Buckingham County Department of Emergency Services

06/13/2026

The Virginia Department of Health has issued a HEALTH ADVISORY for Buckingham County due to the steady increase of measles cases within the area. Individuals identified as having elevated exposure risk, increased vulnerability, or showing signs and symptoms of illness are urged to avoid large public gatherings, community events, and crowded settings.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread quickly, particularly among unvaccinated individuals. Symptoms often include:
• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red or watery eyes
• Rash

The best protection against measles is vaccination. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide approximately 97% protection against measles.

Local health departments offer vaccination opportunities, and the Buckingham County Health Department can be reached at 434-969-4244.

Healthcare providers and first responders are encouraged to continue using appropriate PPE precautions, particularly when encountering patients with fever and rash illnesses, and to ensure they have documented immunity to measles.

If you believe you or a family member may have measles, please contact your healthcare provider or local health department before arriving in person so appropriate precautions can be taken.

For more information about measles and vaccination recommendations, please visit the Virginia Department of Health website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/

The Virginia Department of Health is the lead agency for infectious disease investigation, prevention, and response.

To protect patient privacy and comply with applicable privacy laws, specific patient information will not be released. Comments containing personally identifiable health information, misinformation, or inappropriate content may be removed in accordance with this page’s moderation policies.

06/11/2026

At 8:30 a.m., BCDES was dispatched to the 3700 block of Woodland Church Road for reports of a male who had fallen approximately 20 feet down an embankment while riding a bicycle. While units were en route, Glenmore Volunteer Fire Department and Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department were requested for additional manpower due to the potential need for a technical rescue.

Upon arrival, crews confirmed a single patient at the bottom of the embankment who required extrication. Due to the patient’s injuries, Virginia State Police MedFlight was requested.

Crews from BCDES, Dillwyn Fire, and Glenmore Fire established a low-angle rope rescue operation to allow providers to safely access the patient. The patient was then packaged, extricated, and transported to a field landing zone established and secured by Glenmore personnel. MedFlight transported the patient to a regional trauma center for further treatment.

Several personnel operating on scene had recently completed a Virginia Department of Fire Programs Low Angle Rope Rescue course, highlighting the importance of interagency training and coordination.

*All pictures obtained by personnel on scene who were not directly involved in patient care*

06/08/2026

Gralline “Puppy” Garrett answered his final call on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. He dedicated more than 20 years of service to the citizens of Buckingham through the Buckingham County Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Those who served alongside Puppy remember him as someone who was always willing to help, whether on a call or around the station. He had an infectious smile and was never afraid to dress the part for a fundraiser, holiday party, or special event.

His contributions to BCVRS, the citizens he served, and the many people whose lives he touched will never be forgotten. We thank him for his years of dedicated service.

06/04/2026

At 8:15 a.m., BCDES, Glenmore Volunteer Fire Department, and Arvonia Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the 2800 block of Paynes Pond Road for a reported overturned tractor-trailer with entrapment. First-arriving units confirmed that the tractor-trailer had overturned onto the cab. The driver was able to self-extricate, but the passenger was heavily entrapped by the legs beneath the truck.

The incident was upgraded, and Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department was added to the response. Several neighboring counties were also requested to provide heavy rescue resources due to the size and weight of the vehicle. At the time of the accident, the truck was hauling a load of biosolids and was leaking several fluids, including diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid.

HazMat 1 responded from Station 1, and the Virginia Emergency Operations Center was contacted. The regional HazMat Team from Henrico County Division of Fire, along with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), was dispatched due to the close proximity of a waterway to the accident scene.

The UVA Pegasus flight crew, Squad 1 from Farmville Fire Department, a heavy wrecker and HazMat team from Stoney Creek Auto Center, personnel from Fork Union Fire Company, and apparatus from Scottsville Volunteer Fire Department also responded. Through coordinated teamwork, the patient was safely extricated and transported to the landing zone for airlift to a regional trauma center.

Simultaneously, BCDES crews utilized equipment and supplies from HazMat 1 to mitigate the diesel fuel leak and deploy containment booms in the nearby waterway.

We would like to thank Virginia State Police, Buckingham County Virginia Sheriff's Office, and Virginia Department of Transportation for providing traffic control and helping maintain a safe work environment for emergency personnel. We also thank Charlottesville - Albemarle Rescue Squad for responding to the request for heavy rescue assistance and Toga Volunteer Fire Dept., Inc for ensuring fire suppression coverage remained available throughout the county during the incident.

Finally, we extend our appreciation to all responding agencies and personnel for their assistance during this complex extrication and rescue operation

05/22/2026

EMS Week 2026 is coming to a close and this year’s theme, Improving Outcomes, Together, is a reminder that EMS is never just about one person, one crew, or one agency.

Every day our providers work alongside dispatchers, firefighters, law enforcement, flight programs, hospitals, neighboring agencies, and the community we serve. Whether it’s training together, teaching CPR classes, helping each other through equipment breakdowns, or responding to difficult calls, good outcomes are built through teamwork.

