As part of the 66^th annual Festival of Arts, the City of Richmond is hosting its Fourth of July celebration at Dogwood Dell on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

This free event will feature the Richmond Concert Jazz Band beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Richmond Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. with a concert of patriotic and pop music. The evening’s fireworks display will be accompanied by the Richmond Concert Band playing “The 1812 Overture” at 9:15 p.m. The public is welcome to bring small coolers (glass bottles or alcohol are not allowed) or have the option of purchasing food from one of the vendors that will be on site. 

As always, we have taken every measure to help ensure the safety of our city, our residents, and our visitors. The Richmond Police Department is prepared to support and respond with the help of our partners, the Virginia State Police and the Department of Capitol Police. If you see something that alarms you or looks suspicious, please call or text 911.

Parking and Shuttle Availability

Parking is available at Dogwood Dell, with overflow parking at City Stadium, 3201 Maplewood Avenue, with free shuttle bus service from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

No Parking Areas

Richmond Police Department will enforce the following no parking areas from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. on July 4. Towing will be enforced beginning at 2 p.m. A map can be seen here. 

• 700-1000 block of Blanton Avenue  between Garrett Street and Grant Street (Both sides)

• 400- 600 block S. Arthur Ashe Boulevard between Blanton and Idlewood Avenue (Both sides)

• 00-2200 block Park Drive between Pump House Dr. and Blanton Avenue (Both sides)

• 2600 block Idlewood Avenue between S. Arthur Ashe Boulevard and S. Robinson Street  (Both sides)

• Trafford Road (Police Memorial Way)

• 1000 block South Belmont between Grant Street and Garrett Street (both sides)

• 2900-3200 block Douglasdale Road between Blanton Avenue and Douglasdale Road

• 400-3600 block McCloy Street / Douglasdale Road between Idlewood Avenue and Portland Place

• 1400-2000 block Pump House Drive (Both Sides)

• 400-600 block S. Sheppard Street (Both Sides) between Blanton Avenue and  Idlewood Avenue

• 2000-2400 block Maplewood Avenue (Median Only) between S. Meadow Street and S. Davis Avenue

• 2000-2400 block Rosewood Avenue (Median Only) between S. Meadow Street and S. Davis Avenue

• 2900-3100 block Garrett Street (Both Sides) between Blanton Avenue and S. Belmont Avenue (Bus Route)

• 3500-3600 block Douglasdale Road (Both Sides) between Douglasdale Road and Portland Place

Arthur Ashe Closure

Arthur Ashe Boulevard at Idlewood Avenue will close to vehicular traffic beginning at 6 p.m.

Keep It Safe – No Celebratory Gunfire

Richmond Police Department reminds the public that what goes up must come down; celebratory gunfire is dangerous and puts your friends and family in jeopardy. Random gunfire that results in bodily injury to another person is considered a Class 6 felony and can carry a penalty of up to five years of incarceration (Code of Virginia 18.2-280).

Firework Use

Use and possession of fireworks in the Richmond city limits is also illegal and is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor with penalties of up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine (Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code).

RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond Fire Investigations Unit is working to determine the cause and origin of a three-alarm fire at William Fox Elementary School in the Fan District.

At approximately 10:35 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022, crews responded to Fox Elementary School at 2300 Hanover Avenue for the report of a building fire. Once on scene, they encountered heavy smoke and flames coming from the top floor above the main entrance. The fire was quickly spreading across the top of the structure.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., a second alarm was struck. At approximately 11:09 p.m., parts of the roof began to collapse, so all crews were evacuated from the interior. They then focused on a defensive attack from the exterior. At approximately 11:13 p.m., a third alarm was struck. At approximately 2:44 a.m., the incident was marked under control. Crews will be on scene through the morning to monitor hotspots. No injuries have been reported.

Crews from Chesterfield County Fire and EMS and the Henrico County Division of Fire provided mutual aid by backfilling fire stations. Members of the Richmond Police Department provided support on scene with traffic control and stopped vehicles from running over fire hoses in the area.

RICHMOND, VA — New vehicle source exhaust capture and removal systems, designed to ensure clean air in the work environment of firefighters, have been installed at several Richmond Fire Department stations (1, 10, 13, and 22) and training to properly use them is underway. The goal is to have these source capture systems installed at all 20 RFD fire stations by May 2022.

The RFD received a $640,000 grant through the United States Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) Program to fund this project. Air Specialists of Virginia, Inc. has been contracted to install the Plymovent vehicle source exhaust capture and removal systems in the RFD fire stations.

