Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department
Encyclopedia
The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department (LCFR) or the Department of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management has the responsibility of protecting the citizens and property of the towns, villages, and suburbs of Loudoun County, Virginia
, United States
, from fires and fire hazards
, providing emergency medical services, and technical rescue, including Hazardous Materials, Mass Casuality Incidents, environmental dangers and more. The department's headquarters are in Leesburg
.
LCFR, one of the largest fire department
s in Virginia, has approximately 1,500 volunteers and 500 career staff that make up its firefighter
s, emergency medical technician
s (EMT), paramedics and other emergency responders. LCFR uses a combined system to help respond to a diverse population spread throughout a suburban and rural county. Units can respond to building types that range from wood-frame single family homes to high-rise structures, bridges and tunnels, large parks and wooded areas that can give rise to major brush fires, as well as large stretches of forest and mountains, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains
, in addition to metro and bus lines. LCFR provides care for a very large and diverse area, responding from stations scattered strategically throughout the county.
, Hillsboro, Leesburg
, Lovettsville
, Middleburg
, Purcellville
, and Round Hill
. Loudoun County is a member of both the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) and the National Capital Region.
Loudoun is widely known for its beautiful scenery, rich history, and strong sense of community. As the home of Washington Dulles International Airport
and America Online, the County has established a reputation as an international center for technology, communications, and transportation. The County also enjoys a reputation for high-quality services, particularly its educational system.
Since 2000, Loudoun’s population has increased by over 60 percent to 279,082,1 making Loudoun the fifth-fastest growing county in the nation.2 The County’s population growth has been accompanied by prosperity. In 2007, Loudoun had the nation’s
highest median household income at $107,207.3
The County is governed by a nine-member Board of Supervisors. The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is elected by the voters at large; the other eight supervisors are elected by district. All nine members serve concurrent terms of four years. The Board of Supervisors appoints the County Administrator, who directs and supervises the day-to-day operations of all County departments and agencies.
) to its citizens.
Throughout the 1980s and much of the 1990s, Loudoun’s fire/rescue services were provided by volunteers supplemented by career Firefighter
/Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Over time, increased demand for service coupled with fewer
volunteers available during daytime hours necessitated hiring additional career personnel.
Between Fiscal Year (FY) 93 and FY09, the number of career personnel has grown from 56.95 Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTEs) to 504.01 FTEs.4 The volunteer component of the System comprises an estimated 1,476 total volunteers, approximately
770 of whom are active either operationally and/or administratively. Both of these groups see continous, steady growth in terms of numbers and operational members.
in 2010. Under Chief Brower are six Deputy Chiefs, each in charge of a department, Volunteer Program Manager Karen McQuaid, and then the departments of Professional Standards and the Office of Emergency Management.
On Friday 11/12/2010, it was announced that Interim Chief Brower had been selected to permanently replace former Chief Pozzo as Chief of LCFR. Chief Brower was selected over approximately forty other applicants that had applied to the nation-wide search to replace Chief Pozzo.
Within LCFR, there are six Deputy Chiefs (DCs), who are each in charge of multiple departments, sections, programs, or endeavors.
These six Deputy Chiefs are responsible for, respectively:
Each Deputy Chief of each department has officers or Battalion Chiefs under them tasked with running multiple programs or sections.
Each volunteer company draws its members from the local community. While most volunteers join the company in their area, it is common for some members to run at different companies, depending on that individuals schedule, interests, or personality as well as the membership options offered by the individual company.
The membership of volunteer companies in the LCFR system are usually headed by a Board of Directors. Sitting on the board will be members of the community as well as senior officers from the company. Under the BOD, are the two branches of a volunteer company, the Administrative side and the Operations side. At the head of each wing are the President and Fire/Rescue Chief, respectively. The President's Administrative side will see to the day-to-day functioning of the company, finances, support, and paperwork. Under the President are usually a Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Committee Directors, and a Trial Board. The Operations wing staff apparatus, respond to emergencies, train, and are largely the public face of a company. Under the Fire or Rescue Chief, depending on the nature and size of the company, there will be an Assistant Chief, Deputy Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Engineers, Crew Chiefs (also called Officers/Attendants-in-charge), and then the Firefighters and EMTs. The number, and type, of officers in a company depends largely on its size, with a small company having as few as five operational officers (not counting Crew Chiefs) and four administrative officers, or as many as fifteen officers in a larger company (not including Crew Chiefs). For example, Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company has one chief, one assistant chief, but two captains and two lieutenants, but neither deputy chiefs nor sergeants. However, for contrast, Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company has three captains and six lieutenants.
Currently, with the exceptions of Purcellville Rescue (CO. 14) and Sterling Rescue (CO. 15/25) and the stations that maintain 24/7 career staff, every company in LCFR is split between career staff during the day (0600-1800) and volunteer staff during the night (1800-0600), with weekend coverage varying depending on company. For instance, Lovettsville Fire & Rescue (CO. 12) maintains 24/7 coverage during the weekend, while Purcellville Fire (CO. 2) continues the career/volunteer split shift throughout the entire week, including the weekend.
While many stations may have career staffing during the day, this does not preclude volunteers from staffing a second or third out piece. It is also not uncommon for volunteers to come from home or work to staff a second or third out unit if a major incident is dispatched that requires additional apparatus.
Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company occupies two locations in Leesburg.
Company 1 is located at 215 W. Loudoun Street, and houses support units and retired apparatus for LVFC. Company 20 is the active arm of LVFC and runs out of the station located on Plaza Street next to the Leesburg Police station. However, unit numbering is not totally indicative of station - for instance, the tiller stationed at 20 was long called Truck 601, however, due to the new backup truck that was purchased, it is now called Truck 620.
The Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company, nicknamed "The Deuce," was formed in the early 20th century. At the time, two hand-drawn chemical wagons were placed in service. In 1923, PVFD received its charter and the era of motorized fire apparatus began. PVFC recently moved into a new station on the north end of Purcellville with PVRS Co. 14. Company 2 has two alternating shifts of LCFR career staff, A and B shift, during the day from 0600 to 1800, and volunteer crews at night from 1800-0600.
When the Middleburg Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated in 1936, it had one fire truck and covered the Route 50 corridor from the top of Paris Mountain to Chantilly. In the early 1950s Co. 3 was given an ambulance and initiated emergency medical care, becoming fire and rescue. Relations between career & volunteers become strained in 2010, but career staff have recently returned to CO. 3.
The Round Hill Fire Department was started in the early 20th century. Its equipment consisted of a hand-pulled cart carrying several lengths of hose. The first fire alarm was sounded by clanging a big iron bell. In 1938, the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. was formally organized. The first piece of equipment purchased was a used truck that had a water tank and pump mounted on it. Next, a siren and fire extinguishers were added. In 1949, the first ambulance was purchased. Round Hill relies largely on career staff now, with some volunteers at night & for events.
The Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department held its first organized meeting in July 1944, and a year later purchased its first fire truck. In January 1946, it moved into its firehouse which, with remodeling and additions, is still in use. HVFD has an attack pumper, a pumper/tanker, a brush truck and a light and air unit. It has a BLS non-transport license to provide EMS assistance and over a dozen of its average of 30 active members are qualified 1st Responders or EMTs. In 2000, HVFD and the Hamilton Volunteer Rescue Squad together purchased 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of land to build the Hamilton Public Safety Center where both companies are housed. ALS 601 is also housed at station 5/17.
The Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department was started in 1947 after the tragic deaths of three children in a house fire. It was officially established in 1948, and its first piece of equipment was a 1927 American LaFrance pumper. The station was built in 1950, with expansions in 1963 and 1993. In 1991, Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department expanded its services and added its first ambulance. In 1996, it officially became the Ashburn Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department. In 2010 Station 22, Landsdowne, was opened. Station 22, across from Loudoun Hospital, is also home to several Loudoun Fire Marhsall & Loudoun Sheriff units - some of which will move once the new Brambleton Public Safety Center, the future home of LFMO, is completed.
The Aldie Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1955 and its first piece of fire apparatus, a used 1948 GMP fire engine, was purchased for $5,500. In 1956, Co. 7 purchased its first station, which was formerly a garage and service station, and bought a 1939 Ford fire engine. In 1971, Co 7. built a new station on the same property as the old fire station. In 2010, CO. 7 began operation of a county-owned heavy rescue vehicle. Formerly Rescue 603, Rescue 607 was repainted & re-equiped to be sent to Aldie. In 2011, Aldie will be receiving a brand new heavy rescue vehicle from Pierce Manufacturing
. When that unit arrives, to be desginated Rescue 607, the current Rescue 607 will return to the county for refurbishing, before being stationed as a county reserve unit, Rescue 699, the first reserve rescue in the county.
The Philomont Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1955 and was equipped with a used pumper and tanker provided by other fire stations. In 1956, PVFD got its first new pumper, and in 1968 it bought a 1,500 gallon tanker. In 1975 and 1994, two expansions we added to the station, adding a meeting hall and providing a total of seven bays to house the apparatus. Philomont relies largely on career staff now, with some volunteers.
The Arcola Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1957. A station was built and its first piece of fire equipment, a 1,250 gal. Tanker truck, was purchased through the Civil Defense for $75.00. In the 1960s, the first ambulance was put in service and the Ladies Auxiliary was formed. During Hurricane Agnes in the 1970s, 200 people were sheltered and fed at Station 9. The 1980s and 1990s saw an addition built onto the station, and a recruitment program was started to help prepare for future growth. on 9/29/11, ground was broken for the new Brambleton Public Safety Center, which will house career/volunteer staffing from CO. 9 as well as the headquarters for the Loudoun County Fire Marshall's Office.
The Lucketts Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1960 with one fire truck and a two-bay firehouse. A few members of the community recognized the need to start a local fire company, and prior to the company’s establishment, a fire truck was purchased and kept at a local farm. Dispatch called the Chief’s home and his wife called local members by phone to tell them of an emergency. The fire truck was brought to the scene while members were en route. Today, Lucketts' original firehouse provides seven bays to house its apparatus. Lucketts is almost completely career staffed. Home of the LCFR Swiftwater team.
The Sterling Park Volunteer Fire Department started in 1966 with two old, used pumpers and a tanker in a barn on Holly Ave. By 1998 they had become the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company and expanded to two stations. The station in Sterling Park
, Station 11, is shared with the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad (as Station 15) and houses an engine, ladder tower, quint, and a canteen unit. A second station, Station 18, was built in Sugarland Run
and housed a single engine, and also served as Station 25 for SVRS. Construction of a new Station 18 (and 25) in Cascades
was completed in 1997. The Cascades station houses an engine, quint, and tanker. The old station 18 is used by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and sometimes houses reserve apparatus. Plans are underway to open a third station, station number 24 (Station 35 for SVRS) along the Route 28 corridor.
The Lovettsville Rescue Squad received it charter in 1966. In 1967, a fire company was begun and combined with the rescue squad to form one company in 1968. The current building was erected in 1974 and has had two subsequent additions built. It has split operations between career & volunteers.
On September 12, 1952, 12 men throughout the county started the first rescue squad in Loudoun County, the Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Until funds could be raised to purchase their own vehicle, Albert Laycock donated his Ford Ranch Wagon for their first response unit. The first official squad vehicle purchased was a '51 Chevrolet truck with a utility bed made to carry patients. Over the years, units were housed in Purcellville, Hamilton and Leesburg until other squads could be formed. The squad building on Catoctin Circle was constructed in 1975.
The Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad has been in existence since 1969. PVRS currently boasts three ambulances, a Basic Life Support chase vehicle, an Advanced Life Support chase vehicle, and a second ALS chase vehicle on loan from the county (ALS 690). CO. 14 is the home of the Mass Casuality Support Unit (MCSU 614 - similar in size & shape to MR 617), on loan from LCFR & the only vehicle of its type in the county (note: the text on the vehicle's side reads "Medical Care Support Unit," though it is still referenced & dispatched as the Mass Casualty Support Unit). Having moved into a brand new facility in the summer of 2009, shared with PVFC CO. 2, PVRS maintains an all-volunteer rescue squad and is one of two companies (Sterling Rescue is the other) in LCFR to maintain 24/7 volunteer staffing.
Founded in 1964, the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad was created as a "Jaycees" project in a newly developed planned community in Eastern Loudoun County. Following a tragic pedestrian accident; in which bystanders had to wait for an ambulance from Loudoun Rescue which was then headquartered in Hamilton, VA. The first station was co-located with the Library in the 200 block of N. Sterling Blvd, in 1968 a Crash Truck was purchased under a highway safety grant, that unit (Sterling 1) was housed at the Shell gas station in Sterling Park. A year earlier the membership of Sterling Rescue would be active in forming the Sterling Vol. Fire Company. In the early 1970s, both Sterling Rescue and the Sterling Fire Company would work together to build its first station to house both organizations in Sterling Park. Both organizations contine to be independent cooporations, co-located in the same stations. Later, that same decade, Sterling Rescue would be instrumental in implementing Advance Life Support care within the Loudoun County system.
Recognizing response delays and an increasing call volume in the communities north of Route 7,now known as Potomac Falls, members living in that area would respond to emergencies in an old ambulance parked in their driveway. Later a substation was built to provided an area to garage the ambulance in the Sugarland community. December,1997 the substation was replaced with a larger station which was built in the Cascades community. The Sugarland facility still remains but is used for the storage of equipment and supplies, houses the department's Special Events Team and is used by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office for their community policing activities.
Sterling Rescue provides both Emergency Medical care and transport (ALS/BLS), and Rescue operations throughout Eastern Loudoun County and the region. Sterling Rescue is home of one of Virginia's Office of EMS's, Disaster Task Force (NOVA TF-8) which has been deployed on several events throughtout the Commonwealth. Sterling Rescue has received recognition for its contributions by the Loudoun County government, Northern Virgnia EMS Council, Virginia Office of EMS, receipeint of the "1999 Governor's Award for Agency of the Year", and EMS Magizine's "2006 Best Volunteer EMS Agency".
In 2010, Sterling Rescue had over 7100 responses and it's 160 volunteer members, staffing both stations, provided over a 107,000 hours of time to the community. To meet an ever increasing demand on services, plans are underway for the construction of a third station along Rt. 28 in the area of Dulles Towncenter Mall and is expected to be open in 2013.
Neersville Volunteer Fire and Rescue began in 1976 as a sub-station of Round Hill. It housed a borrowed ambulance in a neighbor's driveway until the community members built its community building to house the ambulance. Two years later it became the Neersville Volunteer Rescue Squad, and in July 1979 it became Neersville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company. Neersville relies largely on career staff now, with some volunteers.
Establishing its roots in 1952 as Loudoun County’s first rescue squad, the members of the Hamilton community were volunteering their time and skills long before Station 17 was renamed in 1979. The Hamilton Volunteer Rescue Squad serves the town of Hamilton and its surrounding areas. In addition to BLS & ALS units, CO. 17 also operates a boat unit, as well as a heavy rescue unit, Rescue 617, which is often cross-staffed with CO. 5 personnel.
Constructed by the county, it houses both Fire-Rescue and a Sheriff’s substation. It began operation on May 7, 2007, with a grand opening in June 2007. The station is staffed 24/7 by LCFR staff with no volunteer participation. However, some of the apparatus is owned by the Arcola VFD. HazMat 619, the only HazMat response unit in Loudoun, not including HazMat support trailers, is stationed here.
Maintained by all-career staff, this company watches over the Mt. Weather area in the Blue Ridge Mountains
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
's Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center. Company 21 is a LCFR company simply for operational sake, as the staffing is maintained by FEMA, and to respond to mutual aide calls, the units must be released by FEMA prior to response. Used primarily by LCFR for station fills in the western end of the county, such as Purcellville or Round Hill.
Originally the second Ashburn company Loudoun County took over when Ashburn moved into the new Landsdowne station 22. Originally stationed at the Red Rum Drive warehouse facility, LCFR opened a brand new station 23 in Moorefield in August, 2011. It is the second all career station in the county. Houses several speciality apparatus, including the Mobile Air Unit, used for SCBA cylinder refilling on significant incidents, and the ambulance bus.
Headquarters and Training Center for LCFR - nicknamed "The Rock". The main LCFR building is here, which includes ECC (dispatch), training rooms, Battalion Chief bunkrooms, and offices. Also on the grounds are the annex building (more training rooms), the High Bay (houses the Rock's gym, and several apparatus, & encompasses a 4-story building for training), and the Burn and Extrication Pads for training. Stationed at LCFR HQ are many of the training & reserve apparatus, such as Engines 690,91,98,99, Truck 690, and multiple ambulances. Additionally, several career vehicles are stationed here, such as EMS 601 (EMS Battalion Chief), the Department Chief's chase, and more. Additionally, new units often come through the Rock for outfitting before being transferred to their home station. Once the new Rescue 607 arrives, old Rescue 607 may be stationed here as a county reserve rescue. Additionally, there are plans to purchase a second heavy rescue vehicle, which will either become a second reserve rescue, or will be placed at a new station, most likely the new 28/7 Sterling station.
LCFR also maintains additional apparatus and equipment storage at the Red Rum Drive Warehouse in Ashburn, VA. Originally the home of station 23, before the move to the new Moorefield station, the warehouse is now the home for many reserve and speciality apparatus and fleet maintenance operations.
Flight 514, registration N54328, was a Boeing 727-231
en route from Indianapolis
, Indiana
, and Columbus
, Ohio
, to Washington Dulles International
that crashed into Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center
, Virginia. All 85 passengers and 7 crew members were killed.
affiliated hijackers took control of American Airlines Flight 77
, en route from Washington Dulles International Airport
to Los Angeles International Airport
, and deliberately crashed it into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. EDT as part of the September 11 attacks. All 64 people on the airliner were killed as were 125 people who were in the building. The impact of the plane severely damaged the structure of the building and caused its partial collapse. Career and volunteer firefighter/rescue personnel responded to the Pentagon and also helped fill the stations in Fairfax County and Arlington County that had responded to the disaster.
, Virginia. Over the course of the incident, seven Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department personnel, both volunteer and career, were injured, with four receiving serious burns. The fire lead to a post-incident investigative report, and resulted in an investigative video and document and several department-wide changes to incident response strategies, protocols, equipment, and personnel assignments. Subsequently, a copy of the report, including video, can be found on the main LCFR webpage, & it is often referenced in county classes (e.g. the entirety of the video was shown three times during the Fall 2010 Firefighter I/II class).
Emergency and non-emergency fire and rescue calls are processed and police-related calls are transferred to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Each shift includes workers who are certified in various aspects of emergency medical dispatch and who meet the standards set by the national Association of Public Communications Officers.
When a member of the public dials "911" they speak with an LCFR 911 operator who assigns the call to where it needs to go based on the information provided.
and other airports. When either box is sounded it brings an automatic second alarm (2-2) response of equipment, along with various special units.
This information is printed on the fire ticket and can be read by the dispatcher if requested. This information is also read automatically when a signal 10-75 (working fire) or higher signal is given or when the supervising dispatcher deems it is important for the units to have it before arrival at an incident.
LCFR does not use any one system-wide color-scheme to designate apparatus used by the volunteer companies. While career maintained apparatus have a common scheme, such as white with red highlights for chase vehicles & heavy vehicles (Rescue 607 & HazMat 619, which has red & blue highlights instead of red & tan), or red with tan & white highlights for ambulances and engines, the vast majority of apparatus colors are chosen by the volunteer companies themselves. These colors may reflect the individual company's logo, a sense of aesthetics, practicality , or a public community vote.
Every station is a little bit different in how they style their apparatus, or even what kind of apparatus they purchase, just like each engine or ambulance is unique to itself. For instance, Purcellville Fire apparatus are a yellow-green fluorescent color and Leesburg Fire use a Chicago-style black-on-red , whereas Ashburn has white over bright yellow and Philomont has a classic "fire-engine red" all over.
Local 3756. The chapter was chartered in 1997, and now has 319 members, with representation across all shifts, divisions, battalions, and many ranks.
, a part of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
.
While much of the series' fan base stems from the fire and rescue community, even if providers from other nations are fans, there are still many fans who simply wish to support the series and their local community.
Company websites
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, from fires and fire hazards
Fire fighting
Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment...
, providing emergency medical services, and technical rescue, including Hazardous Materials, Mass Casuality Incidents, environmental dangers and more. The department's headquarters are in Leesburg
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
.
LCFR, one of the largest fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
s in Virginia, has approximately 1,500 volunteers and 500 career staff that make up its 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...
s, emergency medical technician
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
s (EMT), paramedics and other emergency responders. LCFR uses a combined system to help respond to a diverse population spread throughout a suburban and rural county. Units can respond to building types that range from wood-frame single family homes to high-rise structures, bridges and tunnels, large parks and wooded areas that can give rise to major brush fires, as well as large stretches of forest and mountains, such as the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
, in addition to metro and bus lines. LCFR provides care for a very large and diverse area, responding from stations scattered strategically throughout the county.
Loudoun County
Located 25 miles (40.2 km) from Washington, D.C., Loudoun County is 517 square miles (1,339 km²) in area and contains seven incorporated Towns: HamiltonHamilton, Virginia
Hamilton is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 562 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Hillsboro, Leesburg
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
, Lovettsville
Lovettsville, Virginia
Lovettsville is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 853 at the 2000 census. The 2005-2009 American Community Survey estimated the population at 1187.-History:Following the 1722 Treaty of St...
, Middleburg
Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States with a population of approximately 976 as of July 2010.-History:The town was established in 1787 by American Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman, Levin Powell. He purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 per...
, Purcellville
Purcellville, Virginia
Purcellville is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,584 at the 2000 census, but has undergone considerable growth since then. Purcellville is the major population center for western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley...
, and Round Hill
Round Hill, Loudoun County, Virginia
Round Hill is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. Its population was estimated at 639 in 2005 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The town is located at the crossroads of Virginia routes 7 and 719 , approximately 50 miles northwest of Washington, D.C...
. Loudoun County is a member of both the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) and the National Capital Region.
Loudoun is widely known for its beautiful scenery, rich history, and strong sense of community. As the home of Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
and America Online, the County has established a reputation as an international center for technology, communications, and transportation. The County also enjoys a reputation for high-quality services, particularly its educational system.
Since 2000, Loudoun’s population has increased by over 60 percent to 279,082,1 making Loudoun the fifth-fastest growing county in the nation.2 The County’s population growth has been accompanied by prosperity. In 2007, Loudoun had the nation’s
highest median household income at $107,207.3
The County is governed by a nine-member Board of Supervisors. The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is elected by the voters at large; the other eight supervisors are elected by district. All nine members serve concurrent terms of four years. The Board of Supervisors appoints the County Administrator, who directs and supervises the day-to-day operations of all County departments and agencies.
Organization
LCFR uses a combination system, with career employees and volunteer members, to provide fire, rescue, and emergency medical services (EMSEmergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
) to its citizens.
Throughout the 1980s and much of the 1990s, Loudoun’s fire/rescue services were provided by volunteers supplemented by 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...
/Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Over time, increased demand for service coupled with fewer
volunteers available during daytime hours necessitated hiring additional career personnel.
Between Fiscal Year (FY) 93 and FY09, the number of career personnel has grown from 56.95 Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTEs) to 504.01 FTEs.4 The volunteer component of the System comprises an estimated 1,476 total volunteers, approximately
770 of whom are active either operationally and/or administratively. Both of these groups see continous, steady growth in terms of numbers and operational members.
LCFR
At the head of the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department is Chief Keith Brower, who came to the position after Chief Joseph Pozzo left to head Volusia County Fire Services, in Volusia County, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 2010. Under Chief Brower are six Deputy Chiefs, each in charge of a department, Volunteer Program Manager Karen McQuaid, and then the departments of Professional Standards and the Office of Emergency Management.
On Friday 11/12/2010, it was announced that Interim Chief Brower had been selected to permanently replace former Chief Pozzo as Chief of LCFR. Chief Brower was selected over approximately forty other applicants that had applied to the nation-wide search to replace Chief Pozzo.
Within LCFR, there are six Deputy Chiefs (DCs), who are each in charge of multiple departments, sections, programs, or endeavors.
These six Deputy Chiefs are responsible for, respectively:
- Facilities & Planning - Deputy Chief Howard Dawley
- Communications - Deputy Chief Corey Parker
- Operations - Deputy Chief Randall L. Shank
- EMS & Training - Deputy Chief Jose Salazar
- Fire Marshal's Office - Deputy Chief Linda Hale
- Program Services
Each Deputy Chief of each department has officers or Battalion Chiefs under them tasked with running multiple programs or sections.
Volunteer companies
While each volunteer company falls under the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department, each is largely responsible for its own administration and operation. LCFR provides support for volunteer companies in terms of financial support, training, protocols, and legal support. While many companies often have the term "Department" in their name, such Ashburn Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department, the correct term for these organizations would be "Company," to distinguish them from the overall LCFR Department.Each volunteer company draws its members from the local community. While most volunteers join the company in their area, it is common for some members to run at different companies, depending on that individuals schedule, interests, or personality as well as the membership options offered by the individual company.
The membership of volunteer companies in the LCFR system are usually headed by a Board of Directors. Sitting on the board will be members of the community as well as senior officers from the company. Under the BOD, are the two branches of a volunteer company, the Administrative side and the Operations side. At the head of each wing are the President and Fire/Rescue Chief, respectively. The President's Administrative side will see to the day-to-day functioning of the company, finances, support, and paperwork. Under the President are usually a Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Committee Directors, and a Trial Board. The Operations wing staff apparatus, respond to emergencies, train, and are largely the public face of a company. Under the Fire or Rescue Chief, depending on the nature and size of the company, there will be an Assistant Chief, Deputy Chiefs, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Engineers, Crew Chiefs (also called Officers/Attendants-in-charge), and then the Firefighters and EMTs. The number, and type, of officers in a company depends largely on its size, with a small company having as few as five operational officers (not counting Crew Chiefs) and four administrative officers, or as many as fifteen officers in a larger company (not including Crew Chiefs). For example, Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company has one chief, one assistant chief, but two captains and two lieutenants, but neither deputy chiefs nor sergeants. However, for contrast, Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company has three captains and six lieutenants.
Currently, with the exceptions of Purcellville Rescue (CO. 14) and Sterling Rescue (CO. 15/25) and the stations that maintain 24/7 career staff, every company in LCFR is split between career staff during the day (0600-1800) and volunteer staff during the night (1800-0600), with weekend coverage varying depending on company. For instance, Lovettsville Fire & Rescue (CO. 12) maintains 24/7 coverage during the weekend, while Purcellville Fire (CO. 2) continues the career/volunteer split shift throughout the entire week, including the weekend.
While many stations may have career staffing during the day, this does not preclude volunteers from staffing a second or third out piece. It is also not uncommon for volunteers to come from home or work to staff a second or third out unit if a major incident is dispatched that requires additional apparatus.
