Come to a Volunteer Information Session!
Follow the link below, or click in the section above, to find out how to fill out an Information Request Form
The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company is always looking for new members to help staff our fire trucks and/or perform administrative functions around the station. No experience necessary and all training is FREE.
The SVFC relies on the the community for financial support. Our biggest fund raiser is our annual mailing in the fall, but we always welcome your financial support at any time. We also hold other fund raising events throughout the year. Find out about those in the Community Events section at the bottom of the page.
Heating, holiday decorations, winter storms, and candles all contribute to an increased risk of fire during the winter months. The NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration are teaming up to help reduce your risk to winter fires and other hazards, including carbon monoxide and electrical fires.
February 28th, 1:35 pm
Basic precautions are always a good idea, and prevention is the best cure.Help prevent respiratory viruses with these tips:
February 15th, 6:55 pm
The post from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue about yesterday’s gas leak. Thank you to all the first responders and others who provided support during this extended incident.Gas Leak Closes Harry Byrd Highway in Sterling
Sterling, VA. - Damages to an underground gas line just before noon on Friday caused the extended closure of busy intersections across the Cascades area.
At 11:44 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 2020, Engine 618 from Cascades was dispatched for an outside gas leak at the intersection of Harry Byrd Hwy and Potomac View Road. Firefighters arrived on the scene and discovered that during construction a large-diameter gas line was struck on Potomac View Road. Additional resources were requested, bringing fire and rescue units from Sterling Park, Kincora, Lansdowne, Fairfax County, along with the Hazardous Materials Response Team from Dulles South.
Fire and rescue crews worked alongside units from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) to quickly shut down eastbound lanes of Harry Byrd Highway and areas of Potomac View Road. To ensure their safety, several business in the immediate area were evacuated. Firefighters set up atmospheric detection operations strategically across the affected area to monitor conditions. Acceptable readings showed no hazard in the westbound lanes of Harry Byrd Highway allowing that section of the roadway to remain open.
Washington Gas arrived on the scene and advised that they would need to dig to secure the leak. In order to avoid shutting off gas to roughly 700 customers with temperatures in the low 30’s, Washington Gas was able to lower the pressure in the gas line and maintain service. Fire and rescue and law enforcement maintained the road closures allowing Washington Gas to access and repair the damaged gas line.
In addition to LCSO, fire and rescue was assisted by various local agencies throughout the extended incident. Representatives from the Loudoun County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia State Police (VASP), the Virginia State Corporation Commission (VA-SCC), and Canteen Units from Sterling Fire and Leesburg Rescue all provided critical support services throughout the incident. Approximately six hours into the incident, fire and rescue units from Kincora, Sterling Park, Ashburn, Leesburg, and Fairfax County responded to scene to relieve first responders and assume monitoring activities.
Fire and Rescue units remained on the scene until Washington Gas secured the leak at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, February 15th, 2020. Firefighters took gas readings throughout the area one final time to ensure the leak was contained and no hazardous conditions existed before allowing entry to the area.
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
Loudoun County Government
Virginia Department of Transportation
Virginia State Police
Loudoun Career Fire Fighters Association - IAFF Local 3756
Loudoun County Volunteer Fire-Rescue
Thank you to all the hard workers who helped to resolve this issue, keeping the community safe!
February 15th, 8:51 am
Major Gas Leak
Just before noon on Valentine's Day Loudoun County Fire and Rescue units from Sterling were dispatched for a gas leak in the area of Route 7 and Potomac View Rd. A large gas line had ruptured. As the incident expanded additional units from Loudoun and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were called to assist. Local buildings were evacuated and monitoring was set up throughout the area to accurately track any spread and assess any hazards. Loudoun County Sheriff's Office closed off many roads to keep the area clear. Other fire units from as far away as Lucketts were transferred to handle other calls in Sterling. Canteen 611 and Canteen 613 (Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad) were called to provide food and refreshments during the extended incident. SVFC volunteers relieved the covering units at shift change and later replaced the day crews as they approached 12 hours on scene. All units were released shortly before 6am shift change on Saturday morning while Washington Gas finishes the repair. Potomac View Rd northbound approaching RT7 is still closed, but all other roadways are open (as of Saturday morning).
I’m in the adjacent neighborhood and while traffic was a mess, everything was handled well and people w gas heat were able to stay warm despite the gas leak. Great job!
Amazing volunteers to be outside in cold weather overnight making a safe environment for us all. Thank You!!!
I am so impressed with how all involved handled this situation! I recommend everyone sign up for the alerts so that you are aware of these situations before you drive up on them.
Great work and communication on how this was taken care of from the start. We all need to assist by signing up for the alerts and sharing with as many as possible on getting the word out. All of the street closures and detours were listed on the alerts..I shared with my family and they all knew to travel a different route when coming home.
So were all the restaurants in the area closed down like Millers & the ones by the Harris Teeter?? Dont understand how big of an area was impacted or if people had to leave their homes
Thank you for serving the community and working through the night under rough conditions.
I could smell it near Dranesville Road Friday night. Thanks for your good work.
Thank you for the work and volunteering you do to keep us all safe.
Thank you for communications and updates...and for all you do. Awesome team effort.
Thank you for your service. Why wasn't this covered by local news media? Didn't hear a peep from channels 4 or 7.
