Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.PIO-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

11/01/2007

123rd Recruit Firefighter Graduation

Since June 2007, two dozen recruit firefighters have been training to respond to hazardous materials incidents, vehicle extrication operations, swift water emergencies, confined space rescue, fire suppression, and emergency medical incidents. The 21-week recruit firefighter/EMT course is both physically and mentally strenuous. Firefighter recruits will officially become professional firefighter/EMTs upon graduation.

Fire Chief James A. Gray, Jr., City of Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue, will be the graduation speaker. Chief Gray was appointed Fire Chief of the City of Hampton, Virginia in 2004. Prior to his appointment in Hampton, he served over 26 years with the City of Chesapeake Fire Department.

Chief Gray holds an A.A.S. Degree from Tidewater Community College, a B.S. Degree from Hampton University, and a Master of Public Administration from Troy State University. He is a graduate of Cornell University’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Studies program, and is currently enrolled in the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Chief Gray is the First Vice President of the Virginia State Fire Chiefs Association, member of the National Fire Protection Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Southeastern Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia, the Hampton Roads Fire Chiefs Association, and Past President of the Hampton Roads Conference of Minority Public Administrators.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raúl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.