Bradfordville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department

09/08/2026

A challenging fire and job well done by all. 1561, nice work laying 350’ of supply line from the hydrant to the attack engines (TFD E15 and E7).

09/08/2026

Not all paths into the fire service look the same, but the drive to help others is always the common thread!

​Whether it’s staffing community events or keeping our website running smoothly, support behind the scenes is vital to keeping Bradfordville Volunteer Fire & Rescue operational and connected to our community. This week, we’re proud to feature Auxiliary Member, EMT Katie Ruane! 🚒

​Katie’s passion for emergency response began in Georgia, where she volunteered with the Sandy Springs Fire Department’s Fire Corps and CERT team. That experience inspired her to earn her EMT certification, and after moving to the area, she worked PRN with Leon County EMS while balancing her corporate career.

​Encouraged by her brother—and fellow BVFRD member— firefighter Sean Ruane, Katie brought her experience to our department. For her, the best part of volunteering is simple: helping make someone’s difficult day a little easier and contributing to a safer community.

​When she’s not supporting the BVFRD, Katie loves spending time with her husband and their two dogs, and getting out on the water whenever she can! 🌊🐶

​Please join us in thanking Katie for her dedication and hard work behind the scenes for BVFRD! 👏

09/06/2026

It has been 25 years since 9/11. Anyone under the age of 30 likely has no memory of the events. More so for children born since. How can we teach them about the events of that day and the courage, bravery, and compassion exhibited? How do we teach them why we remember? Oopa's World and the National Fallen Firefighters foundation has an entire website dedicated for this. Take a look at how they help "explore themes of remembrance, heroism, preparedness, and service through movement and reflection."

This Remembering September 11 resource supports the introduction of this topic to young children. Teachers of kindergarten, first grade and second grade can use this in the classroom. Parents can use this resource at home. It includes five videos: ANNIVERSARY, EMERGENCY, HERO, MEMORY, and SERVICE.

09/05/2026

Bradfordville VFRD’s September Activities

9/8 (T), 6:30-9:30 Fire Ground Support Personnel Course. Leon County's Dorothy Cooper Spence Community Center (Chaires) (4768 Chaires Cross Rd). Operational Scene Safety, Apparatus mount/dismount, Scene lighting, and Roadway incident safety. Hosted by Chaires-Capitola Fire & Rescue.

9/9 (W), 6:30-8:30 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training. Station 15 (1445 Bannerman Road). Primary and Secondary Assessments, SAMPLE, SOAP.

9/10 (R), 11:00-1:00 First Responder Appreciation Luncheon, sponsored by the Leon County Sheriff's Office. Reservations Required.

9/11 (F), 8:20-9:30 First Responder Recognition. Sponsored by Leon County Schools' Lawton Chiles High School (7200 Lawton Chiles Lane – Meet in the auditorium). 9/11 Remembrance Assembly includes recognition of local First Responders.

9/11 (F), 8:30 until 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, sponsored by Team Guardian Inc. Leon County’s 9/11 Memorial (1115 Easterwood Drive). This is Leon County’s official memorial.

9/11 (F), 10:00 until Capitol Stair Climb. Sponsored by Tallahassee’s Ruck Crew. Florida Capitol (400 South Monroe St – Meet on the Adams St side). Five trips up and down the 22 flights of stairs.

9/11 (F), 12:00 until Never Forget 9/11 Remembrance Event. Sponsored by MISSION BBQ (216 S Magnolia Dr). National Anthem and ceremony at 12:00.

9/11 (F), 6:30 until First Responder Recognition. Sponsored by Lawton Chiles High School (7200 Lawton Chiles Lane – Meet at the football field). Pre-game recognition of First Responders and Military.

9/12 (S), 8:00-12:00 Fire Ground Support Personnel Course. Station 12 (4701 Chaires Cross Road). Operational Scene Safety, Apparatus mount/dismount, Scene lighting, and Roadway incident safety.

9/15 (T), 6:30-8:00 Monthly Membership Meeting. Bradfordville Community Center (Bradfordville Schoolhouse) (6808 Beech Ridge Trail).

9/19 (S), 9:00-12:00 Fire Training. Station 28 (13803 Hanna Hammock Rd).

9/22 (T), 6:30-9:30 Fire Ground Support Personnel Course. Dorothy Cooper Spence Community Center (Chaires) (4768 Chaires Cross Rd). Fire Dynamics.

9/24 (R), 6:30-9:30 Fire Ground Support Personnel Course. Station 30 (6370 Williams Road). Fire Hose, Fire Hydrants, and Water Supply Sources.

9/26 (S), 8:00-1:00 Fire Ground Support Personnel Course and Tender Strike Team Training. Station 12 (4701 Chaires Cross Road), Dorothy Cooper Spence Community Center (Chaires) (4768 Chaires Cross Rd), and Chaires Elementary School (4774 Chaires Cross Road). Fire Hose, Fire Hydrants, and Water Supply Sources.

09/05/2026

Thank you, Nanette, for your years of service. You are absolutely right: the Bradfordville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department is seeking folks with a strong desire to support BVFRD’s mission.

