About Us

WHO we are

The Metro Richmond Flying Squad is an all-volunteer group of members who provide support to our area first responders. Our members consist of current and former firefighters, police officers, business owners and citizens of the Metro Richmond area.

WHAT we do

If you think in terms of the basic services your parents provided to you as a child it included food, water, shelter and clothing. Firefighters are required to work long periods of time in all types of weather. They can’t take the day off because it’s snowing, raining or on days with extreme temperatures.    It is our job to make sure their basic needs are taken care of while they concentrate on protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

Our members provide hot and cold drinks, snacks, portable shelters, misting fans in summer and portable heaters in winter, dry socks, gloves and blankets.  We have the capability to serve meals at extended incidents and both vehicles contain bathroom facilities for the comfort of our first responders.

Firefighting is dirty work.  Firefighters contracting cancer due to multiple exposures to toxic smoke and chemicals is a serious problem.  We provide portable wash stations, decontamination wipes for their use to remove these harmful substances from their skin.

WHEN we do it

Our dedicated volunteers are called upon at any hour of any day to provide services during emergency incidents. We also provide our services at various scheduled events throughout the year.

WHERE we do it

We go directly to the scene of the emergency with our specialized response vehicle to setup our equipment and begin providing services. We have the capability to provide services for extended periods of times in any location or weather conditions.

Currently, we cover 1,074 square miles including the City of Richmond Virginia, Goochland, Hanover and Henrico counties. With proper funding, we plan to begin to offer our services to the surrounding counties in the Metropolitan Richmond area.

WHY we do it

Firefighting is extremely strenuous, physically demanding work. Unlike professional athletes, firefighters do not have the opportunity to warm up, they often go from zero to 100 in a matter of seconds.

A firefighter is nearly three times more likely to die from stress or overexertion than from the next leading cause, according to statistics maintained by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Providing proper incident rehabilitative services provides for the health and safety of our firefighters.

​HOW we do it

Our members are alerted to various emergency situations via a cell phone paging application.  The Metro Richmond Flying Squad utilizes two specialized response vehicles that carry equipment and supplies.  

Rehab 1 and Rehab 2 are our specialized response vehicles.

Once on scene, our members evaluate the situation and develop a plan of action according to the National Standard outlined in the National Fire Protection Association publication “Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercises”. 

​This plan of action could be as simple as providing coolers and some chairs or it could be as complex as a full deployment of all equipment and prepare for a long duration event. Every incident is different, there is never a dull moment in the life of one of our dedicated Flying Squad members.