In 1960, with several Companies having been organized outside the boundaries of the originally specified Dover Magisterial District, the organization name was changed to “Goochland County Volunteer Fire Department.” Mr. Willis gave Company No. 1 the old American LaFrance engine (the first piece of equipment he had purchased from the City of Richmond for his farm use).

In 1962 the sixth fire company, Hadensville Company No. 6, was organized in the northwestern corner of Goochland County.

In 1966 volunteer rescue squads began to organize in the communities and were merged into the fire department. Prior to 1966 transportation of the sick and injured was handled by local funeral homes and sometimes by the Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad in Henrico County. American Red Cross Standard and Advanced First Aid and CPR classes were organized and well attended by citizens from all over the county. Company 5 started rescue services in the fall of 1966 and Company 1 followed in April 1967. Company 3 began rescue squad services in August 1968. In 1971, a rescue squad was jointly organized at Companies 4 and 6, sharing an ambulance that was rotated between the two stations; eventually in 1979 each station would have its own ambulance and separate rescue squad memberships. Over the years, all five rescue companies added crash trucks that responded to vehicle accidents and fire scenes equipped with hand tools, hydraulic tools, salvage equipment, medical supplies, lights, and a generator. Company 2 operated as a fire-only station until rescue was added in June 2003, completing the transformation of all six companies into fire and rescue, an ambulance at each location. Over the decades, Goochland’s Rescue Squads evolved into a respected emergency medical service organization composed of well-trained EMS providers and state of the art ambulances and medical equipment, operating with advanced patient care protocols and medical direction, delivering both basic and advanced life support care.

In 1972, the second so-called “100 Year Flood,” this one caused by Hurricane Agnes, caused extensive damage along the James River Basin and in Goochland County. (The first so-called “100 Year Flood” in 1969, caused by Hurricane Camille, was said at the time to be the greatest storm of any kind to affect this nation). The City of Richmond’s water treatment plant was washed out.

Company No. 1’s tanker truck provided water to St. Mary’s Hospital for several days. Other companies also participated in this effort. One positive result from the horrible loss of life and property associated with “Agnes” was the organization of Goochland’s Water Rescue service under the able and dedicated leadership of County Captain of Rescue Clarence “Jake” Proffitt. Tucker Hill served as the group’s first Captain of Water Rescue Company No. 7, composed of members from all six companies.

A Fire-Rescue Training Center was established in 1981 on fifteen acres of land off Route 634 (Maidens Road). A two-story masonry smoke house live fire training building was constructed, funded by the Charles Luck Family, the Board of Supervisors, and state grants. A new 240′ tower was erected to provide improved radio coverage to both Fire-Rescue and Sheriff’s Department units. Also in 1981, a full-time Fire-Rescue Secretary (Mrs. Linda Thurston) was hired to support the volunteer Fire Chief and Staff Officers, the first county employee assigned to the Fire-Rescue Department.

The County’s organization had another new name in 1982 – “Goochland County Fire-Rescue Department Volunteer Association, Inc.” (adding “Rescue”).

In 1988, Earl Henley retired as County Fire-Rescue Chief. Earl had served 34 years as Chief. Howard Henley, Earl’s brother, who had served nearly 30 years as Assistant Chief, was appointed Chief and served until 1993. Volunteer Fire Chiefs continued to serve until 2002. Staring with Ned Willis, there were 6 different volunteer Fire Chiefs from 1951 to 2002. A career Director of Fire-Rescue was hired in 1998 and served through 2001. The first career Fire Chief was hired in 2002, replacing the Director and the last serving volunteer Fire Chief. There have been three career fire chiefs to date. The Fire Marshal was hired in 2003. The first Deputy Chief of EMS was hired in 2004. A second volunteer Deputy Chief position continues forward, filled by a volunteer member today.

In the late 1990s a contract ambulance vendor provided supplemental EMS staffing, covering day hours while volunteers were at work, which eventually expanded to nights and some weekends. In 2009, the contract vendor was replaced with the hiring of the first group of 10 career Firefighter EMS providers, also county employees, starting the combination department that continues to grow today.