Portsmouth Fire Rescue & Emergency Services

09/03/2026

Way to go Lt. Harper. You are a role model for so many young people, especially young women in this community. Thank you for all you do to assist us.

08/03/2026

🚑 Now Hiring in Portsmouth, VA! 🚒
The City of Portsmouth Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services is actively recruiting Full-Time & Part-Time Paramedics, as well as Part-Time Advanced EMTs.

If you’re passionate about serving your community, delivering high‑quality emergency medical care, and joining a dedicated team that’s committed to excellence, we want you on our crew.

📌 Opportunities Available:
• Full-Time Paramedics
• Part-Time Paramedics
• Part-Time Advanced EMTs

📲 Apply Today & Help Us Strengthen Our EMS Team!
Visit the City of Portsmouth job portal or contact our HR team for details.

07/28/2026

07/23/2026

It is with deepest sympathy and regret that we announce the passing of one of our firefighters. Their dedication, courage, and service to the Portsmouth community embodied the highest ideals of our profession. We ask that you keep their family, friends, and fellow crew members in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Let us honor their memory by supporting one another and continuing the work they so faithfully carried out.

Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.

07/01/2026

Congrats FF Medic George! We are proud of you, and thankful you are a part of this organization. June 2026 Employee of the Month for Portsmouth

06/24/2026

Congratulations to Firefighters Tommy Mackley and Jeff Kempe on graduating from the VFCA Fire Officer Academy! Their hard work, leadership, and commitment to the fire service continue to make our department proud. Great job, Tommy and Jeff! 👏🔥

05/18/2026

This week, we proudly celebrate EMS Week and honor the dedicated professionals of our department who serve our community with skill, compassion, and unwavering commitment. From answering calls in our community’s most critical moments to providing lifesaving care when seconds count, you represent the very best of public service.

Every response, every patient, every challenge — you show up with heart, courage, and professionalism. Thank you for being the calm in the chaos and the strength our community depends on.

To our EMTs, paramedics, supervisors, firefighters, support staff, and every team member who keeps our system moving: we appreciate you, we honor you, and we celebrate you this week and every week.

Happy EMS Week! 💛🚑

04/30/2026

Portsmouth Fire recently completed a back-to-basics firefighter survival skills training designed to reinforce core competencies and build confidence in high-risk, low-frequency events.

Firefighters trained on rescuing a downed member who had fallen through and become trapped in a floor. Crews practiced locating the firefighter, stabilizing the compromised area, and packaging and removing the member using coordinated techniques that prioritized both victim and rescuer safety.

Rescue operations for a firefighter trapped in a below-grade environment were also conducted. Training focused on laddering techniques, controlled access and egress, and coordinated removal while maintaining air management and constant communication.

Finally, firefighters practiced self-rescue techniques during low-air and out-of-air emergencies. This included controlled problem-solving under stress, air conservation methods, and buddy breathing procedures.

Overall, the training strengthened fundamental survival skills and reinforced the expectation that every firefighter is prepared to act decisively to save themselves and their fellow

04/23/2026

🚒 Firefighter Trainee Applicants – Important Testing Information

🚒The Portsmouth Fire Department has scheduled the Firefighter Applicant Physical Ability Test sessions for May 8–10, 2026. Participation in one of these sessions is required to continue in the hiring process. This is a pass/fail assessment.

📌 Practice Sessions (Choose One):

📍 Safety Town Training Center – 4404 Deep Creek Blvd., Portsmouth, VA

• May 8, 2026 — 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
• May 9, 2026 — 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
• May 10, 2026 — 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

📌 Official Physical Ability Test Dates:

📍 Safety Town Training Center – 4404 Deep Creek Blvd., Portsmouth, VA

• May 15, 2026 — 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
• May 16, 2026 — 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
• May 17, 2026 — 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

A sign‑up sheet will be available at each practice session.

If you cannot attend a practice session, contact Ms. Daphney Jenkins at 757‑393‑8765 or [email protected] by May 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM to schedule your preferred test date and time. Slots are first‑come, first‑served.

⚠️ Applicants who do not attend a test session will not move forward in the hiring process.

For questions about the testing sessions:
• Battalion Chief Michael Dugan – [email protected]
• Deputy Fire Chief Julian Williamson – [email protected]

For all other hiring‑process inquiries:
• Ms. Daphney Jenkins – 757‑393‑8765 | [email protected]

04/13/2026

🌟 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2026 🌟

This week, we proudly honor the incredible men and women of the Portsmouth Emergency Communications Center (E911) — the calm voices in the chaos and the first, first responders our community relies on every day.

Our telecommunicators work tirelessly behind the scenes, answering calls for help with professionalism, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Whether coordinating emergency responses, supporting first responders, or guiding callers through critical moments, their impact is immeasurable.

To our E911 team: thank you for your commitment to keeping Portsmouth safe. Your service matters, your work saves lives, and your community appreciates you more than words can express. 💛💙