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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 19. Public Safety
5/20/2025

19VAC15. Department of Fire Programs

VAC AGENCY NO. 15
DEPARTMENT OF FIRE PROGRAMS

AGENCY SUMMARY

The Executive Director of the Department of Fire Programs is responsible for carrying out the purposes of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs(§ 9.1-200 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code Act (§ 27-94 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and assisting the Virginia Fire Services Board in carrying out its responsibilities. The department is the designated state agency to receive and disburse funds available under the Fire Programs Fund (§ 38.2-401 of the Code of Virginia).

Under § 9.1-203, the Virginia Fire Services Board is responsible for promoting the coordination of the efforts of fire service organizations at the state and local levels, ensuring the development and implementation of the Virginia Fire Prevention and Control Plan, reviewing and approving a five-year statewide plan for fire education and training, approving the criteria for the disbursement of grants made from the Fire Programs Fund, providing technical assistance and advice to local fire service agencies and governments, advising and recommending personnel standards for fire services personnel, and advising the department on its statewide plan for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data relating to fires in the Commonwealth. The board may also make recommendations to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security concerning legislation affecting fire prevention and protection and the fire services organizations in Virginia. The board is authorized to evaluate all fire prevention and protection programs and make any recommendations deemed necessary to improve the level of fire prevention and protection in the Commonwealth. The board also advises the department on the Statewide Fire Prevention Code and investigates alternative means of providing financial support for volunteer fire departments. 

The department administers the Fire Programs Fund as set forth in § 38.2-401 of the Code of Virginia and as further defined by policies established in cooperation with the Virginia Fire Services Board. As provided in § 38.2-401, the department is authorized to develop regulations to certify instructors who provide fire-related training at local fire service training facilities where local Fire Programs Funds have been used to construct, improve, or expand such facilities.

The department, as provided in § 27-34 and § 27-34.2:1, is authorized to develop regulations for required courses of instruction, in-service, and advanced courses for local and state fire marshals and fire marshal assistants. The department may also develop courses for those local fire marshals authorized by their localities to have police powers.

The department operates under the supervision of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. The department's headquarters address is 1005 Technology Park Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23059. Internet address: http://www.vafire.com.

Rev. 07/2024

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