Area served
The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department helps protects an area as far east as Fairfax County, west to the Blue Ridge Mountains, north to the Potomac River and Frederick County, MD, and south to Route 50.Fire and Rescue Station-Apparatus
| Station | Location | Fire Units | EMS Units | Other | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Truck | Tanker Water tender A water tender, also known as a tanker in some regions, is a specialized firefighting apparatus designed for transporting water from a water source to a fire scene... |
Squad/Rescue Heavy rescue vehicle A heavy rescue vehicle is a type of specialty firefighting or EMS apparatus. They are primarily designed to provide the specialized equipment necessary for technical rescue situations such as auto accidents requiring vehicle extrication, building collapses, confined space rescue, rope rescues and... |
Ambulance Ambulance An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient... |
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| Station 601 | Leesburg Leesburg, Virginia Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616... |
CC,CU,HM,U | |||||
| Station 602 | Purcellville Purcellville, Virginia Purcellville is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,584 at the 2000 census, but has undergone considerable growth since then. Purcellville is the major population center for western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley... |
ER,E | TL | K | BC,BU,J,S | ||
| Station 603 | Middleburg Middleburg, Virginia Middleburg is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States with a population of approximately 976 as of July 2010.-History:The town was established in 1787 by American Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman, Levin Powell. He purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 per... |
E,W | K | A(2) | BU | ||
| Station 604 | Round Hill Round Hill, Loudoun County, Virginia Round Hill is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. Its population was estimated at 639 in 2005 by the U.S. Census Bureau. The town is located at the crossroads of Virginia routes 7 and 719 , approximately 50 miles northwest of Washington, D.C... |
E,ER | K,RK | A(2) | BU,C | ||
| Station 605 | Hamilton Hamilton, Virginia Hamilton is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 562 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:... |
E,RE,W | K | BU,CC,U | |||
| Station 606 | Ashburn Ashburn, Virginia Ashburn, Virginia is a census-designated place located in Loudoun County, Virginia, northwest of Washington, D.C., and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area... |
E,W | TL,T | A(3) | BU,C,CU | ||
| Station 607 | Aldie Aldie, Virginia Aldie is an unincorporated village located on the John Mosby Highway between Gilbert's Corner and Middleburg in Loudoun County, Virginia. It is located in a gap between the Catoctin Mountain and Bull Run Mountain, through which the Little River flows... |
E | K | HR | A | BU,S,U | |
| Station 608 | Philomont Philomont, Virginia Philomont is a small unincorporated rural village in western Loudoun County, Virginia. The name is derived from the Greek word philo meaning "beloved" and the French word mont or "mountain"; Philomont means "Beloved Mountain."-History:... |
W,E | K,RK | BU,C(2) | |||
| Station 609 | Arcola Arcola, Virginia Arcola is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia, USA. The population as of the 2010 Census was 233.Leesburg is situated northwest of Arcola; the national capital, Washington, D.C., lies to the east.-History:... -Pleasant Valley |
E,ER | A(2) | BU,C,CC,J,S,SU | |||
| Station 610 | Lucketts Lucketts, Virginia Lucketts is an unincorporated historic hamlet in Loudoun County, Virginia along U.S. Route 15 north of Leesburg. It was originally known as Black Swamp due to the large number of Black Oak trees growing in the area at the time of its settlement... |
E,ER | K,RK | A | BU | ||
| Station 611 | Sterling Park Sterling Park, Virginia Sterling Park is a community in Sterling, Virginia and is considered part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The community opened in 1963 on former farmland near Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County. The land where Sterling Park was built was mainly made up of a few very large farms... |
E,W | TL | CU,Q,BU | |||
| Station 612 | Lovettsville Lovettsville, Virginia Lovettsville is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 853 at the 2000 census. The 2005-2009 American Community Survey estimated the population at 1187.-History:Following the 1722 Treaty of St... |
E,W | K | MR | A(2) | C(2),J | |
| Station 613 | Leesburg Leesburg, Virginia Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616... |
HR | A(5) | BT,U,WU,CU | |||
| Station 614 | Purcellville Purcellville, Virginia Purcellville is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,584 at the 2000 census, but has undergone considerable growth since then. Purcellville is the major population center for western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley... |
A(3) | C(3),MCSU | ||||
| Station 615 | Sterling Park Sterling Park, Virginia Sterling Park is a community in Sterling, Virginia and is considered part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The community opened in 1963 on former farmland near Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County. The land where Sterling Park was built was mainly made up of a few very large farms... |
HR | A(4) | C,S,BT,CC,WU,G | |||
| Station 616 | Neersville Neersville, Virginia Neersville is an unincorporated community in northwestern Loudoun County, Virginia, USA. It is located in the Between the Hills area of the Loudoun Valley on Harpers Ferry Road at the foot of Short Hill Mountain... |
E | K | A | BU | ||
| Station 617 | Hamilton Hamilton, Virginia Hamilton is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 562 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:... |
HR,MR | A(2) | C(3),WU | |||
| Station 618 | Cascades Sterling, Virginia Sterling, Virginia is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 27,822.It is located northwest of Herndon, east of Ashburn, and west of Great Falls, and includes part of Dulles International Airport and the former AOL corporate headquarters... |
E | K | HS,Q,CC,S | |||
| Station 619 | Dulles South Riding South Riding, Virginia South Riding is a census-designated place and planned community in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 24,256.. Neighboring U.S. Route 50 and State Route 28 provide access to the Dulles/Reston/Tysons Corner technology corridor and other major employment centers in... |
E | TL | A(1) | BC,HM,HMS | ||
| Station 620 | Leesburg Leesburg, Virginia Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616... |
E,W | TI,T | K | CC,HM,J | ||
| Station 621 | Mount Weather Mount Weather The Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center is a civilian command facility in Virginia, U.S. used as the center of operations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency... |
E | T | A(2) | BU, HM, SU(3) | ||
| Station 622 | Lansdowne Lansdowne, Virginia Lansdowne is a census-designated place and planned community located near Leesburg, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 11,253.... |
E,RE | A | BC | |||
| Station 623 | Moorefield | E | K | A(2) | MAU, MAB | ||
| Station 624(F) | Dulles Dulles, Virginia Dulles, Virginia is an unincorporated area located in Loudoun County, Virginia, part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The headquarters of Orbital Sciences Corporation, GeoEye, and ODIN technologies and the former headquarters of MCI Inc... |
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| Station 625 | Cascades Sterling, Virginia Sterling, Virginia is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 27,822.It is located northwest of Herndon, east of Ashburn, and west of Great Falls, and includes part of Dulles International Airport and the former AOL corporate headquarters... |
TR | A(3) | C,S,U,MCI,WU(2) | |||
| Station 626(F) | Brambleton Brambleton, Virginia Brambleton is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia, off the Dulles Toll Road. The population as of the 2010 Census was 9,845.It is named for a plantation once located in the vicinity. Construction started on the Brambleton community in 2001... |
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| Station 627(F) | Kirkpatrick Farms | ||||||
| Station 628(F) | Oatlands Oatlands, Virginia Oatlands is an unincorporated community in Loudoun County, Virginia, USA. Oatlands is located on the James Monroe Highway along Goose Creek. The central feature is Oatlands Plantation. President James Monroe's plantation, Oak Hill, is a few miles south.... |
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| Station 635(F) | Dulles Dulles, Virginia Dulles, Virginia is an unincorporated area located in Loudoun County, Virginia, part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The headquarters of Orbital Sciences Corporation, GeoEye, and ODIN technologies and the former headquarters of MCI Inc... |
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| Station 690/699 | LCFR Headquarters & Training Center | E(2) | T | HR* | A | BC(2),C,G(2),MCI,SO, | |
| Red Rum Warehouse | Red Rum Drive, Ashburn | E | A(2) | LU | |||
| Unit Types: A(#)=Ambulance (number of units), BC=Career Battalion Chief housed at this station, BT=Bike Team, BU=Brush Unit, C=Chase Vehicle (BLS/ALS), CC=Command Chase, CU=Canteen Unit, E=Engine, G=Gator, HR=Heavy Rescue, HM=HazMat Unit, HMS=HazMat Support, J=Jeep, K=Tanker, LU=Logistics Unit MAU=Mobile Air Unit, MAB=Mobile Ambulance Bus, MCI=Mass Casualty Incident Trailer, MCSU=Mass Casualty Supply/Support Unit, MR=Medium Rescue, Q=Quint, ER=Rescue Engine, RE=Reserve Engine, RK=Reserve Tanker, S=SERV, SO=Safety Officer, SU=Support Unit, T=Truck, TI=Tiller, TL=Tower Ladder, TR=Technical Rescue, U=Utility, W=Wagon, WU=Water Unit (boat,jetski,etc). (F)=Future Station
|
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Station histories
- Leesburg Fire, Company 1 & 20 - "The Big House" & "The Pride of Old Town"
Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company occupies two locations in Leesburg.
