The goal is to make sure firefighters are fully prepared and can handle an emergency, especially in rural parts of Roanoke County.

Liberty University is proposing a partnership with the city of Lynchburg for a new fire station.

After much anticipation, both the boutique hotel and restaurant are set to open in the old fire station in a few weeks.

They returned after nearly a decade in storage following building renovations.

Authorities say an off-duty Los Angeles County firefighter fatally shot a fellow firefighter and wounded another at their fire station before going to his nearby home, setting it on fire and apparently killing himself.

This year, the Virginia Proud Weather Tour will honor fire and emergency medical services first responders throughout Southwest Virginia. The tour begins Monday, May 1 and will take Jeff Haniewich to 15 counties over the course of three weeks. Below is the schedule of where Jeff will be each day of the tour. Monday, May 1 - Franklin County - Fire Station #1 (1250 N. Main Street, Rocky Mount)Tuesday, May 2 - Pulaski County - Pulaski Fire Department (117 N. Jefferson Ave., Pulaski)Wednesday, May 3 - Campbell County - Altavista Fire Department (1280-B Main Street, Altavista)Thursday, May 4 - Alleghany County - Covington Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad (435 W. Hawthorne Street, Covington)Friday, May 5 - Henry County - Freedom Baptist Church [Henry County Fire/EMS Appreciation Dinner] (790 Irishburg Rd, Axton)Monday, May 8 - Montgomery County - Montgomery County Regional Training Center (1636 Merimac Rd. Rockbridge Baths)Friday, May 19 - Bedford County - Moneta Rescue Squad (12646 N. Old Moneta Road, Moneta)Monday, May 22 - Carroll County - Hillsvile Fire Department (115 Fulcher St, Hillsville)