Albemarle County, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Albemarle County Fire Rescue Chief Dan Eggleston joined Morning News to discuss the department’s achievements in 2024 and plans for the upcoming year. “It was a big year,” Chief Eggleston remarked, highlighting the department’s successful recruitment of 35 new firefighters, supported by a $7 million FEMA grant. These recruits have already begun serving in the field, enhancing emergency services in the southern part of the county. 

Looking forward to 2025, Chief Eggleston shared plans for another recruit class of 35 students. This group will undergo rigorous training to support the North Garden Volunteer Fire Station and add an additional ambulance to the northern county region, addressing increased EMS demand. “We’re urbanizing and its bringing on a lot more call volume, so we want to stay ahead of the curve,” Eggleston said. 

Among the department’s ongoing priorities is its innovative Human Services Alternative Response Team (HART), which provides mental health support in collaboration with social services and law enforcement. In 2024, the program expanded due to growing demand. “Last year was a big demand and because of that demand, we’re adding a second team this year,” Eggleston shared, expressing pride in the team’s groundbreaking work. 

Chief Eggleston also addressed the department’s role in combating overdose calls through Narcan deployment. He noted that overdose incidents have declined recently, crediting their leave-behind Narcan program and ongoing collaboration with local hospitals and public safety partners. “Our goal is to help those folks survive another day so they can get some the care they need,” he emphasized. 

Listen here for the full conversation: