TEVFD

05/14/2026

This evening, TEVFD responded to a motor vehicle crash on Tidewater Trail. As part of our safety program, the second arriving unit stopped short of the scene and deployed Cones, Retroreflective signage, and deployable speed bumps to slow traffic for our responders. This will be used more frequently to make a safe work zone for our Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, and Tow Operators. We would like to acknowledge Northern Neck Insurance Company for providing the grant funding for this life safety equipment. Headquartered in nearby Irvington, VA, Northern Neck Insurance has always been an excellent corporate neighbor, supporting non-profits locally and across the state. We greatly appreciate their support for our department.

04/18/2026

TEVFD will be hosting Attorney Tim Anderson on Monday, June 15 at 5:30 pm to teach the Utah-Virginia approved Concealed Carry Permit Course. With the completion of this course, and the successful application, Virginia residents will have the knowledge of their legal rights to carry concealed in the Commonwealth. They may also seek reciprocity through Utah to use their interstate agreements as their CWP holders are recognized in 30+ states. Students must be at least 21 years of age and legally eligible to posses a firearm. All students must register through the provided link.

https://defensivetacticsvb.com

04/15/2026

(ESSEX CO., VA) - The Fire Chief for the Tappahannock-Essex Volunteer Fire Department has announced a temporary burn ban effective immediately. The burn ban prohibits open-air burning of yard waste, agricultural burns and recreational fires.

“This temporary ban remains in effect for the foreseeable future, as the current weather forecast shows our area will remain in a stretch of 90-degree days with relatively low humidity with little to no rain,” Fire Chief Paul Richardson said. “These conditions make it hazardous and increase the potential for fire danger due to the extremely dry conditions."

County residents are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution when handling any potential ignition sources, including machinery, ci******es, and matches. All smoking materials must be completely extinguished and properly discarded. Dry grass and accumulated tree debris can ignite easily and have the potential to spread fire rapidly.

The ban was discussed among department leadership and approved by Fire Chief Paul Richardson in accordance with County Code Ordinance, which states that “open burning (is) prohibited during drought conditions.”

Essex County burn ban supersedes the annual statewide burn law that prohibits open-air burning between 4 p.m. and midnight from February 15 to April 30.

We will notify the community once the Burn Ban has been lifted.

04/13/2026

A special thank you to the folks that make sure we get to you. They are the first first responder and make a difference in our community everyday. We appreciate everything you do for LEO, EMS and Fire Department!

03/31/2026

THIS APPLIES TO CRALLE AVE RESIDENTS ONLY. The rest of the town is NOT under this advisory.

NOTICE: To Residents on Cralle Avenue
of the Town of Tappahannock WATERWORKS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
BOIL YOUR TAP WATER
Failure to follow this advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness.
The Virginia Department of Health in conjunction with the Town of Tappahannock Waterworks are advising residents to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. This precaution is necessary because of the occurrences of watermain breaks at the waterworks observed on March 31, 2026 and the likelihood of the presence of E. coli in the drinking water.

*E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely-compromised immune systems.*

DO NOT DRINK TAP WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST

Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, beverage and food preparation, and making ice until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Boiling is the preferred method to assure that the tap water is safe to drink. Bring all tap water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.
If you cannot boil your tap water….
• An alternative method of purification for residents that do not have gas or electricity available is to use liquid household bleach to disinfect water. The bleach product should be recently purchased, free of additives and scents, and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend adding 8 drops of bleach (about ¼ teaspoon) to each gallon of water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use.
• Water purification tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Potable water is available at the following locations: If you are unable to boil water notify Town Hall.

We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water. To address this problem, we are Repairing the water main on Cralle Ave., Tappahannock. We anticipate resolving the problem on or about April 2, 2026.

For more information, please contact J.B Lewis at 804-238-0449 or PO Box 266, Tappahannock VA 22560.

*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*
This notice is being sent to you by Town of Tappahannock. State Water System ID #: 4057800
Date of Notice: 3/31/2026.

03/22/2026

Please be careful today with the increased fire danger.

An Increased Fire Danger Statement has been issued for portions of the Piedmont through the western Northern Neck from 10 AM through 7 PM this evening. Residents are urged to exercise caution while handling any potential ignition source, including machinery, ci******es, and matches. Be sure to properly discard all smoking materials. Any dry grasses and tree litter that ignite will have the potential to spread quickly.

03/16/2026

Posted 3/16/26 8:45 am

A strong cold front approaches the area today, with strong to severe storms likely from late morning through the evening. Impacts from this system could be significant. All severe hazards are possible, with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes the primary threats. Please ensure you have a plan in place BEFORE severe weather impacts your area. Stay weather aware today and stay safe!

01/16/2026

The Tappahannock-Essex Vol Fire Dept would like to congratulate Hunter Byrd on his recent graduation from the Hanover Fire-EMS academy. Hunter joined the TEVFD as a junior member while still with Essex High School and began to take classes and serve our community. After high school, He was accepted into Academy 70 with Hanover County and completed additional training and became a nationally registered EMT and will serve the Henry District at Station 6 in Hanover. We were honored to have been the catalyst to allow a young man from our community to begin where and achieve his dream of being a firefighter. We are always accepting volunteers with TEVFD and provide free training and opportunities to serve this community and potentially turn your passion into a career. Very proud of you Hunter!