Botetourt County Fire & EMS Chief Jason Ferguson introduced new full-time crew members to the Board of Supervisors last week in Daleville. As local fire and EMS teams continue to provide the county with drive-thru and in-home vaccinations, additional help in Botetourt arrives at a pivotal time as medical and rescue workers across the country continue to provide Americans with security from the COVID-19 virus.
“What strikes me more than anything else is going to the homes of individuals that can’t go out [to get vaccinated],” Botetourt County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dr. Mac Scothorn, who represents the Valley District, stated. “This is what Botetourt is about—picking up where someone’s left off and filling a need.”
Scothorn thanked Ferguson and his staff for their work delivering vaccines to homes in Botetourt County.
Ferguson thanked the chairman for his comments and then welcomed new full-time crew members, Matthew Scott and Nick Delaney. Both men recently graduated from the 27th Roanoke Valley Regional Fire-EMS Academy. Scott served as the president of the academy as elected by his classmates and served as the first Botetourt County resident to serve in that position.
“They spent 16 weeks away from us, spending long days, evenings, and nights studying,” Ferguson mentioned. “These two gentlemen were EMS trained, so they went [to the academy] for the firefighting portion.”
Ferguson then recognized volunteer Jonathan Boggs of Troutville, who started as a volunteer in 2018. Boggs is one of nine volunteers that received their firefighter certification through the volunteer academy put on by Botetourt and Roanoke County. Over six months, volunteers from both counties spend their nights and weekends studying to achieve their certifications.
An existing employee, Lt. Jonathan Rodgers, was recently nominated by Academy 27 and received an instructor award as a Botetourt County instructor by Class 27. Rodgers has spent the last seven years working for Botetourt County’s Fire & EMS Department.
