Loudoun County Fire and Rescue

We are proud to announce the selection of Assistant Chief of Operations James Williams to serve as the new System Chief of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System! Chief Williams will succeed Chief Keith Johnson, who is retiring after serving as system chief since 2018. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4lsxYv9

On Monday, March 31, 2025, members of the LC-CFRS and the fire service community came together to celebrate the 2024 Governor’s Fire Service Award Winners at the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond, VA. LC-CFRS was awarded three Governor’s Fire Service Awards to include 2024 Governor’s Fire Service Award for Career Fire Chief of the Year, Excellence in Virginia Career Fire Service Training, and a shared award with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) for Outstanding Career Fire Department Response. • System Chief Keith H. Johnson received the 2024 Governor’s Fire Service Award for Career Fire Chief of the Year. Chief Johnson has always been a dedicated and outspoken advocate for the fire service and has worked with Virginia lawmakers for years to improve benefits and protections for first responders to include increased behavioral health benefits and increased cancer protections for firefighters. Throughout his time as System Chief in Loudoun County, Chief Johnson’s dedication and steadfast commitment to providing world-class firefighting and Emergency Medical Services to Loudoun’s residents and visitors has resulted in significant improvements in all areas of our combined fire and rescue system. • LC-CFRS received the Excellence in Virginia Career Fire Service Training award for our role in the development of the Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Battery Online Training Work Group pursuant to the 2024 Virginia House Bill HB2451. This award recognizes the individuals that assisted with the development of training in accordance with HB2451 which directs the Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) to develop a training program on the risks of fires in electric vehicles and how to safely and effectively manage such fires. • LC-CFRS was recognized, along with FCFRD, for Outstanding Career Fire Department Response for our efforts and actions during the February 16, 2024, home explosion on Silver Ridge Drive in Sterling. On the evening of February 16, 2024, Loudoun County Engine 618 and Truck 611 were on scene of a gas leak in Sterling, VA. The crews were investigating both inside and outside of the residence when there was a catastrophic explosion. The explosion caused the Line of Duty Death of Firefighter Trevor Brown from Sterling Volunteer Fire Company and injured 11 other firefighters that were on scene, two of which were trapped in the basement under the debris pile that was on fire. The following units, FCFRD Battalion 401 and Rescue 439, and LC-CFRS Rescue 635, operated selflessly without regard for their own safety by tunneling into the burning debris pile to remove two firefighters that had called “maydays” and were trapped under the debris of the collapsed home. Both firefighters were rescued from the structure but sustained significant injuries. To learn more about each of these awards, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/ex7iDXGU Loudoun County Government

LCFR and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) are pleased to announce the acceptance of Deputy Chief of Training Nicole Pickrell into the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI). Chief Pickrell competed with new fire chiefs and chief officers from across the country and Canada to become a member of the 2025 cohort program. Chief Pickrell started in the fire service in 1996 as an EMS volunteer with the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department in Montgomery County, Md. She completed a joint college program between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTSA). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish History from JTSA. She later went on to obtain her Master of Public Administration in 2009 as part of the Northern Virginia Public Service Fellows Program at George Mason University. Chief Pickrell was hired by LCFR in March 2003 and graduated from Recruit Class 7. She was initially assigned to Fire Station 11 (Sterling Park), promoted to Technician in 2005, and has since held every operational rank from Lieutenant to Deputy Chief. Chief Pickrell has served on a variety of local and national committees, including IAFF Local 3756’s Executive Board, Meadowood Significant Incident Injury Investigative Team, IAFC Communications Committee, IAFC Representative to the Federal Communications Commission 911 Fee Diversion Task Force, International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services Reproductive Health Workgroup, and the Northern Virginia Fire Chiefs Communications and Training Subcommittees. The Fire Service Executive Development Institute is a year-long leadership-development program. It was created and implemented by the IAFC to provide new and aspiring chiefs with the tools they need to have successful and productive tenures. The members of the cohort will meet four times in the coming year. One of the meetings will take place in August at the Fire Rescue International Conference in Orlando, Florida. Between onsite sessions, the cohort group will communicate using an online community. The cohort met for their first session at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia, during the month of March. “Deputy Chief Pickrell prioritizes the value of professional development not only for herself, but also for our many system members,” said System Chief Keith Johnson. “Her participation in this elite cohort will directly benefit her fellow first responders, as well as the Loudoun County community.” The IAFC's FSEDI program has become the premier career- and leadership-development program in the fire and rescue services thanks to the generous support of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. View this news release on our website to learn more about the IAFC, the Motorola Solutions Foundation, and the FSEDI program: https://lnkd.in/ejyAsa-s Loudoun County Government

Today's the day! It's "Give Choose Day"! ⬇️

We're hiring! 📣 Loudoun County Fire and Rescue is seeking qualified applicants for the full-time position of Buyer. The Department’s Buyer serves as the primary purchasing liaison, handling procurement activities in compliance with County and state policies and laws. The successful candidate will provide broad procurement and inventory management support as an outsource buyer to the Department. Applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/4htYhhk Loudoun County Government

Less than one week away from the Loudoun First Responders Foundation Give Choose 24-hour Day of Giving! ⬇️

Congratulations are in order for two of our System members who recently completed the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association's (VFCA) Virginia Fire Officer Academy (VFOA) and Virginia Chief Officer Academy (VCOA)! Captain Karam Mashaal of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company completed the VCOA and Captain Jonathan McConomy of the Hamilton Volunteer Rescue Squad completed the VFOA. The VFOA is a week-long residential program designed to develop current or aspiring company officers. The theme of the VFOA is “Safety Through Leadership” and is based on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. The program is focused on improving leadership techniques, personal accountability, and fostering the cultural change required to improve firefighter safety. Learn more: The VCOA is a week-long residential leadership course designed to prepare the newly appointed or prospective chief officer for various aspects of leadership challenges they may face. The program includes lectures from fire service leaders from across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VCOA staff and instructors will guide students on a leadership journey starting with personal leadership all the way to executive-level leadership. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e_9zA6ZA Congratulations to all the graduates! 🥳 👏 Loudoun County Government

🔥 Ignite your passion and join our team! 🔥 Become a Firefighter/EMT with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and make a difference in your community! We strive to provide the highest level of efficient and professional emergency fire and rescue services to the #Loudoun community and the seven incorporated towns. We respond to and mitigate hazards that threaten life and property safety, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained personnel located in strategically placed fire and rescue stations, 24/7/365. 🚒 🚑 Ready to spark change in your life? Consider a career with fire and rescue! Begin your future with LCFR at https://bit.ly/41bReU3. Learn more about the recruitment process and benefits of becoming a Firefighter/EMT with LCFR on our website: https://lnkd.in/eGn7CxeY Questions? Send us an email at LCFRHiring@loudoun.gov

Last week, 24 sworn and civilian personnel graduated from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office 62nd Basic Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) program. The comprehensive training program equips first responders with advanced skills to address complex human situations involving psychological and emotional challenges. Participants learned sophisticated strategies for engaging with individuals experiencing acute mental health crises, focusing on creating safe, supportive interactions that prioritize human dignity and effective communication. The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System was proud to have four members in this class! Please join us in congratulating the following personnel: Public Safety Telecommunicator Arelys Perez Captain Kelly Myers Captain Kashif Cheema Lieutenant Nicholas Riese Congratulations to all the graduates! To learn more about the Basic CIT program, read the Sheriff’s Office press release: https://lnkd.in/eE2jnXNs Loudoun County Government

📣 We're hiring! Loudoun County Fire and Rescue’s Fire Marshal’s Office is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time Civilian Fire Inspector position working 40 hours a week. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Visit our website to learn more and apply today: https://bit.ly/3XxnCQ4 Loudoun County Government