“The average person works 40 hours a week. We’re doing 56. So, if we can draw back and do 42, I mean it helps us, and it turns around and helps the community as well,” FOX 5 DC reported.
“A lot of departments are going to it because it is the best schedule for the fire department. And the fire department is here to serve the citizens, and we can do that adequately with the 56-hour workweek, but we can do it even better with a 42-hour workweek.”
“There is no cause for concern. THIS IS A PRIVATE TRAINING EXERCISE,” Stafford County Sheriff’s Office announced. “The training will not be open to the public.”
The joint training exercise between the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office and Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department will take place today, June 1, as well as June 2, 8 and 9 from approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at and around Gayle Middle School. Since the county’s last day of school was Thursday, May 28, the building is currently empty for summer break. Residents may notice an increased presence of public safety vehicles in the area.
Stafford County Public Schools and Stafford County Fire and Rescue partner on the High School Fire Academy, a hands-on program that gives local high school students real-world training in firefighting and emergency medical response. The program allows students to earn high school credit while learning skills that can lead to careers in public safety.
Class sizes appear to vary. Recent sessions have included around 20-25 students. The latest, High School Fire Academy 7, graduated in spring 2026. The program has grown since its start, with earlier classes having smaller groups.
Stafford County firefighters responded quickly to a house fire early Sunday morning in the 200 block of Choptank Road near A.G. Wright Middle School.
Crews arrived just over five minutes after the call came in, before 5:30 a.m., and found fire coming from the side of a two-story single-family home.
Just before 1 a.m. Sunday, April 19, units were called to a structure fire along Glen Oak Road near Deacon Road. First-arriving crews found smoke and flames coming from the rear of a single-family home. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze to the back deck, with only minimal heat damage to the exterior of the residence. The Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause as routine procedure. Units were assisted on scene by the Fredericksburg Fire Department.
Earlier on Saturday, April 18, two other fires kept crews busy. Just before 1:30 p.m., units responded to a reported structure fire in the 500 block of Sanford Drive near Greenbank Road. Crews arrived within about five minutes and found a large shed heavily involved in flames that had begun spreading to the surrounding area. Firefighters extinguished the fire and confirmed it did not extend into the adjacent residence, though the home did sustain some damage. The Fire Marshal’s Office is also investigating this incident.
The department said last weekend’s storm left a solid sheet of ice across the community after snow turned to sleet and freezing rain. With temperatures remaining below freezing, officials warn the ice continues to harden and remain extremely slick, especially on hills and sloped areas. Fire officials urged residents to avoid icy terrain, secure pets, wear footwear with traction, and stay indoors when conditions are unsafe.
The department recognized the newest group of firefighters and emergency responders after completing Recruit Academy 20. Graduates will move on to serve the Stafford County community as part of Fire and Rescue operations.
“Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire, as well as search the structure,” the department stated. “The fire was marked under control in approximately 10 minutes.”
Fire officials said the two occupants evacuated before crews arrived and no injuries were reported. Additional units were used to shuttle water due to a lack of hydrants in the area. The Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office is conducting a routine investigation. Fredericksburg Fire Department assisted on scene, while Quantico Fire & Emergency Services and Fauquier County Fire Rescue provided station coverage elsewhere in the county.
“A single donation can help up to three patients in our region,” the post continued. “As a thank-you, donors will receive a specialty sweatshirt in honor of National Blood Donor Month.”
The blood drive is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Gym, located at 1201 Courthouse Road in Stafford. Donors are asked to bring a photo ID and allow about one hour for the donation. Appointments can be scheduled online or by phone.
“Units are on scene of a structure fire in the 100 block of Paradise Court,” Stafford County Fire and Rescue posted. “Please avoid the area while crews work.”
Fire and rescue units were dispatched to the 100 block of Paradise Court, where firefighters are actively working at the scene of a structure fire. Officials have not released details on injuries or the extent of damage. Motorists and residents are advised to steer clear of the area to allow emergency crews to operate safely.
