'This community is my family': Scruggs fire chief steps away after 14 years
There is a new chief on watch.
James Richards has stepped into the role at the Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department following longtime chief Dempsey Moore's recent decision to step down.
Moore was the department's chief for 14 years, succeeding one of the department's founders, V.T. "Slim" Crawford.
Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department Chief James Richards, left, looks over one of the fire trucks with former chief Dempsey Moore, who stepped down recently.
Originally from Pineville, West Virginia, Moore retired to Franklin County in 1997 after spending years as a coal miner. He met Crawford after only a few days in the county when he noticed Scruggs volunteers fighting a brush fire and decided to give them a hand.
"When we got done, he asked when I was going to fill out an application," Moore said of first meeting Crawford.
Moore joined the department and was named assistant chief within three years, beginning a new phase in his life as a volunteer firefighter. In that time, Moore said he learned to love the community and the people who have done so much to support the department over the years.
Scruggs is routinely one of the better-funded fire departments, as part of its support comes from residents at Smith Mountain Lake.
"He was the one that started this place and he got it off on the right foot," Moore said of Crawford. "For Slim, there was nothing like his community. He would fight for anything for this community and I would too."
Moore said it took some time for the community to accept him as the new chief following someone as well-loved as Crawford. But over the years he grew to be just as respected as his predecessor — and he shares that respect.
"To me, this community is my family," Moore said.
During his time as chief, Moore worked to protect that family within the department. He pushed for increased safety and training to help assure everyone who answers a call can come home unscathed.
Moore said it came from his previous career as a coal miner, where safety was critical.
Looking back, Moore said he would like to be remembered as someone who cared for his community and worked hard to grow the department.
"I did it because I loved it," he said. "Because I wanted to help people. I didn't just fill a position, I did things that made people respect me and see that I was trying to make us a better department, a safer department to provide better service for them."
Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department Chief James Richards, left, shakes hands with former chief Dempsey Moore.
Moore cited health reasons for his decision to step down as chief.
Although his time as chief is over, Moore is not leaving the department. Just as Crawford remained a volunteer to mentor Moore, he plans to remain on and provide assistance to Richards.
Richards was voted in by the department as the new chief in July. Moore said Richards was his first and only choice.
"I wouldn't have stepped down if he wouldn't have taken the position," Moore said.
Richards was previously a member of the Glade Hill Volunteer Fire Department before coming over to Scruggs four years ago. He said the department quickly welcomed him when he arrived.
When he is not volunteering at Scruggs, Richards works as a firefighter at Station 5 in Roanoke. He is a first lieutenant on the station's ladder truck.
As the new chief, Richards said his goal is to continue Moore's work. One area of focus is to continue growing membership.
Richards said Scruggs will take anyone willing to volunteer time at the department. That could be working in an office helping to write grants, assisting on the scene of a fire or incident, or even being someone who fights fires.
"There is always a job for somebody," Richards said.
Moore said the goal for both of them is to make sure the department continues to grow and be successful into the future. Richards added that will require hard work and high standards for their volunteers.
"I want to see this department keep growing," Moore said. "James wants the same thing. We are looking at 10, 15 years down the road. We want tomorrow to be good. We want to be ready for the future 15 years from now."
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3324
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Former Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department chief Dempsey Moore discusses his decision to step down.
