HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today the recipients of the 2024 Governor’s Fire Service Awards. These recognize excellence in Virginia’s fire service

Chief Jerry “Jay” Ritchie of Harrisonburg Hose Company No. 4 has been recognized as a recipient of the award for Virginia Fire Chief of the Year. 

According to a news release from Governor Youngkin, Chief Ritchie has been acting Chief for three and half years but has been in the fire service since the age of 15 with 25 years of service both as a medic and firefighter for Winchester and Harrisonburg. After his retirement, he returned as the Training Officer for Hose Company No. 4 in 2020. In 2023, Chief Ritchie started the first volunteer fire academy for its members in the region. He taught Firefighter I and Firefighter II courses along with Hazmat Operations, EVOC, Basic Pump Operator, and CPR/First Aid.

In the last year, he has been able to staff 12-hour duty crews seven nights a week and coverage during the day at least four out of seven days. Chief Ritchie has begun his second fire academy that includes members from four other departments and four career personnel from a different county.