Arlington County Fire Department

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Coordinates: 38°53′5.5″N 77°5′45″W / 38.884861°N 77.09583°W / 38.884861; -77.09583
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Arlington County Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State Virginia
County Arlington
Agency overview
Established1940
Employees390 (uniformed & civilian)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefDavid Povlitz
EMS levelBLS and ALS
IAFF2800
Facilities and equipment
Battalions2
Stations9
Engines9
Trucks2
Platforms1
Rescues2
Ambulances9
HAZMAT1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) provides fire, emergency medical, and allied public safety services for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church in Virginia, USA. It is highly regarded within the profession as an innovator and leader in enhancing the industry.[1] Among its many firsts are the hiring of the first female career firefighter in the world in 1974[2] and partnering with the United States Public Health Service to develop America's first Metropolitan Medical Strike Team to respond to the consequences of a chemical, biological or radiological terrorist attack.[3]

The ACFD operates nine stations and is a signatory to an automatic regional response plan with neighboring Fairfax County as well as the city of Alexandria, and participates in a regional mutual aid pact with the District of Columbia and the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s.[4] Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, also in Arlington County, fields a fire department as part of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire and Rescue Department and works closely with the county's fire service. The 300-plus employees of the Fire Department provide services through a combination of education, prevention and effective response to fire, medical and environmental emergencies.

The Arlington County Fire Department holds a Class 2 Rating from the Insurance Services Organization, the second-highest rating given to a Virginia fire department, and one of only three such ratings awarded in the state. This rating helps the local community by bringing lower insurance rates to homeowners and businesses.[1]

Staffing[edit]

Arlington County firefighters often train with the 911th Engineer Company.

Arlington County Fire Department is a career fire department, with over 380 sworn career Fire personnel and numerous support employees. All units are staffed 24 hours a day by career firefighter/EMTs who are divided into three platoons.[1] Engine Companies,Rescue Companies and Truck Companies/Tower companies in Arlington are typically staffed by three firefighter/EMTs and one firefighter/paramedic, and ALS transport units are staffed with one firefighter/EMT and one firefighter/paramedic. Arlington operates nine engine companies, three truck companies, two rescue companies and eight medic units.[1] Additional medic units can be placed in service as necessary. The county is divided into two divisions, the North Division (102) and the South Division (101), both of which are staffed with one Battalion Chief with Aide, an Advanced Paramedic Officer, an Assistant Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Marshals.[1]

Standard Units and Station Assignments[edit]

Station Location Battalion Engine Company Tower Company or Truck Company Rescue Company EMS Units Command Staff Units EMS Supervisor Units Duty Fire Marshal Units Specialty Units
1 Glebe Road Battalion 1 E101 - - A101 BC101 - - HM101
2 Ballston Battalion 1 E102 - R102 M102 - EMS102 - MCSU100
3 Cherrydale Battalion 2 E103 - - - BC102 - - BU100

BU101

4 Clarendon Battalion 2 E104 TW104 - M104

A104

- - -
5 National

Landing

Battalion 1 E105 T105 - M105 - - FM115 WR105
6 Falls Church Battalion 2 E106 T106 - A106 - - FM116 -
8 Hall's Hill Battalion 2 E108 - - A108 - - - -
9 Nauck Battalion 1 E109 - R109 M109 - EMS101 - -
10 Rosslyn Battalion 2 E110 - - A110 - - FM110 TR110

Notes:

  • Fire Station 7 was permanently closed, effective Oct 9th, 2019
  • The Bravo "B" identifier is used whenever there are two of the same unit operating out of the station. For instance if both "Medic 104" and "Medic 104 Bravo" are in service
  • The Echo "E" identifier is used whenever volunteers have placed an ambulance in service. For instance, "Ambulance 106 Echo".
  • The Medic "M" suffix on a suppression unit indicates it has ALS staffing
CAD Identifier Description
A Ambulance (Basic Life Support)

Can be upgraded to a Medic Unit

BC Battalion Chief
BT Boat
BU Bomb Squad Unit
E Engine Company
F Foam Truck
T Truck Company
TT Tiller Truck Company
TW Tower Company
CA Command Aide
CU Command Unit
EM EMS Supervisor / Advanced Paramedic Officer
FM Fire Marshal
HM HazMat Trailer
M Medic Unit (Advanced Life Support Ambulance)
MA Mobile Air Unit (Similar to LA)
MCSU Medical Care Support Unit
MAB Medical Ambulance Bus
LA Light & Air Unit
R Rescue Company
SA Safety Officer
WR Water Rescue Unit
TR Technical Rescue Trailer

Other Fire Departments in the Arlington County System[edit]

Arlington County Fire Department is the primary all-hazards response agency for Arlington County, Virginia. In addition to ACFD, other fire departments operate and provide emergency and support services to Arlington County.