Company 1 is located at 215 W. Loudoun Street, and houses support units and retired apparatus for LVFC. Company 20 is the active arm of LVFC and runs out of the station located on Plaza Street next to the Leesburg Police station. However, unit numbering is not totally indicative of station - for instance, the tiller stationed at 20 was long called Truck 601, however, due to the new backup truck that was purchased, it is now called Truck 620.
- Purcellville Public Safety Center, Purcellville Fire, Company 2 - "The Deuce"
The Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company, nicknamed "The Deuce," was formed in the early 20th century. At the time, two hand-drawn chemical wagons were placed in service. In 1923, PVFD received its charter and the era of motorized fire apparatus began. PVFC recently moved into a new station on the north end of Purcellville with PVRS Co. 14. Company 2 has two alternating shifts of LCFR career staff, A and B shift, during the day from 0600 to 1800, and volunteer crews at night from 1800-0600.
- Middleburg Fire and Rescue, Company 3 - "The Fightin' Foxes"
When the Middleburg Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated in 1936, it had one fire truck and covered the Route 50 corridor from the top of Paris Mountain to Chantilly. In the early 1950s Co. 3 was given an ambulance and initiated emergency medical care, becoming fire and rescue. Relations between career & volunteers become strained in 2010, but career staff have recently returned to CO. 3.
- Round Hill Fire and Rescue, Company 4
The Round Hill Fire Department was started in the early 20th century. Its equipment consisted of a hand-pulled cart carrying several lengths of hose. The first fire alarm was sounded by clanging a big iron bell. In 1938, the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. was formally organized. The first piece of equipment purchased was a used truck that had a water tank and pump mounted on it. Next, a siren and fire extinguishers were added. In 1949, the first ambulance was purchased. Round Hill relies largely on career staff now, with some volunteers at night & for events.
- Hamilton Fire, Company 5 - "The Nickel" & "The Fighting Fifth"
The Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department held its first organized meeting in July 1944, and a year later purchased its first fire truck. In January 1946, it moved into its firehouse which, with remodeling and additions, is still in use. HVFD has an attack pumper, a pumper/tanker, a brush truck and a light and air unit. It has a BLS non-transport license to provide EMS assistance and over a dozen of its average of 30 active members are qualified 1st Responders or EMTs. In 2000, HVFD and the Hamilton Volunteer Rescue Squad together purchased 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of land to build the Hamilton Public Safety Center where both companies are housed. ALS 601 is also housed at station 5/17.
- Ashburn Fire and Rescue Company 6 & 22 - "The Swarm" & "The Rt. 7 Express"
The Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department was started in 1947 after the tragic deaths of three children in a house fire. It was officially established in 1948, and its first piece of equipment was a 1927 American LaFrance pumper. The station was built in 1950, with expansions in 1963 and 1993. In 1991, Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department expanded its services and added its first ambulance. In 1996, it officially became the Ashburn Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department. In 2010 Station 22, Landsdowne, was opened. Station 22, across from Loudoun Hospital, is also home to several Loudoun Fire Marhsall & Loudoun Sheriff units - some of which will move once the new Brambleton Public Safety Center, the future home of LFMO, is completed.
- Aldie Fire and Rescue Company, Company 7
The Aldie Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1955 and its first piece of fire apparatus, a used 1948 GMP fire engine, was purchased for $5,500. In 1956, Co. 7 purchased its first station, which was formerly a garage and service station, and bought a 1939 Ford fire engine. In 1971, Co 7. built a new station on the same property as the old fire station. In 2010, CO. 7 began operation of a county-owned heavy rescue vehicle. Formerly Rescue 603, Rescue 607 was repainted & re-equiped to be sent to Aldie. In 2011, Aldie will be receiving a brand new heavy rescue vehicle from Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing is an Appleton, Wisconsin based manufacturer of custom fire and rescue apparatus and a wholly owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation. Pierce was acquired by Oshkosh in 1996. The company was originally founded in 1913 by Humphrey Pierce and his son Dudley as the Pierce Auto...
. When that unit arrives, to be desginated Rescue 607, the current Rescue 607 will return to the county for refurbishing, before being stationed as a county reserve unit, Rescue 699, the first reserve rescue in the county.
- Philomont Fire and Rescue, Company 8
The Philomont Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1955 and was equipped with a used pumper and tanker provided by other fire stations. In 1956, PVFD got its first new pumper, and in 1968 it bought a 1,500 gallon tanker. In 1975 and 1994, two expansions we added to the station, adding a meeting hall and providing a total of seven bays to house the apparatus. Philomont relies largely on career staff now, with some volunteers.
- Arcola/Pleasant Valley Fire and Rescue, Company 9
The Arcola Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1957. A station was built and its first piece of fire equipment, a 1,250 gal. Tanker truck, was purchased through the Civil Defense for $75.00. In the 1960s, the first ambulance was put in service and the Ladies Auxiliary was formed. During Hurricane Agnes in the 1970s, 200 people were sheltered and fed at Station 9. The 1980s and 1990s saw an addition built onto the station, and a recruitment program was started to help prepare for future growth. on 9/29/11, ground was broken for the new Brambleton Public Safety Center, which will house career/volunteer staffing from CO. 9 as well as the headquarters for the Loudoun County Fire Marshall's Office.
