Loudoun Fire Chief, Explosion Response Honored With Awards From Governor

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Loudoun County Fire and Rescue has been recognized with Governor’s Fire Service Awards for the fire chief of the year, the response to the home explosion and for its fire service training.

Fire Chief Keith Johnson earned the 2024 Governor’s Fire Service Award for Career Fire Chief of the Year. Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement that Johnson is a fourth-generation firefightrer with more than 42 years of experience. Johnson has been a firefighter since 1983, first serving Fairfax County Fire and Rescue after moving to the region from Long Island, New York. After serving multiple positions including deputy chief roles, Johnson retired from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue in December 2014 and accepted an assistant chief of operations position with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. He was appointed as fire chief in May 2018.

"Throughout his time as System Chief in Loudoun County, Chief Johnson’s dedication and steadfast commitment to providing world-class firefighting and Emergency Medical Services to Loudoun’s residents and visitors has resulted in significant improvements in all areas of our combined fire and rescue system," Loudoun County Fire and Rescue said in a statement.

Along with serving Loudoun County, Johnson has served as chair of the governor-appointed Virginia Fire Services Board and a member of the governor-appointed Virginia’s Board of Housing and Community Development. Johnson has advocated for the fire service and for improved benefits and protections for first responders, including more behavioral health benefits and increased cancer protections for firefighters. Another subject he continues to advocate for is requirements for fire sprinkler systems in more residential homes.

Johnson will retire from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue in April but will continue to serve on the Virginia Fire Services Board and Virginia’s Board of Housing and Community Development.

Other awards received by Loudoun County Fire and Rescue are Excellence in Virginia Career Fire Service Training and the Outstanding Career Fire Department Response, which are shared with several other fire departments.

The Outstanding Career Fire Department Response award relates to the response to the Feb. 16, 2024 home explosion Silver Ridge Drive in Sterling. Units had been investigating a gas leak at the home. Firefighters were inside and outside the home when the explosion occurred. The explosion led to the death of Firefighter Trevor Brown of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company and injured 11 other firefighters.

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue was honored along with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, which contributed to the rescue of firefighters trapped in the exploded home. Two of the injured firefighters were trapped in the basement under a debris pile engulfed in flames. Two units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and one from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue tunneled into the burning debris pile to rescue the firefighters, who put out "mayday" calls. Both firefighters were rescued but had significant injuries.

The Excellence in Virginia Career Fire Service Training relates to the fire department's role in developing a working group on training for electric vehicle fires. State legislation required the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to develop a training program on the risks of electric vehicle fires and how to manage these fires. Firefighters, including volunteers, must complete the electric vehicle fire training by Dec. 1, 2025.

Fire department members contributing to the working group are Battalion Chief Jasen Dodson (Loudoun County Fire and Rescue-committee chair), Deputy Chief William Vannoy (Fairfax County Fire and Rescue-co-chair), Amanda Kennedy (Virginia Department of Fire Programs project manager), Captain Lawrence Lippincott (Loudoun County Fire and Rescue), Assistant Chief John Walser (Fairfax County Fire and Rescue) and Battalion Chief Richard Grassel (Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services).

"These award recipients embody excellence, dedication, and leadership in the fire service, and I am honored to recognize their contributions to public safety across the commonwealth," said Youngkin in a statement. "In collaboration with Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Terry Cole, we celebrate and thank these recipients for their unwavering dedication and commitment to safeguarding our commonwealth."