Arlington County Fire Department

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]

Arlington County Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State Virginia
County Arlington
Agency overview
Established1940
Employees327 (uniformed & civilian)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefDavid Povlitz
EMS levelALS
IAFF2800
Facilities and equipment
Battalions2
Stations10
Engines9
Trucks2
Platforms1
Rescues2
Ambulances8
HAZMAT1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The ACFD operates ten 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
Arlington County firefighters often train with the 911th Engineer Company.

Arlington County Fire Department is a career fire department, with over 380 sworn career firefighters. 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 (112) and the South (111), with one Battalion Chief, an Advanced Paramedic Officer, an Assistant Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Marshals in each division.[1]

Standard Units and Station Assignments
StationLocation Staffing BattalionEngine Truck RescueMedicCommand Staff EMS Supervisor Duty Fire MarshalSpecialty Units
1 Glebe Road 7 South BattalionE101 - -M101BC111 ALS113 -HM101
2 Ballston 7 South BattalionE102 - - M102- EM112 -MCSU100

MAB100

CU100

3 Cherrydale 9 North BattalionE103 - R103-BC112 - -BUs
4 Clarendon 10/12 North BattalionE104 TW104 -M104

M104B*

CA114 - --
5 Jefferson District 11 South BattalionE105 T105 -M105- - FM115SW100
6 Falls Church 10 North BattalionE106 T106 -M106- - FM113-
7 Fairlington 0 South Battalion- - --- - --
8 Hall's Hill 5/7 North BattalionE108 - -M108*- - --
9 Nauck 10 South BattalionE109 - R109M109- EM111 --
10 Rosslyn 6 North BattalionE110 - -M110- - --

* - Indicates part-time units, often staffed during peak times only.

Note: Fire Station 7 was permanently closed, effective Oct 9th, 2019.

CAD Identifier Description
E Advanced Life Support Engine Company
T Truck Company
TW Tower Company
R Rescue Units
M Advanced Life Support Medic Unit
BC Battalion Chief Unit
CA Command Aide Unit
FM Duty Fire Marshal
EM Advanced Life Support EMS Supervisor
ALS Advance Practice Provider (used for COVID-19 Diversion Responses)
HM HazMat
MCSU Medical Care Support Unit
MAB Medical Ambulance Bus
CU Command Unit
BU Bomb Squad Unit
SW Swift Water Rescue
LA Light and Air
TRT Technical Rescue Trailer
UT Utility

Note: Due to construction of Fire Station 10, the following units are relocated:

Affected Station Unit Relocated Station Reason
Station 10 E110 (temporary) Station 10 New station construction
M110
TRT110 Station 1

Other Fire Departments in the Arlington County System

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
6 Falls Church Volunteer Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department LA106, UT106, UT106B, A102, A106
61 Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall Career Fort Myer Fire & Emergency Services E161, E161B, TW161, BC161, UT161

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 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
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
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]

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

See also

https://www.facebook.com/groups/125970047424896/

References
  1. "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.
  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.
  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.
  14. Goldberg et al., p. 78.
  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.

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