- Lucketts Fire & Rescue, Company 10 - "The Dime" & "The Nuthouse"
The Lucketts Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1960 with one fire truck and a two-bay firehouse. A few members of the community recognized the need to start a local fire company, and prior to the company’s establishment, a fire truck was purchased and kept at a local farm. Dispatch called the Chief’s home and his wife called local members by phone to tell them of an emergency. The fire truck was brought to the scene while members were en route. Today, Lucketts' original firehouse provides seven bays to house its apparatus. Lucketts is almost completely career staffed. Home of the LCFR Swiftwater team.
- Sterling Fire, Company 11 & 18
The Sterling Park Volunteer Fire Department started in 1966 with two old, used pumpers and a tanker in a barn on Holly Ave. By 1998 they had become the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company and expanded to two stations. The station in Sterling Park
Sterling Park, Virginia
Sterling Park is a community in Sterling, Virginia and is considered part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The community opened in 1963 on former farmland near Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County. The land where Sterling Park was built was mainly made up of a few very large farms...
, Station 11, is shared with the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad (as Station 15) and houses an engine, ladder tower, quint, and a canteen unit. A second station, Station 18, was built in Sugarland Run
Sugarland Run, Virginia
Sugarland Run is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 11,799.-Reference:...
and housed a single engine, and also served as Station 25 for SVRS. Construction of a new Station 18 (and 25) in Cascades
Cascades, Virginia
Cascades is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 11,912. Along with nearby Countryside and Lowes Island, it's considered one of the three main components of the Potomac Falls community .-References:...
was completed in 1997. The Cascades station houses an engine, quint, and tanker. The old station 18 is used by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and sometimes houses reserve apparatus. Plans are underway to open a third station, station number 24 (Station 35 for SVRS) along the Route 28 corridor.
- Lovettsville Fire & Rescue, Company 12
The Lovettsville Rescue Squad received it charter in 1966. In 1967, a fire company was begun and combined with the rescue squad to form one company in 1968. The current building was erected in 1974 and has had two subsequent additions built. It has split operations between career & volunteers.
- Loudoun County Rescue (Leesburg), Company 13
On September 12, 1952, 12 men throughout the county started the first rescue squad in Loudoun County, the Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Until funds could be raised to purchase their own vehicle, Albert Laycock donated his Ford Ranch Wagon for their first response unit. The first official squad vehicle purchased was a '51 Chevrolet truck with a utility bed made to carry patients. Over the years, units were housed in Purcellville, Hamilton and Leesburg until other squads could be formed. The squad building on Catoctin Circle was constructed in 1975.
- Purcellville Public Safety Center, Purcellville Volunteer Rescue, Company 14 - "The Mainstreet Medics"
The Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad has been in existence since 1969. PVRS currently boasts three ambulances, a Basic Life Support chase vehicle, an Advanced Life Support chase vehicle, and a second ALS chase vehicle on loan from the county (ALS 690). CO. 14 is the home of the Mass Casuality Support Unit (MCSU 614 - similar in size & shape to MR 617), on loan from LCFR & the only vehicle of its type in the county (note: the text on the vehicle's side reads "Medical Care Support Unit," though it is still referenced & dispatched as the Mass Casualty Support Unit). Having moved into a brand new facility in the summer of 2009, shared with PVFC CO. 2, PVRS maintains an all-volunteer rescue squad and is one of two companies (Sterling Rescue is the other) in LCFR to maintain 24/7 volunteer staffing.
- Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad, Company 15 & 25
Founded in 1964, the Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad was created as a "Jaycees" project in a newly developed planned community in Eastern Loudoun County. Following a tragic pedestrian accident; in which bystanders had to wait for an ambulance from Loudoun Rescue which was then headquartered in Hamilton, VA. The first station was co-located with the Library in the 200 block of N. Sterling Blvd, in 1968 a Crash Truck was purchased under a highway safety grant, that unit (Sterling 1) was housed at the Shell gas station in Sterling Park. A year earlier the membership of Sterling Rescue would be active in forming the Sterling Vol. Fire Company. In the early 1970s, both Sterling Rescue and the Sterling Fire Company would work together to build its first station to house both organizations in Sterling Park. Both organizations contine to be independent cooporations, co-located in the same stations. Later, that same decade, Sterling Rescue would be instrumental in implementing Advance Life Support care within the Loudoun County system.
Recognizing response delays and an increasing call volume in the communities north of Route 7,now known as Potomac Falls, members living in that area would respond to emergencies in an old ambulance parked in their driveway. Later a substation was built to provided an area to garage the ambulance in the Sugarland community. December,1997 the substation was replaced with a larger station which was built in the Cascades community. The Sugarland facility still remains but is used for the storage of equipment and supplies, houses the department's Special Events Team and is used by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office for their community policing activities.
Sterling Rescue provides both Emergency Medical care and transport (ALS/BLS), and Rescue operations throughout Eastern Loudoun County and the region. Sterling Rescue is home of one of Virginia's Office of EMS's, Disaster Task Force (NOVA TF-8) which has been deployed on several events throughtout the Commonwealth. Sterling Rescue has received recognition for its contributions by the Loudoun County government, Northern Virgnia EMS Council, Virginia Office of EMS, receipeint of the "1999 Governor's Award for Agency of the Year", and EMS Magizine's "2006 Best Volunteer EMS Agency".
In 2010, Sterling Rescue had over 7100 responses and it's 160 volunteer members, staffing both stations, provided over a 107,000 hours of time to the community. To meet an ever increasing demand on services, plans are underway for the construction of a third station along Rt. 28 in the area of Dulles Towncenter Mall and is expected to be open in 2013.
- Neersville Fire & Rescue, Company 16 - "The Outpost"
Neersville Volunteer Fire and Rescue began in 1976 as a sub-station of Round Hill. It housed a borrowed ambulance in a neighbor's driveway until the community members built its community building to house the ambulance. Two years later it became the Neersville Volunteer Rescue Squad, and in July 1979 it became Neersville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company. Neersville relies largely on career staff now, with some volunteers.
- Hamilton Rescue, Company 17
Establishing its roots in 1952 as Loudoun County’s first rescue squad, the members of the Hamilton community were volunteering their time and skills long before Station 17 was renamed in 1979. The Hamilton Volunteer Rescue Squad serves the town of Hamilton and its surrounding areas. In addition to BLS & ALS units, CO. 17 also operates a boat unit, as well as a heavy rescue unit, Rescue 617, which is often cross-staffed with CO. 5 personnel.
- Dulles South Public Safety Center, Station 19
Constructed by the county, it houses both Fire-Rescue and a Sheriff’s substation. It began operation on May 7, 2007, with a grand opening in June 2007. The station is staffed 24/7 by LCFR staff with no volunteer participation. However, some of the apparatus is owned by the Arcola VFD. HazMat 619, the only HazMat response unit in Loudoun, not including HazMat support trailers, is stationed here.