BVFRD has a strong Board of Directors, but they are stretched thin. Rather than looking for a few to do a wide range of tasks, we are looking for several people who can each focus on a specific area, do it well, and not take a significant amount of time.

More important than experience is the desire to make our community safer.

BVFRD is currently looking for:

Recording Secretary
Records Keeper
Proofreader/Editor
Public Outreach Coordinator
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Recruiting Coordinator
Fundraising Coordinator
Donations Coordinator

If you have what it takes to serve your community, message us, and we will answer your questions and get you started.

Board Member Spotlight 🚒✨️

When people think of a volunteer fire department, they usually picture fire trucks, gear, and frontline responders. All of this is accurate. But it’s the team behind the team that makes it happen. It takes dedicated community members to keep our operations running smoothly!
​
This week, we’re proud to highlight our Board Communications & Public Affairs pro Nanette Schimpf!
​
A partner at The Moore Agency, a Florida-based public affairs and communications agency, Nanette brings incredible expertise in reputation management, crisis communications, and strategic messaging to BVFRD. She leads our public affairs, community outreach, and communications efforts—helping connect local residents with our mission and the volunteers who serve them.
​
Did you know you don’t have to pull hose or drive a truck to serve your community?

​It takes a village to run a volunteer fire department! We are always looking for non-responder volunteers who want to lend their talents in areas like:

● ​​Administration & Board Leadership
●​ Community Outreach & Events
● ​Communications & Social Media
● ​Facilities & Support Operations
​
Please join us in thanking Nanette for lending her professional expertise and passion to Bradfordville Volunteer Fire & Rescue! 👏

09/01/2026

Board Member Spotlight 🚒✨️

When people think of a volunteer fire department, they usually picture fire trucks, gear, and frontline responders. All of this is accurate. But it’s the team behind the team that makes it happen. It takes dedicated community members to keep our operations running smoothly!
​
This week, we’re proud to highlight our Board Communications & Public Affairs pro Nanette Schimpf!
​
A partner at The Moore Agency, a Florida-based public affairs and communications agency, Nanette brings incredible expertise in reputation management, crisis communications, and strategic messaging to BVFRD. She leads our public affairs, community outreach, and communications efforts—helping connect local residents with our mission and the volunteers who serve them.
​
Did you know you don’t have to pull hose or drive a truck to serve your community?

​It takes a village to run a volunteer fire department! We are always looking for non-responder volunteers who want to lend their talents in areas like:

● ​​Administration & Board Leadership
●​ Community Outreach & Events
● ​Communications & Social Media
● ​Facilities & Support Operations
​
Please join us in thanking Nanette for lending her professional expertise and passion to Bradfordville Volunteer Fire & Rescue! 👏

08/26/2026

Your volunteer firefighters not only wake up at 2:30 AM to serve their neighbors, they fundraise to purchase the equipment they use.

So we had a fire this morning and lost our equipment storage building and contents. Yes it is a loss and the news loves fire pictures but the real story that should be told is the 100 volunteer emergency personnel that gave their time at 2:30 in the morning. My calculation is about $20,000,000 worth of equipment showed up to help us and this equipment was purchased through some grants but mostly by fundraisers and fund drives that were put on by these same volunteers. Support your local Fire and EMS companies!! They are the best of us!

08/25/2026

Firefighter Feature: Welcoming Taylor Moore! 🚒

​We’re excited to spotlight one of our newest team members at Bradfordville Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Taylor Moore!

​A lifelong Tallahassee-area resident and multi-generational Floridian, Taylor is deeply committed to serving the community where he and his wife are raising their two children.
​Professionally, Taylor serves with the Florida State Guard, bringing valuable expertise in leadership, human resources, and administration. Fueled by a passion for emergency management and public safety, he is now bringing that same dedication to our department.

​Taylor is currently certified as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and is working through his 60-hour Fireground Support class to sharpen his skills on the line.

​Please join us in welcoming Taylor to the BVFR family and thanking him for his service to our community! 👏🔥

08/23/2026

Leon County Tender Strike Team

On Tuesday, August 18, Leon County’s future Tender Strike Team met at Lake Talquin’s Coe Landing for interdepartmental training focusing on dry hydrant drafting. Twenty-five members from five (5) of the County’s volunteer fire departments spent the evening learning about and practicing drafting from dry hydrant standpipes.

In addition to responding to fire, medical, and rescue calls in their respective response areas, members of this elite team will respond to fire calls throughout the rural areas of Leon County where water supplies are limited.

Special thanks go out to Zaxby's Capital Circle SW - https://www.zaxbys.com/locations/fl/tallahassee/180-capital-cir-sw - for sponsoring our after-training dinner. Also, thank you to an anonymous donor who provided gift cards to the five (5) members of the team who have attended 100% of the trainings, to the departments with the most members attending the training, and to the department with the highest percentage of its rostered members in attendance. If you would like to support the Tender Strike Team, email [email protected].

To learn more about the volunteer fire department in your area, go to the Leon County Government website at https://cms.leoncountyfl.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Safety/Leon-County-Emergency-Medical-Services/Volunteer-Fire-Departments

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