Exposure to vehicle exhaust fumes is a significant cancer health risk for firefighters. The RFD is installing these source capture systems to reduce the risk, create safer working conditions, and control exhaust fumes in the fire stations.

How it works for undercarriage exhaust vehicles:

1. The source capture system features a flexible hose, which follows the vehicle along a high-grade aluminum track and disconnects automatically, with no operator intervention, when firefighters go out on a call.
2. When firefighters get back, the pneumatic grabber on the system connects to the exhaust pipe in one easy step. A firefighter simply pushes the grabber against the tailpipe and presses a button on the hose to seal the system via an inflatable rubber bladder.
3. The pneumatic grabber utilizes a positive seal to ensure virtually no diesel exhaust leaks, while the system is in use (virtually 100% source capture).
4. Hazardous exhaust emissions are then extracted from the apparatus and vented out of the station.

The 10^th Annual Richmond 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held at a new location, to properly adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. Hundreds of participants are registered to climb the stairs at the City Stadium (Address: 3201 Maplewood Avenue) on Saturday, September 11, 2021. The event honors and remembers the 343 FDNY firefighters who selflessly gave their lives on September 11, 2001, so that others may live. Each participant will pay tribute to a FDNY firefighter by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.

Here is an outline of the event schedule:

7-8 a.m. Walk-up registration

8:30 a.m. Ceremony begins

9 a.m. Stair Climb begins

Anyone still interested in participating can sign up for $40 during the walk-up registration period. Cash, card, check and payments via Venmo will be accepted.

This year’s ceremony will feature remarks from several individuals including Mayor Levar Stoney and Fire Chief Melvin Carter. They will also participate in the Memorial Stair Climb. The guest speaker will be retired Deputy Chief of DC Fire and EMS Michael Donlon.

September 11, 2021 marks the 20^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. On the National Day of Service and Remembrance, the City of Richmond will also hold a Public Safety Fair at the City Stadium – while the Memorial Stair Climb is taking place. Participating agencies include the Richmond Police Department, the Richmond Office of Emergency Management, the Richmond Ambulance Authority, the Richmond City Health District, the Richmond Sheriff’s Office, and the Richmond Department of Emergency Communications.

The Public Safety Fair will feature a variety of demonstrations and safety information for attendees of all ages. There will be plenty of parking, several food trucks on-site, and drink concessions available.

In addition to the Memorial Stair Climb and Public Safety Fair, the City of Richmond has also planned several volunteer projects for the public to engage. Please go to the following link to learn more and register to serve – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Sept11-2021.

RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond Fire Investigations Unit has identified the two victims of this morning’s fatal house fire in the city’s East End as:

1. Clara Humphrey, 84 years old
2. Ray Humphrey, 84 years old

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records confirm the married couple was deaf.

“I ask that you pray for the families, their loved ones, their community where they resided, and our city in that we will continue to embrace fire safety education, the importance of smoke alarms, and exercising proper safety protocols,” said Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services Chief Melvin Carter. “These deaths, like most fire deaths, were preventable.”

At approximately 7:59 a.m., crews responded to 1413 Vinton Street for the report of a house fire with individuals still possibly inside. Once on scene, they found smoke coming from the structure.

The first arriving crews performed a search and located Clara Humphrey. They removed her from the home and went back inside, as there were reports of two occupants. Crews then located Ray Humphrey and removed him from the home. CPR was performed on both victims, but neither survived. They were pronounced dead by Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) crews on scene.

RFD crews focused on fire attack had made entry and found fire in the living room. They quickly worked to put it out. The fire was marked under control at 8:13 a.m.

Investigators have determined the fire originated on a sofa in the living room and was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials. They also discovered there were no working smoke alarms in the home.

This incident marks the 11th fire fatality in the City of Richmond so far this year.

The Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services wants to remind residents of the “Fire Safety Five to Stay Alive”:

1. Get out and stay out of a house on fire. Make and practice a fire escape plan.
2. Clear the clutter, as it can become an obstacle to escape. Have a clear path to your exits.
3. Do not overload extension cords and power strips. Major appliances should be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
4. Have working smoke alarms and test them once a month. Replace your alarms after 10 years.
5. Always smoke outside. Never smoke in bed. Make sure cigarettes and ashes are put out completely.

The Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services will also install smoke alarms for free. Residents can call our Fire Prevention Office at (804) 646-6640 or our Smoke Alarm Request Line at (804) 646-1526 to schedule an appointment. The Fire Prevention Office also has a limited supply of smoke alarms specifically for residents with hearing impairments.