Arlington County Fire Department
Encyclopedia
The Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) provides essential 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. Among its many firsts are the hiring of the first female career firefighter
in the nation in 1974 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.
The county fire department 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. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
, also in Arlington County, fields a fire department and works closely with the county's fire service. The 305 employees of the Fire Department are committed to eliminating threats to the lives, safety and property of the Arlington community. They 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 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.
The Arlington County Fire Department was the lead agency in the response to the Pentagon attack
. Led by Incident Commander James Schwartz, ACFD worked with the Fort Myer
Fire Department, which operates the Pentagon station in addition to a firehouse at its main post, as well as fire departments throughout the region.
On September 11, 2001, the Arlington County Fire Department employed 279 men and women.
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 Team
s - in cooperation with the federal Department of Homeland Security as a part of its stepped up disaster preparedness program.
Arlington County Fire Department is a career fire department, with over 300 sworn career firefighters and 50 volunteers. All units are staffed 24 hours a day by career firefighters who are divided into three platoons and work a 24-on/24-off/24-on/24-off/24-on/96-off work schedule. Engine, rescue and truck/tower companies in Arlington are typically staffed by four firefighters and ALS medic units with two firefighter/paramedics. Arlington operates nine engine companies, three truck companies, two rescue companies and seven medic units. Additional medic units can be placed in service as necessary. The county is divided into two battalions, the North Battalion (112) and the South Battalion (111), with one EMS Supervisor in each battalion to supervise medic operations.
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
and the City of Falls Church
Falls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA. It is highly regarded within the profession as an innovator and leader in enhancing the industry. Among its many firsts are the hiring of the first female career firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
in the nation in 1974 and partnering with the United States Public Health Service
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
to develop America's first Metropolitan Medical Strike Team
Metropolitan Medical Strike Team
Metropolitan Medical Strike Teams are federally-established teams prepared to respond to assist with medical management and public health consequences of chemical, biological and radiological incidents which result from accidental or deliberate acts.The MMST is designed to supplement the local...
to respond to the consequences of a chemical, biological or radiological terrorist attack.
The county fire department operates ten stations and is a signatory to an automatic regional response plan with neighboring Fairfax County
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is a combination career and volunteer organization that provides fire suppression, emergency medical, technical rescue, hazardous materials, water rescue, life safety education, fire prevention and arson investigation services to Fairfax County, Virginia...
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. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
, also in Arlington County, fields a fire department and works closely with the county's fire service. The 305 employees of the Fire Department are committed to eliminating threats to the lives, safety and property of the Arlington community. They 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 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.
9/11 and the Pentagon
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. Led by Incident Commander James Schwartz, ACFD worked with the Fort Myer
Fort Myer
Fort Myer is a U.S. Army post adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is a small post by U.S...
Fire Department, which operates the Pentagon station in addition to a firehouse at its main post, as well as fire departments throughout the region.
On September 11, 2001, the Arlington County Fire Department employed 279 men and women.
As a result of the attack on the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, 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 Team
Community Emergency Response Team
In the United States a community emergency response team can refer to* one of five federal programs promoted under the umbrella organization Citizen Corps, which is funded in part by the Stafford Act;...
s - in cooperation with the federal Department of Homeland Security as a part of its stepped up disaster preparedness program.
Staffing
| Station | Location | Engine | Special Service | Medic | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glebe Road | Engine 101 | - | Medic 101 | Battalion 111 / HazMat 101 |
| 2 | Ballston Ballston, Virginia Ballston is a neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia and is home to the Ballston-MU station on the Orange Line of the Metrorail subway system.-History:... |
Engine 102 | - | Medic 102 | EMS 112 / ACFD Command Unit |
| 3 | Cherrydale Cherrydale Volunteer Fire House The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire House is home to the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department in the Cherrydale neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. Constructed in 1919, it has been a focal point for community attention and affection ever since... |
Engine 103 | - | - | - |
| 4 | Clarendon Clarendon, Virginia Clarendon is a neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia, USA, located between the Rosslyn area and the Ballston area. The main thoroughfares are Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard .-Boundaries and geography:... |
- | Tower 104 / Rescue 104 | Medic 104 | Battalion 112 / Command Aide 114 |
| 5 | Jefferson District Pentagon City, Virginia Pentagon City is an unincorporated neighborhood located in the southeast portion of Arlington County, Virginia, near The Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery... |
Engine 105 | Truck 105 | Medic 105 | Duty Fire Marshal |
| 6 | Falls Church Falls Church, Virginia The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within... |
Engine 106 | Truck 106 | Medic 106 | Engine 116 / Canteen 106 / Utility 106 / Light & Air 103 / Ambulance 102 / Ambulance 106 |
| 7 | Fairlington Fairlington, Virginia Fairlington is an unincorporated neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia, United States, located adjacent to Shirlington in the southernmost part of the county on the boundary with the City of Alexandria... |
Engine 107 | - | - | - |
| 8 | Hall's Hill | Engine 108 | - | - | Mobile Air Unit (MAU) |
| 9 | Nauck Nauck Nauck may refer to:* Johann August Nauck , German classical scholar* Kurt Nauck III ; author, dealer and international authority on vintage phonograph recordings... |
Engine 109 | Rescue 109 | Medic 109 | EMS 111 |
| 10 | Rosslyn Rosslyn, Virginia Rosslyn is an unincorporated area in Northern Virginia located in the northeastern corner of Arlington County, Virginia, north of Arlington National Cemetery and directly across the Potomac River from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Rosslyn encompasses the Arlington neighborhoods of North Rosslyn... |
Engine 110 | - | Medic 110 | TRT Trailer |
Volunteer operations
Prior to 1950, independent volunteer fire companies protected Arlington County. 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 department is now staffed with more than 350 full-time career professionals and is augmented by approximately 50 active volunteers.See also
- Arlington County, VirginiaArlington County, VirginiaArlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
- American Airlines Flight 77American Airlines Flight 77American Airlines Flight 77 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight, from Washington Dulles International Airport, in Dulles, Virginia to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California...
- 911th Engineer Company - Formerly the Military District of Washington Engineer Company, specializes in urban search and rescueUrban search and rescueUrban search and rescue involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces due to natural disasters, structural collapse, transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.USAR teams in different countries may be organised in a...
and responded to the Pentagon following the attack on the Pentagon.