Firefighters escape roof collapse in Berkeley County

The Baker Heights Volunteer Fire Department (BHVFD) reports that they were asked to assist the South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Company (SBVFC) fight a structure fire at a church.

The call came in just past noon on Sun. Mar. 14 with Engine 62 responding.

Crews began working the fire with handlines and worked their way into the structure.

An evacuation was ordered shortly after they entered just before the roof collapsed in the worship room of the building.

A tower and deck gun was then placed in service to bring the bulk of the fire under control.

After the bulk of the fire was contained crews reentered with handlines when it was deemed safe and quickly extinguished the blaze.

Pictures of the blaze and firefighters are found here.

No injuries were reported in the incident which remains under investigation.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Celebration of life for the former Front Royal Police Chief

thanksgiving activity boxes

The Front Royal Police Department announced the celebration of life for former Police Chief Richard H. Furr.

The former Police Chief will be honored on Sun. Mar. 19 at the Riverton United Methodist Church starting at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to be made to the Front Royal Police Foundation or the National Fraternal Order of Police which Furr was very involved.

Furr was a Page County High School graduate and worked in the Virginia Department of Corrections and became an Elkton Police Officer at one time.

Furr was the Police Chief of Front Royal from 2009 to 2012 and volunteered with the Warren County Shirreff’s Office after retirement.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Update on the death of a firefighter on duty

The Virginia Department of Forestry announced the death of a Firefighter while fighting a wildfire in Buchanan County.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. March 9 Rocky S. Wood was killed when the All-Terrain Vehicle he was driving overturned while he was scouting for a containment line to battle the fire.

Wood was the cousin of Warren County Fire and Rescue Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Brenda Diehl.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has ordered by email that both United States and Virginia flags should fly at half-staff immediately and remain lowered until sunset Mar. 13 to honor Wood and his service.

Wood was a seven-year veteran of the Virginia Department of Forestry he also worked at the Department of Corrections at one time.

Wood also served as the Haysi Fire Chief and was the Vice Mayor of the town at one time he was 53 years of age with his biography found here.

The cause of the accident that took Wood’s life is still being investigated.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

News Maker Bret Hrbek on the Race for Education 5K

The annual Edward Jones Race for Education is this Sat. March 18.

The event helps to fund Warren County, Skyline High School’s Cross Country teams along with the Warren Coalition’s duel enrollment program.

We spoke to the organizer of the event Bret Hrbek in our latest news maker.

News makers are sponsored by Warren County Together We are Community.

Bret tells us that this being the first race of the running season the weather is unpredictable and has often played havoc but the run still takes place.

He also gives us the race course and how to get involved.

Bret also has details on the beneficiaries of the event and the good that it does.

Click here for Bret’s news maker.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.