Mecklenburg County Emergency Services

04/06/2026

Effective April 7th at 4:00 PM, Mecklenburg County will implement a ban on ALL outdoor open-air burning until further notice. THIS BAN PROHIBITS ALL BURNING 24 HOURS A DAY!

Over the past several weeks, our fire departments have responded to an increase in brush fires across the county. Combined with ongoing dry conditions, low humidity, and the lack of meaningful rainfall in the forecast, the risk for fire spread remains high.

This burn ban is being put in place to help protect our communities, our responders, and our natural resources.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and ask that you help us keep Mecklenburg County safe.

04/03/2026

Things are getting pretty egg-citing this week as we head into Easter weekend!

This week, our second ambulance completed a full refurbishment at Osage Ambulances in Linn, Missouri, with the team at Vest Sales working alongside us throughout the project.

Both of these ambulances went into the shop with nearly 200,000 miles and thousands of patient transports under their belt. They’ve now been completely rebuilt on brand new Ford F-550 chassis, featuring a fully redesigned interior with updated safety features and a true “medic in mind” layout.

While this truck is making its way to Mecklenburg County, our first Osage refurbished ambulance, received just a few weeks ago, has completed final in house inspections, supply stocking, and equipment mounting, and was placed in service today.

By utilizing the factory refurbishment process, we were able to place two top of the line ambulances back into service at approximately 30% less cost to the taxpayer, resulting in a total savings of around $300,000.

We’re proud to continue upgrading our fleet in a way that balances performance, safety, and fiscal responsibility for Mecklenburg County.

03/23/2026

03/15/2026

The National Weather Service has placed our region in a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5) for severe storms. This level of risk is not common for our area and indicates the potential for a widespread severe weather event.

Storms may develop late Monday morning and continue through early evening, and multiple rounds of storms are possible.

Potential hazards include:
• Damaging winds that could exceed 70 mph
• Tornadoes, some potentially strong
• Large hail

Residents are encouraged to stay weather aware Monday and have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. Be sure to get your weather information from credible sources such as the National Weather Service, local news outlets, and official government agencies.

03/03/2026

Behind the Scenes: Keeping Your Fire Equipment Ready

Over the next week and a half, every fire apparatus in Mecklenburg County will be going through annual pump testing, hose testing, and ladder testing.

This is not just a quick check. It is a detailed process to make sure everything performs exactly the way it is supposed to when it matters most.

• Pump Testing
Each engine’s pump is tested at multiple pressures and flow rates to ensure it can deliver the required gallons per minute for firefighting operations. This confirms the pump meets national performance standards and can supply water reliably during an emergency.

• Hose Testing
Every section of fire hose is pressure tested well above normal operating pressures to check for leaks, weaknesses, or damage. If there is a problem, it is found here, not on a fire scene.

• Ladder Testing
Ground ladders are inspected and weight tested to confirm they can safely support firefighters operating at heights.

This process takes planning and coordination between Mecklenburg County Emergency Services, our volunteer fire departments, and certified testing professionals who specialize in this work. It is a true team effort to make sure every truck and every piece of equipment is ready to perform when it is called upon.

We appreciate the time and effort our volunteer firefighters put into making this happen, especially since they are doing this on top of responding to emergency calls, working their regular jobs, and balancing family responsibilities. Their commitment behind the scenes is just as important as the work you see on an emergency scene.

We also appreciate Mecklenburg County leadership and the Board of Supervisors for their continued support of this annual testing program, helping ensure our equipment remains in top condition and ready to serve our community.

When you call 911, you expect everything to work. These tests help ensure that it does.

02/28/2026

🚑 Update on Our Newest Ambulance 🚑

Recently, we shared a post from Atlantic Emergency Solutions about our purchase through their stock unit program. We’re excited to report the ambulance has now completed production at the Road Rescue manufacturing facility in Florida and is officially heading to Mecklenburg County.

This Road Rescue Ultramedic Type I ambulance will further strengthen our frontline fleet and support our continued system growth. Outfitted with modern safety features, enhanced lighting, advanced suspension, and the Stryker Power LOAD system, it is designed with both patient care and provider safety in mind.

We’ll admit, we’re just a little sad we couldn’t swap it over to our new gray color scheme, but it does feature our updated graphics package, and purchasing through the stock program allowed us to get it here much faster. In this case, faster response capability for our community was worth sticking with white.

We look forward to placing it in service and putting it to work for the citizens of Mecklenburg County.

02/19/2026

We’re excited to be attending the Virginia Fire Rescue Conference this week, where the newest addition to our ambulance fleet is on display for departments across the Commonwealth to see.

This unit is a complete re-mount by Osage Ambulances, featuring a brand-new Ford F-550 chassis paired with a fully redesigned patient compartment built around a true “Medic in Mind” interior concept. Every detail was thoughtfully engineered to enhance provider safety, workflow efficiency, and patient care.

The ambulance is equipped with a full Whelen lighting package, including the advanced Whelen CORE system, delivering superior visibility, safety, and customizable lighting control to support our crews in every response environment.

Investments like this reflect our ongoing commitment to:
• Providing a safe and efficient workspace for our personnel
• Delivering high-quality patient care
• Maintaining a modern, reliable fleet for Mecklenburg County

We’re excited to showcase this unit and continue moving our system forward.

02/13/2026

🔥4 p.m. Burn Law starts Sunday🔥

🔥 Why the 4 p.m. Burn Law Matters 🔥

From February 15 through April 30, Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burn Law is in place because this is one of the most dangerous times of year for wildfires.

During late winter and early spring:

• Grasses, leaves, and brush are very dry before spring green-up
• Low humidity and gusty winds allow fire to spread quickly
• Warmer afternoon temperatures dry fuels even more

Most wildfires this time of year start as escaped debris burns. What begins as a small brush pile can quickly spread into woods or across fields under the right conditions.

That’s why burning is only allowed after 4 p.m. (within 300 feet of woods or dry grass) when weather conditions are typically more stable and less prone to rapid fire spread.

Please burn responsibly:
• Follow the 4 p.m. rule
• Clear the area around your fire
• Keep water and tools nearby
• Never leave a fire unattended

A little caution now can prevent a major wildfire later.

02/12/2026

🚨***Update the class is full. You can still join the waiting list***🚨

Mecklenburg County Emergency Services is proud to offer a FREE Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course beginning March 11 at EMS Station 3 in Chase City.

If you have ever considered a career in EMS, fire, healthcare, or simply want to gain the skills to help others when it matters most, this is your opportunity. This hybrid course includes one night per week of in-person instruction along with assigned virtual coursework throughout the week.

There is no tuition cost, and space is limited.

Register today at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mecklenburg-emergency-services-emt-course-tickets-1982783613162?aff=oddtdtcreator

Take the first step toward making a difference in your community.ss ass