Goochland County Fire-Rescue announces free community show for Oct. 3
Free fire and EMS demos, food trucks and fireworks will turn Goochland’s Oct. 3 Fire-Rescue Show into a hands-on night for families.
Families in Goochland will get a free evening of fire and EMS demonstrations, food trucks, door prizes and fireworks when Goochland County Fire-Rescue stages its 2026 Fire-Rescue Show on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The county says the event is meant to do more than entertain. It is designed to give residents a close look at fire safety, EMS practices and the day-to-day work of the firefighters and EMS providers who respond across Goochland County. By keeping admission free, the department is aiming to draw broad participation from families across the county, not just people already connected to public safety.
Goochland County Fire-Rescue has served the county since 1951 and describes itself as a combination department made up of volunteer and career members. Chief Eddie Ferguson, Jr. leads the department, and Lisa A. H. Brown is listed as recruitment and retention coordinator. That staffing structure helps explain why the Fire-Rescue Show is also being used as a recruitment tool, with the department highlighting service opportunities for residents who may want to learn more about joining the system that protects them.
Volunteer openings are available at all six stations, and applicants do not need to live in Goochland County. The department says volunteers may receive scholarship assistance and free training, making the show a potential entry point for residents considering a role in emergency service. County materials say the outreach effort is part of a larger mission centered on fire, EMS and emergency management, along with public education and prevention.
The Oct. 3 event also comes as Goochland’s fire-rescue system is changing. The county launched a real-time public dashboard on March 9 that shows response heat maps, call types and calls by district. County Administrator Dr. Raley said it was the first of several planned dashboards and was intended to give the public meaningful operational data.
The county is also expanding its facilities. Officials broke ground on Fire-Rescue Station 8 in Sandy Hook on April 7, and county materials say it is the first new fire-rescue district added in more than 60 years. Planning is also moving ahead for a future West Creek Fire-Rescue Station 7. Against that backdrop, the Fire-Rescue Show looks like part celebration, part open house and part public-facing reminder of how much Goochland’s emergency services network is growing.
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