate of Patrick Henry Community College with an As...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: July 5, 2022

Member Spotlight - July 2022

Cogar, J

Jen Cogar

Red Valley Rescue Squad ; Scruggs Fire/Rescue & Dive ; Burnt Chimney Fire

    Jen began her EMS journey in the Spring of 2021 after leaving the Sheriff’s Office as an Emergency Dispatcher. She joined Red Valley Rescue Squad, ...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: March 4, 2022

Member Spotlight - March 2022

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James Richards-Glade Hill Volunteer Fire Department

James has been a member of Glade Hill Volunteer Fire Department since 1996; he is currently a captain with Company 4.  James has been employed by Roanoke fire & EMS for 10 years and is curren...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: February 3, 2022

Member Spotlight - February 2022

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Jeff Echternach – Station 15

Jeff Echternach is a paramedic, fire instructor, and holds a variety of fire certifications.  He has a master’s degree in business and holds several data and IT related certifications. He grew up on...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: January 4, 2022

Member Spotlight - January 2022

Robin Davis

Robin Davis - Glade Hill Rescue Squad

Last January, Robin had a very minor stroke, it made her realize how fortunate she was, but also that she needed to get out and start doing more.  She saw the information about an EMT class starting in May and...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: December 8, 2021

Member Spotlight - December 2021

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William Hoyt is currently the Assistant Chief at Scruggs Volunteer Fire & Rescue.  He says, “When I am not at the fire house, I work full-time as a Police Officer / Firefighter at the Roanoke Regional Airport.  I first join...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: December 8, 2021

Member Spotlight - November 2021

Rose Walker (jpg)

My name is Rose Walker.  I have lived in Franklin County for 36 years.  I currently live in Ferrum with my husband, our 3 beautiful children, and our many pets.  My husband Scott is a member of Ferrum Volunteer Fire Department a...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: November 1, 2021

Member Spotlight - October 2021

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Josh Beavers - Career Staff

A career in Fire and EMS was not what Josh Beavers saw himself doing when he was 16 years old. This is what Josh had to say, “Fire and EMS chose me in 2005, actually, Mark Law chose me.  He would constantly ta...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: September 7, 2021

Member Spotlight - September 2021

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Savannah Farris - Callaway Volunteer Rescue Squad

Savannah grew up in Callaway and always knew that she wanted to make a difference in her rural community.  She joined Callaway Volunteer Rescue Squad in 2019 during her sophomore year of college. &...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: August 19, 2021

Member Spotlight - August 2021

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Keith Holley - Rocky Mount Fire Department

Keith has been with Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department for 24 years. He is the Traffic/Security Officer for Franklin County Schools that you may see dancing and showing off his moves while directing traffic bef...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: July 15, 2021

Member Spotlight - July 2021

David Jones (pdf)

David Jones - Fork Mountain Fire Co

In 1976, David joined Fork Mountain Volunteer Fire Department as a Junior Member.  He wanted to help his community in an area where there was a need.  As a volunteer firefighter,  he hoped his ...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: June 14, 2021

Member Spotlight - June 2021

Michelle white.jpg

“I was asked,  “What got me into EMS?”. The only answer that I was able to come up with is, “EMS  found me”.  My earlier career path had been business oriented,  not medical.  In 2013, I started volunteering in...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: May 27, 2021

Member Spotlight - May 2021

Chaplain logo

For this month’s newsletter, the intention was to spotlight a member from our Chaplaincy Program. After reaching out to several members and each of them humbly declining with very similar replies like, “There are more providers worthy ...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: April 8, 2021

Member Spotlight - April 2021

Jared Mandy

Jared is a Lifetime Member of Glade Hill Rescue Squad.  He is also a member of Cool Branch Volunteer Fire Company (Company 13), Cool Branch Volunteer Rescue Squad (Squad 13), and Smith Mountain Lake Marine Fire Rescue. He has been with Company 13...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: March 11, 2021

Member Spotlight - March 2021

Jonathan Custer

“Firefighting has always been in my blood,” says Jonathan. His grandfather was an original member of Callaway Volunteer Fire Department and helped construct the building in 1966.  His grandfather was his inspiration to become a firefighter.

