05/31/2026
Stafford Firefighters Respond to Career-Defining Tragedy on Interstate 95.
In the early morning hours of May 29th, what began as a routine shift became a career-defining incident for the firefighters who responded. The incident resulted in five fatalities, including pediatric victims, and 37 people injured in what became a large-scale mass casualty event.
Responding crews encountered an exceptionally complex and dangerous scene involving multiple vehicle fires, multiple commercial vehicles including a passenger bus, and several passenger vehicles requiring extensive extrication. The severity of the incident required both of Stafford County's Heavy Rescue units, multiple fire engines to suppress vehicle fires and support rescue operations, and mutual aid resources from neighboring jurisdictions.
Stafford County's suppression units are staffed with 3 firefighters, operating with less than ideal man power. The national standard is 4 personnel.
The scale of the emergency required a coordinated regional response. A medical helicopter was forced to land directly on Interstate 95 for transport of the critically injured, while firefighters, paramedics, and emergency personnel worked tirelessly under difficult and emotionally challenging conditions to save lives, treat the injured, and bring the incident under control.
For the public, this tragedy may be remembered as a headline or a traffic incident. For the first responders who answered the call, it was far more personal.
The men and women who responded that morning are expected to finish their shift, return home to their families, participate in everyday activities, and return to work less than 24 hours after this incident for their normal planned shift. A change is needed from our current 56 hour work week to a 42 hour work week. This 42 hour work week would allow our brothers and sisters time to decompress and come back to work to deliver service to the citizens of Stafford at their highest ability.
As an organization, we remain committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of our members. This 42 hour switch would allow our members to change from our current shift structure to one that is more conducive to their long term health, family life, and delivery of services to Stafford County.
We ask our community to keep the victims, their families, the injured, and all responding personnel in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
The members of Local 4012 are proud to serve Stafford County and the surrounding region. We remain committed to answering every call for help, regardless of the circumstances, while continuing to advocate for the resources, staffing, and support necessary to protect both our community and the first responders who serve it. We ask our Board of Supervisors to support our members in advancing these initiatives.
Below are the totals of the units that responded to this mass casualty event:
14 Engines, 15 Transport Units, 7 Chief Officers, 2 Heavy Rescues, 1 Helicopter
Deuntay Diggs - Stafford County Supervisor George Washington District
Tinesha Allen Stafford County Supervisor for the Griffis-Widewater District
Darrell English, Hartwood Supervisor
Supervisor Crystal Vanuch- Rock Hill
Pamela Yeung for Garrisonville
Kecia Evans for Supervisor
Maya Guy for Aquia
