Originals

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors dissolved its relationship with the Rock Hill Volunteer Fire Department  Rescue Squad due to a lack of membership.

The department had provided fire and rescue services in the Rock Hill area since 1976. However, over the last three months, the department has been unable to function due to the "non-participation of at least 20 effective members," according to information provided during a recent Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Today, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors will vote on a plan to lease the old department's building, at 2133 Garrisonville Road, for $1 a year for 1o years. Meanwhile, paid career fire and rescue staff members from the Stafford County Government will fill the space once occupied by volunteers.

Under a lease between the county and the members of the volunteer fire rescue squad corporation, the taxpayers will foot the bill for all insurance and utilities on the building. They'll also be on the hook for $300,000 in needed building repairs.

The Rock Hill Volunteer Rescue Squad Fire Company, located about a mile from the station, is still in operation.

The Rock Hill Volunteer Fire Department is the second volunteer company to be dissolved in recent weeks. Rock Hill rescue joins the Stafford Volunteer Rescue Squad which has been defunct since 2018 but has now been officially shut down.  While the department's volunteers are gone, a crew of paid career staff now occupied the building.

*This post has been corrected.