Station Location Staffing Department Units Operated
3 Cherrydale Volunteer Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department LA103, UT103
301 DC Airport (DCA) Career Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority E301, F310, M301, B301
6 Falls Church Volunteer Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department A106E, UT106, E106B
161 Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall Career Fort Myer Fire & Emergency Services E161, E161B, B161, UT161
162 The Pentagon Career Fort Myer Fire & Emergency Services F161

Prior to 1950, independent volunteer fire companies protected Arlington County.[5] As the demand for services for fire and EMS grew, the need for full-time paid staff was acknowledged by the County. Staff was hired, first to augment the volunteers, then finally to provide the full range of services required in a modern, urban, fire department. The volunteer members ride as supplemental staffing on apparatus and do not count as minimum staffing. The Arlington County Fire Department uses the volunteer apparatus for staffing during peak call volume times and for providing support services, such as special event stand-bys, storm and natural disaster staffing, and scene lighting, air replenishment and canteen services for long duration incidents.[6]

Bomb Squad[edit]

The ACFD Bomb containment chamber.

The Arlington County bomb squad is jointly operated by the ACFD and the Arlington County Police Department. While the bomb disposal rigs are staffed by the fire department, and stored at Fire Station 3, the Bomb Squad works with the ACPD explosive canine teams on explosive related incidents.[7] The squad is classified as a Type 2 squad on FEMA's three-level classification system.[8] This classification denotes that the bomb squad has the following equipment available:[9]

  • 2 or more response teams
  • Full coverage bomb suits
  • Portable x-ray devices
  • Employ explosive tools to conduct specific or general disruption
  • Demolition Kit
  • PPE for chemical and biological devices
  • A Bomb disposal robot capable of handling non-vehicle IEDs
  • Explosives reference library

September 11th and the Pentagon[edit]

Main articles: American Airlines Flight 77 and September 11 attacks
Arlington Engine 105 is seen here operating at the Pentagon shortly after the crash of Flight 77.

The Arlington County Fire Department was the lead agency in the response to the Pentagon attack.[10] ACFD Assistant Chief James Schwartz implemented an incident command system (ICS) to coordinate response efforts among multiple agencies.[11][12] It took about an hour for the ICS structure to become fully operational.[13] Firefighters from Fort Myer and Reagan National Airport arrived within minutes.[14][15]

As a result of the attack on the Pentagon, additional career firefighters were hired, bringing the total to 305 by 2005. Minimum staffing on the county's engine companies was also increased to four firefighters from three in the months after the attack. The county trained CERT Teams - Community Emergency Response Teams - in cooperation with the federal Department of Homeland Security as a part of its stepped up disaster preparedness program.[16]

Gallery[edit]

  • Bomb squad command vehicle.
    Bomb squad command vehicle.
  • Bomb disposal truck.
    Bomb disposal truck.
  • Bomb disposal truck.
    Bomb disposal truck.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "About the Arlington County Fire Department". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  2. ^ Terese M. Floren. "History of Women in Firefighting". International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2013-04-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Schmitt, Mark (3 October 2008). "The Metropolitan Medical Response System". Firehouse. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Mutual Response Agreement". March 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  5. ^ Jones, Mark (9 September 2014). "Arlington's Bravest: The Arlington County Fire Department". WETA. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  6. ^ Holt-Springston, Kathy. "History". Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  7. ^ Geraci, Brian (6 June 2013). "County Board Agenda Item Meeting of July 13, 2013". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  8. ^ Sheridan, Mary Beth (July 13, 2007). "Bomb Squads Are Left Lacking". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Typed Resource Definitions - Law Enforcement and Security Resources" (PDF). FEMA.gov. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency. July 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  10. ^ "James Schwartz - Fire Chief". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  11. ^ Goldberg et al., p. 72.[full citation needed]
  12. ^ Eversburg, Rudy (1 November 2002). "The Pentagon Attack On 9-11: Arlington County (Va) Fire Department Response". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  13. ^ Goldberg et al., p. 77.[full citation needed]
  14. ^ Goldberg et al., p. 78.[full citation needed]
  15. ^ "Arlington, Virginia After-Action Report" (PDF). Arlington County Fire Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  16. ^ "Arlington community-emergency-response team graduates new classes". InsideNoVa.com. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2016.

38°53′5.5″N 77°5′45″W / 38.884861°N 77.09583°W / 38.884861; -77.09583

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