Photo courtesy of Botetourt Co.
By Matt de Simone
An electrical failure has been identified as the cause of the September 26 “commercial fire” that devastated the Troutville Fire Training Center, Botetourt County officials announced this week.
The blaze, which broke out early that morning at the facility on Sunset Avenue, caused major damage to the building and destroyed a wide range of specialized training equipment used by the county’s fire and EMS personnel.
A joint investigation by Botetourt Fire & EMS and the Fire Marshal’s Offices from Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and the City of Salem determined that the fire originated near the center of the structure. Investigators believe the blaze was caused by a failure in the electrical wiring, where an apparent arc in a large-gauge wire may have ignited nearby combustibles. The fire then spread in what officials described as an “expected and predictable fashion” throughout the building.
County Fire & EMS Chief Jason Ferguson shared photos from the incident taken from firetruck dashcam footage and a firefighter’s helmet camera.
“[First responders] found some heavy smoke conditions when they arrived and started getting things set up and in place to go investigate,” Ferguson told the Board of Supervisors at its meeting last Tuesday. “And, of course, this fire was just looking for a way to breathe and get some oxygen because there was a heavy fire load in the building from the way it was constructed and the type of training props that were in it.”
All investigative materials have been turned over to the property’s insurance company for verification. Once confirmed, the insurer will work with the county and the Troutville Fire Department to determine coverage and begin planning for restoration of an operational training facility on the same site. In the meantime, efforts are already underway to replace essential training aids and equipment.
The loss of the facility has had far-reaching impacts. In his presentation to the supervisors last week, Ferguson noted that the fire not only destroyed the county’s most active emergency training site but also disrupted operations at the backup 911 dispatch center housed within the same building.
Within days of the fire, the backup dispatch center was relocated to the Greenfield Administration Building to ensure that the county’s emergency communication system maintained full redundancy and reliability.
“That was actively taking place while parts of the building still had smoldering debris,” Ferguson said of the relocation effort. “In essence, the Sheriff’s Office team as well as their dispatch center team, our information technologies groups, and emergency communication swooped in, got the equipment, brought it (to Greenfield), got it back in a place of restoration so that should we have a failure of the 911 center in Fincastle, the backup system would still be viable and able to run and operate.”
Ferguson said his department continues to work closely with Troutville leadership and the insurance carrier to assess the damage, document losses, and plan for the facility’s future.
Despite the challenges, Ferguson praised the resilience of county personnel and the strong support received from the community and partner agencies.
While recovery efforts continue, Ferguson assured the board that fire and emergency service training remains ongoing. The county’s Volunteer Training Academy has temporarily relocated inside the Troutville Fire Station.
A significant amount of equipment and supplies was damaged beyond repair. However, the county’s insurance carrier is actively working with Fire & EMS to replace essential items—such as CPR and AED trainers and fire training props—to ensure training operations continue.
County officials stated that additional updates will be provided as key steps are completed toward restoring the training facility to full operation.
Board Chair Amy White and other board members commended Ferguson and staff on their efforts in learning what caused the incident and how quickly the department has worked to improve future training facilities in the county.
In other business, the Board of Supervisors approved a request from the Fire & EMS Department to purchase a replacement utility terrain vehicle (UTV) used for wilderness rescues and emergency responses.
The department’s current 2005 Kubota UTV has reached the end of its reliable service life after 20 years. The vehicle is used in more than a dozen rescues each year, providing access to remote areas across the county’s rugged terrain.
Fire & EMS will purchase a 2021 Polaris UTV from the Western Virginia EMS Council for $30,000, using funds from the department’s Capital Reserve Fund. The lightly used vehicle includes safety upgrades, an emergency lighting package, a new open trailer, and a patient transport unit.
The new UTV will support both emergency rescues and operations at major public events such as the Ironman Triathlon and national cycling races, ensuring responders can access remote sites throughout Botetourt County.
To watch last week’s October meeting of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors in its entirety, visit the county’s YouTube channel (@botetourtcountyva) under the “Live” video tab.
