New Fairfax County Deputy Fire Chief Began Career in McLean

By Jamie M. Rogers

Battalion Chief Richard A. Roatch has been promoted to a deputy fire chief position within the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. 

Roatch's first day at his new post as the deputy chief for the department's C-Shift Operations Bureau is Sept. 21. He will serve as one of three operational shift deputies who supervise the daily activities of more than 350 employees in 37 fire and rescue stations across the county.

He was appointed by Fairfax County Fire Chief Richard Bowers, who joined the department earlier this year after working in Montgomery County, Md. 

Roatch has served as a battalion chief in the department since 2010. 

The Manassas resident began his career as a recruit firefighter in April 1990 at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Station No. 1 in McLean. 

In the past 23 years, he's served in several capacities, including: 

• 1992-Hazardous material technician, Fire and Rescue Station No. 1 in McLean
• 1995-Lieutenant, Fire and Rescue Station No. 1 in McLean
• 2000-Captain I, Fire and Rescue Station No. 12 in Great Falls
• 2005-Captain II, apparatus section, support services division
• 2006-Battalion chief, emergency preparedness in the special operations division

Roatch is a member of Virginia Task Force One, Fairfax County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team. He has responded to disasters in Haiti and Japan and aided in the rescue efforts associated with hurricanes Katrina, Irene and Sandy.

Roatch and his wife Cindy live in Manassas.