Piney River Volunteer Fire Department

10/28/2026

Bring the ghost and goblins out for a little sweet treat this Saturday October 31, 2026

10/08/2026

We are heartbroken to share that Firefighter Andrew Brokes died in the line of duty this morning while searching for victims inside the building at 410 Marly Drive.

Firefighter Brokes, who joined the Durham Fire Department on May 5, 2025, served the Durham community with dedication, courage, and a deep commitment to the residents of the Bull City.

“This is a heartbreaking loss for our department, the family, and the entire community,” said Durham Fire Chief Robert J. Zoldos II. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and his colleagues, and we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during this unimaginably difficult time. The department is standing with and supporting his family in every possible way.”

Two other firefighters were injured during the incident and were taken to Duke Medical Center. Both have received care and are expected to make full recoveries.

This loss is felt across our entire department. Firefighters step into unpredictable situations every day in service to others, and Firefighter Brokes embodied that calling with honor.

We know our community is grieving alongside us. If you wish to share your condolences or messages of support, they will be received with gratitude by our department and by those who knew and loved Firefighter Brokes.

In the coming days, we will share more information about how we will honor his service and support the firefighters involved in this incident.

Thank you, Durham, for surrounding our DFD family with care during this profoundly difficult time.

08/11/2026

Reminder as we are getting some much needed rain fall, some of it comes with storms, wind and power outages. Remember best practices and safety tips:

07/14/2026

Not all hero’s wear capes! When your neighbor sees you toting ice to prepare for calls in a broken bucket, and hooks you up with a new heavy duty bucket!!!

06/28/2026

VDOT information:

Nelson County:
Route 778 (Lowesville Rd.) over Piney River (37.719072, -79.066938) – Bridge work starting on 6/29/26 with temporary signals to control traffic. Expected completion July 5, 2026.

06/22/2026

Sharing this post from the NCSO….

***UPDATE — AUGUST 17, 2026***

We’ve heard the recent concerns surrounding the door-to-door sales activity referenced in our original post, so a quick clarification:

Our original post was for community awareness only. It was not an endorsement of the individual, company, or its sales practices.

Sheriff Embrey has spoken directly with the individual regarding concerns brought to our attention.

And while we’re here, a reminder that applies to anyone who comes to your door: You are never obligated to open the door, continue a conversation, provide information, or make a purchase. If you ask someone to leave your property, that request should be respected.

If an interaction becomes threatening, someone refuses to leave after being asked, or you otherwise feel law enforcement assistance is warranted, please contact our Office.

As always, trust your judgment, know your boundaries, and don’t hesitate to reach out when you need us. Have a safe Monday, Nelson!

**** Community Awareness ****

This morning, our Office met with Mr. Noah J. Childs, a rising senior at Texas A&M University, who will be spending the next several weeks in Nelson County.

Mr. Childs is employed with Southwestern Advantage, a company that manufactures educational literature and reading materials for children. Over the next two weeks, Noah will be meeting with Nelson County families in the Tye River Elementary and Rockfish Elementary School Districts, to introduce this literature.

Mr. Childs will be operating a 2014 Ford Fusion with Texas Registration (TJP-4882), which has the corporate logo on the side of the vehicle as depicted below.

Noah comes to Nelson County, having already provided this service to other localities in Central Virginia. We wanted to share this information to provide community awareness of Mr. Childs's presence and intentions within the community.

06/10/2026

Today we had visitors from SUPERIOR
PAVING CORP. stop by the firehouse and present a donation to the fire department. We are very blessed to have the support of our community. We appreciate each and everyone of you.

05/25/2026

Today and everyday we are thankful for the men and women who have laid down their lives for each of us. Thank you is never enough.

04/17/2026

Sometimes even the hero’s need hero’s, we certainly appreciate the lift from Stoney Creek Auto today..

04/13/2026