Virginia Beach Fire Department

Virginia Beach Fire Department
Operational area
Country  United States
State  Virginia
City Virginia Beach
Agency overview[1]
Established January 1, 1963 (1963-01-01)
Annual calls 46,075 (2016)
Employees 498 (2013)
Annual budget $44,772,337 (2013)
Staffing Career
Fire chief Dave Hutcheson
EMS level ALS and BLS
IAFF 2924
Facilities and equipment[1]
Stations 19
Engines 20
Trucks 8
Tillers 1
Platforms 4
Rescues 2
Tenders 3
HAZMAT 2
Wildland 8
Fireboats 3
Light and air 1
Website
Official website

The Virginia Beach Fire Department(VBFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The department protects an area of 249 square miles (640 km2) as well as 59 square miles (150 km2) of inland waterways and 38 miles (61 km) of shoreline. The independent city is home to a population of 448,479, not including the summer population growth due to tourism, making it the most populous city in Virginia and the 39th largest city in the United States.[1]

History

The Virginia Beach Fire Department has origins dating back to 1906 when the Town Council felt the need to provide fire equipment to protect the rapidly growing resort area and formed an all volunteer fire department.[2] In 1928 the volunteers felt that the need had grown to require a paid system. The town hired a paid staff of firefighters that also performed the duties of police officers. This dual duty system was necessary as the town did not have the funding to hire single function employees. On January 1, 1963, the Town of Virginia Beach merged with Princess Anne County to form the City of Virginia Beach and thus the Virginia Beach Fire Department was born.[2]

Operations

USAR Task Force 2

The Virginia Beach Fire Department is the founding member of one of Virginia's two FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.[3] Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2) is available to respond to natural or man-made disasters around the country and the world to assist with search and rescue, medical support, damage assessment and communications.[4]

Marine Operations

The VBFD Marine Operations Team is responsible for patrolling 59 square miles (150 km2) of inland waterways as well as 38 miles (61 km) of shoreline.[1] The team also provides mutual aid to parts of North Carolina as well as the U.S. Coast Guard. The operations team has three fireboats at their disposal:[5]

  • Fireboat 1 is a 30-foot (9.1 m) Argus Class Northwind with an enclosed cabin and a 1,500-US-gallon-per-minute (0.095 m3/s) pump docked in Lynnhaven Inlet.:[5]
  • Fireboat 6 is a 24-foot (7.3 m) Metal Shark aluminum response vessel with a 500-US-gallon-per-minute (0.032 m3/s) pump docked at Station 6 in Creeds.[5]
  • Fireboat 12 is a former USCG 41-foot (12 m) utility boat that is designed to operate under rough weather and sea conditions where its speed and maneuverability make it an ideal platform. It is kept at the City Dredge Ops marina located in Owls Creek.[5]

Stations and apparatus

City Engine Company Ladder Company Brush Unit Chief Unit Other units
1 First LandingEngine 1Ladder 1Fireboat 1
2 Davis CornerEngine 2Ladder 2Brush 2
3 London BridgeEngine 3Rescue 1, HazMat 1, Decon 1, Safety 1
4 Chesapeake BeachEngine 4Battalion 2PAC 1
5 Princess AnneEngine 5Brush 5Tanker 5,
6 CreedsEngine 6Brush 6Tanker 6, Fireboat 6
7 ThaliaEngine 7Ladder 7District ChiefRescue 2, Tech 1,
8 OceanaEngine 8Ladder 8Brush 8ATV 8, Support 8
9 KempsvilleEngine 9Brush 9Battalion 5
10 WoodstockEngine 10Ladder 10
11 Beach BoroughEngine 11
Engine 14		Ladder 11Battalion 1
12 SeatackEngine 12Fireboat 12
13 BlackwaterEngine 13Brush 13Tanker 13
16 PlazaEngine 16Ladder 16
17 SandbridgeEngine 17Brush 17
18 Green RunEngine 18Battalion 3
19 Stumpy LakeEngine 19Brush 19
20 Little NeckEngine 20Command 1
21 General BoothEngine 21Ladder 21Battalion 4MCI Bus

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Virginia Beach Fire Department. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "History". Virginia Beach Fire Department. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Task Force Locations". FEMA. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "About". Virginia Task Force 2. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "The Marine Team". Virginia Beach Fire Department. Retrieved 21 April 2015.

Coordinates: 36°45′2.4″N 76°3′17.4″W / 36.750667°N 76.054833°W / 36.750667; -76.054833

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.