The photos in this post are a snapshot of what that teamwork looks like. Long training days, partnerships across public safety and healthcare, community education, mutual aid between agencies, and the everyday moments in between that keep crews moving forward.

This week we were also reminded how much support our crews have from this community. A special thank you to the anonymous citizen who recently dropped off a gift basket for our personnel. Small acts of kindness like that truly mean a lot.

EMS Week also gave us an opportunity to spend a little time giving back to our own crews as well with a few station gifts and some snacks as a small thank you for the work they do every day.

To all of our staff, thank you for the compassion, professionalism, and teamwork you bring to this job every day. The citizens and visitors of our county are lucky to have you.

05/14/2026

Our region has lost a well-known and respected member of our EMS family. Peggy dedicated years of service to many Heart of Virginia communities and previously served our citizens as a member of the Buckingham County Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Her impact on EMS and the people around her will not be forgotten. She cared deeply for her patients, her coworkers, and the communities she served, and she helped shape many providers throughout her career.

Our thoughts are with her family, friends, coworkers, and all those mourning her loss today.

It is with the deepest sadness and extremely heavy hearts that our agency shares the news that a beloved member of our squad family, Peggy Webster, has passed away.

Peggy was a valued member of the Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad for nearly two decades, and her presence will be deeply missed by all of us. Most recently, Peggy was honored with the inaugural Chief’s Award for her extraordinary service and in 2022, she was honored with Lifetime Membership.

Peggy was known around the Squad House and in the local EMS community for her spunky attitude, her tireless work ethic and her honesty. Her loss will be felt deeply by those who loved her and by the community she served with heart and dedication.

Peggy—you will always hold a special place in the hearts of those here at Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad. Rest peacefully, #877, your service has concluded and we will take it from here.

05/09/2026

The Virginia Department of Health is currently investigating suspected measles activity within our region. While public health officials continue to assess the scope of illness, community members are encouraged to remain aware of symptoms and ensure vaccinations are up to date. Individuals and groups identified as having elevated exposure risk or increased vulnerability have already been directly notified by public health officials and provided with appropriate guidance and recommendations.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread quickly, particularly among unvaccinated individuals. Symptoms often include:
• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red or watery eyes
• Rash

The best protection against measles is vaccination. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide approximately 97% protection against measles.

Local health departments offer vaccination opportunities, and the Buckingham County Health Department can be reached at 434-969-4244.

Healthcare providers and first responders are encouraged to continue using appropriate PPE precautions, particularly when encountering patients with fever and rash illnesses, and to ensure they have documented immunity to measles.
If you believe you or a family member may have measles, please contact your healthcare provider or local health department before arriving in person so appropriate precautions can be taken.

For more information about measles and vaccination recommendations, please visit the Virginia Department of Health website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/

The Virginia Department of Health is the lead agency for infectious disease investigation, prevention, and response.

To protect patient privacy and comply with applicable privacy laws, specific patient information will not be released. Comments containing personally identifiable health information, misinformation, or inappropriate content may be removed in accordance with this page’s moderation policies.

Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus that lives in the nose and throat of an infected person.

05/01/2026

Today, May 1st, is National Heat Stroke Prevention Day. The main focus of this observance day is the prevention of pediatric heatstroke deaths caused by hot cars. Meteorologist Jan Null started tracking pediatric deaths related to vehicular heatstroke in 1998 and since then there have been 1,041 children that have died between the ages of 5 days old to 14 years old. Over half of these deaths were children under the age of 2. All of these deaths were preventable.

You can help prevent a tragedy by following three simple steps every time you finish a drive.

🛑 STOP. Stop whatever you are doing after you turn the car off. Finishing that text. The last sip of coffee or pre workout. Answering a phone call. Touching up your makeup.

👀 LOOK. Get out of your car and look in your back seat and trunk to ensure there are no children in your vehicle. Children can climb into cars to hide and can be hard to see by just turning around from the driver's seat. Rear facing car seats with infants or smaller children can be hard to see without leaving the car and checking from the back seat.

🔒 LOCK. Lock your car doors. Whether you are at work, home, or the gym. Your child, or another child, may not realize that they can become trapped in a vehicle and you may not find out until it is too late.

These three steps only take seconds but they can save a life and prevent a tragedy. Never say never. It can happen to anyone.

Sources:
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/hotcars/
https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/heatstroke
https://www.noheatstroke.org
https://www.safekids.org/heatstroke

04/28/2026

The county burn ban is lifted as of 4 PM on 4/28/2026. Please be aware the Virginia Spring Burn Ban prohibiting fires before 4 PM remains in effect through April 30th.

04/17/2026

Buckingham County has implemented a local burn ban, supplementing the state's existing prohibition. Consequently, outdoor burning is strictly prohibited in Buckingham, 24/7, subject to specific exceptions.