Governor Abigail Spanberger announced the winners of the 2025 Fire Service Awards on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Eddie Ferguson, Chief of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services for Goochland County, was named Virginia’s Chief Officer of the Year. The Governor’s Fire Service Awards, established in 2002, serves as a formal recognition of excellence. According to the Virginia Department of Fire Programs website, this award is intended to honor a chief officer who exemplifies exceptional leadership, integrity, innovation, and commitment to both their department and the broader Virginia fire service. Chief Ferguson was presented with the award during the Virginia Fire/Rescue Conference in Virginia Beach on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. “This is truly an honor, and you will never know how much this means to me.”, said Chief Ferguson. “This is really a team and organizational level recognition; no one person does it alone. I am so blessed to have had such wonderful mentors, a supportive family, to have been afforded so many opportunities in my career, and to be surrounded by such great people who really do the heavy lifting making the organization successful and run smoothly. Our members drive our success, and I am incredibly proud of the entire team. I am privileged to serve as the Fire-Rescue Chief, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”Chief Ferguson has over 40 years of experience with Fire and EMS and began serving as a volunteer in Goochland County at the age of 16. In addition to his service to Goochland County, Chief Ferguson served for almost 17 years as a career Firefighter Paramedic with Chesterfield Fire & EMS. He continues to serve as a Flight Paramedic assigned to VA State Police EMS Med-Flight 1. Chief Ferguson was hired by Goochland County in 2004 as Deputy Chief and has been serving as Chief since 2019.“This well-deserved honor shows the rest of the Commonwealth, what we in Goochland already know – Chief Ferguson is an exceptional leader.” said Dr. Raley, Goochland County Administrator. “Goochland County is extremely fortunate to have Chief Eddie Ferguson serving our community.”
Governor Abigail Spanberger announced the winners of the 2025 Fire Service Awards on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Eddie Ferguson, Chief of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services for Goochland County, was named Virginia’s Chief Officer of the Year. The Governor’s Fire Service Awards, established in 2002, serves as a formal recognition of excellence. According to the Virginia Department of Fire Programs website, this award is intended to honor a chief officer who exemplifies exceptional leadership, integrity, innovation, and commitment to both their department and the broader Virginia fire service. Chief Ferguson was presented with the award during the Virginia Fire/Rescue Conference in Virginia Beach on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. “This is truly an honor, and you will never know how much this means to me.”, said Chief Ferguson. “This is really a team and organizational level recognition; no one person does it alone. I am so blessed to have had such wonderful mentors, a supportive family, to have been afforded so many opportunities in my career, and to be surrounded by such great people who really do the heavy lifting making the organization successful and run smoothly. Our members drive our success, and I am incredibly proud of the entire team. I am privileged to serve as the Fire-Rescue Chief, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”Chief Ferguson has over 40 years of experience with Fire and EMS and began serving as a volunteer in Goochland County at the age of 16. In addition to his service to Goochland County, Chief Ferguson served for almost 17 years as a career Firefighter Paramedic with Chesterfield Fire & EMS. He continues to serve as a Flight Paramedic assigned to VA State Police EMS Med-Flight 1. Chief Ferguson was hired by Goochland County in 2004 as Deputy Chief and has been serving as Chief since 2019.“This well-deserved honor shows the rest of the Commonwealth, what we in Goochland already know – Chief Ferguson is an exceptional leader.” said Dr. Raley, Goochland County Administrator. “Goochland County is extremely fortunate to have Chief Eddie Ferguson serving our community.”
The Virginia Department of Forestry 4 p.m. Burn Law is in effect from February 15th through April 30th. The 4:00 PM Burning Law specifies: No burning until AFTER 4:00 p.m. February15 through April 30 of each year, if the fire is in or within 300 feet of woodland, brushland or field containing dry grass or other flammable material.Fire shall not be left unattended if within 150 feet of woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass.No new fires set, no fuel added, or fire rekindled after midnight.Law applies to campfires, warming fires, brush piles, leaves, household trash, stumps, fields of broomstraw and brush or anything capable of spreading fire.The law provides for a penalty of up to $500, plus payment of court costs and fire suppression costs if the fire escapes.For questions or more information about the 4:00 p.m. Burning Law contact the local Virginia Department of Forestry office at (540) 967-3702 or Goochland County Fire-Rescue (804) 556-5304.