I was wondering what was going on! Thanks for the update
Thank you to everyone involved in keeping our community safe. You ARE appreciated.
Thank you for keeping the Community safe!
That you all for you work in keeping others safe.
Thank you for keeping all of us safe!
Great job all!
Thank you for all you do!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thanks y'all!
Howard Swinimer
Thank you for keeping our community safe!
February 14th, 9:55 am
Open Burning Restrictions start tomorrow (Feb 15th).Open Burning Restrictions: “4p.m. Law” Commences February 15th
The Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office is reminding citizens that open burning is restricted in Loudoun County between February 15th and April 30th. The regulations, which prohibit open air fires, or open burning as it is commonly referred to, between the hours of midnight and 4p.m., are enforced by the Loudoun County Fire Marshal and the Virginia Department of Forestry. Known as the “4p.m. law,” these restrictions are in place due to the potential for rapid fire spread across woodland and grassland areas as a result of dry outdoor fuels, high winds and temperature increases that are normally present in the late winter and early spring season.
During this period, residents may conduct open burning between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight, subject to other restrictions. Open air fires for leaves, trees, brush, yard and garden trimmings generated on site are allowed between 4 p.m. and midnight, except in the town limits of Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, Round Hill, and subdivisions ("urban or built up areas") throughout the County and in the Town of Leesburg. Ensure that any permissible outdoor burning is conducted at least fifty feet away from any structure.
Persons conducting open burning must contact the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center at 703-777-0637 prior to igniting a fire and at the end of the burning. Fires may not be added to after midnight. Persons are responsible, at all times, to ensure the fire is maintained under control and that it is attended to by a competent adult, 18 years of age or older, with provisions immediately available to extinguish the fire.
The Loudoun County Fire Marshal may impose regulations, at any time, based upon complaint, atmospheric or other environmental circumstances, to restrict or extinguish any fire that is otherwise permitted according to these guidelines. Any person who violates the fire code could be convicted of a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of a fine up to $2,500.00 and up to a year in jail. If convicted, a person may be required to compensate the locality for the full costs of fighting a fire.
Questions regarding open burning regulations and the “4 p.m. law” should be directed to the Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office website www.loudoun.gov/firemarshal or by calling 703-737-8600.
Loudoun County Government
Loudoun County Volunteer Fire-Rescue
Loudoun Career Fire Fighters Association - IAFF Local 3756
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
February 10th, 5:10 pm
Passing along a safety tip from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. A fire in the Brambleton area yesterday highlights yet again the importance of disposing ashes and coals safely. This fire started from hot ashes in the garage.
February 8th, 5:59 pm
This is a status update from the 4 alarm fire near Alexandria today.
February 8th, 5:57 pm
Canteen 611 responded mutual aid to Fairfax Fire and Rescue to assist first responders at this huge incident. Glad to be able to help.
I could see the smoke from the fire from the Dulles Greenway this morning. Went into DC and the clouds just got darker and darker. Scary stuff.
Whole lot of exposures and whole lot of fire load !!!
I saw it from Russell Branch. Didnt know it at the time
Were these pictures taken by the Canteen crew?
January 24th, 8:22 pm
Yesterday we posted about what to do as emergency vehicles are approaching you. The part about how you react when YOU approach US is just as important. As this article notes, people are not slowing down and moving over, even with laws passed to require that. And first responders are still getting killed or injured at incidents by speeding drivers. Please Slow Down and Move Over.
#SLOWDOWNANDMOVEOVER #savelives
Years ago when I ran fire/paramedic in PA, a firefighter fell off the back of an engine responding to an alarm (later determined to be a false alarm 🙁 ). He was in bunker gear and the engine was only doing about 15mph (bounced over a curb trying to get by car) so he would have been okay... except for the car that was failing to follow the law and stay back 300 feet; the car ran over him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Be careful out there... 😟
January 23rd, 4:51 pm
In relation to our previous post, this (Canadian) video does a good job of laying out what you should do when an emergency vehicle approaches, even for those pesky three lane roads we have around here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MpfC3mIvhs
January 23rd, 8:32 am
The Virginia State Code 46.2-829: "Approach of law-enforcement or fire-fighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, or ambulances; violation as failure to yield right-of-way" says (in part):
"Upon the approach of any emergency vehicle...giving audible signal by siren...and displaying emergency lights, the driver of every other vehicle shall, as quickly as traffic and other highway conditions permit, drive to the nearest edge of the roadway, clear of any intersection of highways, and stop and remain there, unless otherwise directed by a law-enforcement officer, until the emergency vehicle has passed."
Please don't wait until we're right behind you. We're heavy and can't stop quickly, so as you're waiting for us to get closer we're already slowing down. If you're still moving we don't know if you're planning on turning or changing lanes. The sooner you're stopped the safer we'll all be.
law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-829/
law.lis.virginia.gov
Table of Contents » Title 46.2. Motor Vehicles » Subtitle III. Operation » Chapter 8. Regulation of Traffic » Article 2. Right-of-Way » § 46.2-829. Approach of law-enforcement or fire-fighting v...I cannot tell how many times when I was driving that people had no clue what to do when we were coming up the street or coming up to a intersection with lights and both sirens blaring asking for is to get pass.