&n...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: February 5, 2021

Member Spotlight - February 2021

Tyler McPherson

Tyler is 22 years old.  He has lived in Callaway all his life with his parents and 2 sisters. He joined the fire department around the same time he graduated from high school.  He said, “It was something I had wanted to do my e...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: January 14, 2021

Member Spotlight - January 2021

Brett Mullins

Brett has been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years with the exception of times when his children where young and when he was away for military enlistment.  He originally joined as a teenager for something to do that would occupy his time. That &...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: December 17, 2020

Member Spotlight - December 2020

Ryan DeForest (jpg)

Ryan is currently the captain of the rescue division at Scruggs Fire and Rescue.  He serves with his wife Denise, who is the First Lieutenant of the rescue division. They have been married for 22 years and have 2 sons that are 20 and 16. &nbs...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: November 30, 2020

Member Spotlight - November 2020

Lynn Wray

Station 15 (Westlake)

Lynn was born and raised in Franklin County. He began volunteering at Franklin County Rescue Squad in 2001, partly influenced by the 9/11 attacks. He has always enjoyed helping others and wants to give back to the community. That oppo...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: October 6, 2020

Member Spotlight - October 2020

Odell Gray

Odell Gray - Ferrum Fire Department

Odell has lived in Franklin County the majority of his life. He graduated from Franklin County High School in 1985.  He attended VCU and Ferrum College, eventually graduating  from Ferrum.  Aft...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: September 4, 2020

Member Spotlight - September 2020

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Anna D. - Callaway Rescue Squad

Anna is 18 years old, she obtained her EMT-B certification while in high school. She graduated this year and is currently attending Virginia Western Community College to obtain a Health Sciences Degree. She plans to eventual...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: August 7, 2020

Member Spotlight - August 2020

Chris Esposito (FF/Paramedic)

Chris Esposito - Career Staff

Chris is a Firefighter/Paramedic for Franklin County Public Safety and also serves as a fill-in captain. He has worked for Public Safety since early 2013. Chris grew up in Danville, VA and moved to Franklin County after becomi...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: July 6, 2020

Member Spotlight - July 2020

Emergency Medical Technician

Michaelynn H. - Red Valley Rescue Squad

Michaelynn is a single mother of a 15-year-old son. He is an A/B honor roll student. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of six.  She says, “He is such a bright, intelligent, and loving youn...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: June 4, 2020

Member Spotlight - June 2020

Firefighter

Baylor Janney - Boones Mill Fire Department

Baylor has been a volunteer at Boones Mill Volunteer Fire Department for almost 2 years. When he isn’t at the fire station, you can find him working for his dad doing interior construction or working for Boones M...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: April 30, 2020

Member Spotlight - May 2020

Ron Gearheart

Ron Gearheart - Career Staff

Ron is a career Paramedic/Firefighter/Chaplain with Franklin County Department of Public Safety. He is an Associate Pastor at New Vision Baptist Church. He has been married to his wife Michele for over twenty years “bless her h...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: April 7, 2020

Member Spotlight - April 2020

George Tawes Jr_

George T. - Scruggs Fire, Rescue & Dive

George has been part of the Smith Mountain Community forever! Just ask anyone. With over 60 years of Public Safety experience, George, formerly Chief of the SML Marine Division, is now with Scruggs VFRD. He is al...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: March 6, 2020

Member Spotlight - March 2020

Morgan Yopp

Morgan Y. - Glade Hill Rescue Squad

Morgan is 20 years old.  She took the EMT class through Franklin County High School during the spring semester of 2017 with Eric Newman.  Mr. Newman’s class introduced her to EMS and is part of the reas...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: February 11, 2020

Member Spotlight - February 2020

Tatum, Mark

Mark Tatum - Company 14

Mark is 1st Lieutenant at Henry Volunteer Fire Department.  He has been with Company 14 since 2002 when the department was founded.  Mark is happily married with 2 children, John Mark and Samantha Ann Tatum. &n...

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Public Safety Spotlight
Posted on: January 22, 2020

Member Spotlight - January 2020

Rena Jennings photo

Rena Jennings - Career Staff

Rena was raised and still lives in Bedford County.  She has 4 awesome children who live close to her,  including her grandson,  Bear.  She attended Staunton River High School. After graduatin...

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Public Safety Spotlight