The Virginia Department of Forestry 4 p.m. Burn Law is in effect from February 15th through April 30th. The 4:00 PM Burning Law specifies: No burning until AFTER 4:00 p.m. February15 through April 30 of each year, if the fire is in or within 300 feet of woodland, brushland or field containing dry grass or other flammable material.Fire shall not be left unattended if within 150 feet of woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass.No new fires set, no fuel added, or fire rekindled after midnight.Law applies to campfires, warming fires, brush piles, leaves, household trash, stumps, fields of broomstraw and brush or anything capable of spreading fire.The law provides for a penalty of up to $500, plus payment of court costs and fire suppression costs if the fire escapes.For questions or more information about the 4:00 p.m. Burning Law contact the local Virginia Department of Forestry office at (540) 967-3702 or Goochland County Fire-Rescue (804) 556-5304.
Governor Abigail Spanberger announced the winners of the 2025 Fire Service Awards on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Eddie Ferguson, Chief of Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services for Goochland County, was named Virginia’s Chief Officer of the Year.
The Governor’s Fire Service Awards, established in 2002, serves as a formal recognition of excellence. According to the Virginia Department of Fire Programs website, this award is intended to honor a chief officer who exemplifies exceptional leadership, integrity, innovation, and commitment to both their department and the broader Virginia fire service. Chief Ferguson was presented with the award during the Virginia Fire/Rescue Conference in Virginia Beach on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
“This is truly an honor, and you will never know how much this means to me.”, said Chief Ferguson. “This is really a team and organizational level recognition; no one person does it alone. I am so blessed to have had such wonderful mentors, a supportive family, to have been afforded so many opportunities in my career, and to be surrounded by such great people who really do the heavy lifting making the organization successful and run smoothly. Our members drive our success, and I am incredibly proud of the entire team. I am privileged to serve as the Fire-Rescue Chief, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”
Chief Ferguson has over 40 years of experience with Fire and EMS and began serving as a volunteer in Goochland County at the age of 16. In addition to his service to Goochland County, Chief Ferguson served for almost 17 years as a career Firefighter Paramedic with Chesterfield Fire & EMS. He continues to serve as a Flight Paramedic assigned to VA State Police EMS Med-Flight 1. Chief Ferguson was hired by Goochland County in 2004 as Deputy Chief and has been serving as Chief since 2019.
“This well-deserved honor shows the rest of the Commonwealth, what we in Goochland already know – Chief Ferguson is an exceptional leader.” said Dr. Raley, Goochland County Administrator. “Goochland County is extremely fortunate to have Chief Eddie Ferguson serving our community.”
Goochland County is utilizing a new communication system to keep our community safe and informed with quick and reliable emergency notifications and public service announcements. Goochland County has started using Goochland Alerts to communicate with residents and businesses during emergencies and other critical events, including a recent watermain break in Lower Tuckahoe. Residents are encouraged to register to receive these alerts: www.goochlandva.us/goochland-alerts.
Goochland County will use the emergency notification system called Goochland Alerts to notify residents with critical information and resources available to the community as a result of important events, ranging from impactful weather, hurricanes, extreme heat, wildfires, flooding and other emergencies to more routine announcements, such as water and sewer utility maintenance. Messages will be sent to residents on their preferred devices — cell phone, text, home phone, email, and more—to ensure real-time access to critical information. Residents listed in the County 911 database will automatically be subscribed to emergency alerts by phone. The system also allows citizens to self-register, provide additional contact information, or opt out.
“We are proud to announce our new emergency alert system, Goochland Alerts.”, said Dr. Raley, County Administrator. “This communication system underscores our commitment to ensure public safety, community awareness, and emergency response. The Goochland Alerts emergency notification system allows us to quicky and easily share important information across a variety of devices, providing our residents with timely and reliable updates when they need it the most.”
Goochland Alerts is the result of a cooperative effort between Goochland County Administration, Department of Fire-Rescue & Emergency Services, and the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office. This system replaces the county’s previous alert system, CodeRED, which suffered a cybersecurity incident at the end of 2025. Residents who were previously enrolled in CodeRED and wish to continue to receive emergency notifications will need to enroll in Goochland Alerts.
The Virginia Department of Forestry 4 p.m. Burn Law is in effect from February 15th through April 30th.
The 4:00 PM Burning Law specifies:
No burning until AFTER 4:00 p.m. February15 through April 30 of each year, if the fire is in or within 300 feet of woodland, brushland or field containing dry grass or other flammable material.
Fire shall not be left unattended if within 150 feet of woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass.
No new fires set, no fuel added, or fire rekindled after midnight.
Law applies to campfires, warming fires, brush piles, leaves, household trash, stumps, fields of broomstraw and brush or anything capable of spreading fire.
The law provides for a penalty of up to $500, plus payment of court costs and fire suppression costs if the fire escapes.