- Mt. Weather Fire and Rescue, Company 21
Maintained by all-career staff, this company watches over the Mt. Weather area in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
's Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center. Company 21 is a LCFR company simply for operational sake, as the staffing is maintained by FEMA, and to respond to mutual aide calls, the units must be released by FEMA prior to response. Used primarily by LCFR for station fills in the western end of the county, such as Purcellville or Round Hill.
- LCFR Moorefield station 23
Originally the second Ashburn company Loudoun County took over when Ashburn moved into the new Landsdowne station 22. Originally stationed at the Red Rum Drive warehouse facility, LCFR opened a brand new station 23 in Moorefield in August, 2011. It is the second all career station in the county. Houses several speciality apparatus, including the Mobile Air Unit, used for SCBA cylinder refilling on significant incidents, and the ambulance bus.
- Loudoun County Training Center (Leesburg), Station 90/99 & Red Rum Drive
Headquarters and Training Center for LCFR - nicknamed "The Rock". The main LCFR building is here, which includes ECC (dispatch), training rooms, Battalion Chief bunkrooms, and offices. Also on the grounds are the annex building (more training rooms), the High Bay (houses the Rock's gym, and several apparatus, & encompasses a 4-story building for training), and the Burn and Extrication Pads for training. Stationed at LCFR HQ are many of the training & reserve apparatus, such as Engines 690,91,98,99, Truck 690, and multiple ambulances. Additionally, several career vehicles are stationed here, such as EMS 601 (EMS Battalion Chief), the Department Chief's chase, and more. Additionally, new units often come through the Rock for outfitting before being transferred to their home station. Once the new Rescue 607 arrives, old Rescue 607 may be stationed here as a county reserve rescue. Additionally, there are plans to purchase a second heavy rescue vehicle, which will either become a second reserve rescue, or will be placed at a new station, most likely the new 28/7 Sterling station.
LCFR also maintains additional apparatus and equipment storage at the Red Rum Drive Warehouse in Ashburn, VA. Originally the home of station 23, before the move to the new Moorefield station, the warehouse is now the home for many reserve and speciality apparatus and fleet maintenance operations.
Future stations
LCFR is currently in the works of planning and developing future stations for the department, all depending on community growth and need. Most of these departments would become substations of individual companies or all-career stations, with very few new, independent volunteer companies being created.- Station 24 Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Dulles 28/7 Station
- Station 26 (New Station 9) Brambleton Public Safety Center - 23675 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA Ground broken 9/29/11.
- Station 27 Oatlands Area Fire and Rescue Station
- Station 28 Kirkpatrick Farms Area Fire and Rescue Station
- Station 35 Sterling Park Volunteer Rescue Squad, Dulles 28/7 Station
TWA Flight 514
On December 1, 1974 TWATwa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
Flight 514, registration N54328, was a Boeing 727-231
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
en route from Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, to Washington Dulles International
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
that crashed into Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center
Mount Weather
The Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center is a civilian command facility in Virginia, U.S. used as the center of operations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency...
, Virginia. All 85 passengers and 7 crew members were killed.
9/11
On September 11, 2001, a team of five al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
affiliated hijackers took control of American Airlines Flight 77
American Airlines Flight 77
American 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...
, en route from Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
to Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, and deliberately crashed it into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. EDT as part of the September 11 attacks. All 64 people on the airliner were killed as were 125 people who were in the building. The impact of the plane severely damaged the structure of the building and caused its partial collapse. Career and volunteer firefighter/rescue personnel responded to the Pentagon and also helped fill the stations in Fairfax County and Arlington County that had responded to the disaster.
Meadowood incident
On May 25, 2008 a significant fire occurred in a single-family home in LeesburgLeesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
, Virginia. Over the course of the incident, seven Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department personnel, both volunteer and career, were injured, with four receiving serious burns. The fire lead to a post-incident investigative report, and resulted in an investigative video and document and several department-wide changes to incident response strategies, protocols, equipment, and personnel assignments. Subsequently, a copy of the report, including video, can be found on the main LCFR webpage, & it is often referenced in county classes (e.g. the entirety of the video was shown three times during the Fall 2010 Firefighter I/II class).
Ideology
- The department places pride in providing high quality response and care to a patient. This is exemplified in the department's motto, "T.I.P.S. - Teamwork. Integrity. Professionalism. Service." This is explained as "Do It Together. Do It Right. Do It Well. Do It Now."
- Members of companies in the western area of Loudoun County (west of Leesburg), are known to use the term "Best in the West."
Dispatch
The Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center serves as the county's public safety answering point for fire, rescue and police incidents, using the county's Enhanced-911 (E-911) system. The center operates 24 hours a day.Emergency and non-emergency fire and rescue calls are processed and police-related calls are transferred to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Each shift includes workers who are certified in various aspects of emergency medical dispatch and who meet the standards set by the national Association of Public Communications Officers.
When a member of the public dials "911" they speak with an LCFR 911 operator who assigns the call to where it needs to go based on the information provided.
- If it is police related, the information is sent to the Loudoun County Sheriff Office radio dispatcher for the precinct or special unit concerned, or to local Police Departments.
- If it is near a major airport the Metropolitan Washington Airports AuthorityMetropolitan Washington Airports AuthorityMetropolitan Washington Airports Authority is an independent airport authority, created by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia with the consent of the United States Congress to oversee management, operations, and capital development of Washington, D.C.'s two major airports:...
is notified. - If it is a fireFireFire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
, hazmat, or EMS incident, the LCFR 911 operator will directly dispatch the call information to the appropriate units
Box numbers
Each address in the city is assigned a box number, based on the closest street, special building or highway box. This gives the companies en route cross streets for the alarm. If there is also a street address given to the dispatchers, the responding apparatus will get this information in the firehouse, over the air, and via their mobile data terminals (computer aided dispatch - CAD) in the apparatus. At present there are several thousand physical street boxes in Loudoun County, with many additional special building boxes and highway boxes, as well as "dummy boxes" used for special response assignments. In addition there are airport crash boxes for Washington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
and other airports. When either box is sounded it brings an automatic second alarm (2-2) response of equipment, along with various special units.
Critical Information Dispatch System
Critical Information Dispatch System (CIDS, pronounced "sids") information is transmitted to units in the firehouse and en route is information that is collected on a building during inspections and by public input, which would have an impact on fire-fighting operations. Such things as:- warehoused apartments,
- type and length of line stretch (or hose),
- number of apartments per floor,
- unsafe conditions, standpipe conditions, and
This information is printed on the fire ticket and can be read by the dispatcher if requested. This information is also read automatically when a signal 10-75 (working fire) or higher signal is given or when the supervising dispatcher deems it is important for the units to have it before arrival at an incident.
Apparatus
LCFR apparatus are owned and maintained primarily by the individual volunteer companies that make up the department. While LCFR owns several pieces of apparatus for career staff and training, such as ambulances 698 and 699, engine 690, and some ALS chase vehicles, the actual day-to-day operation is handled by the volunteer companies, and the career staff that may run during the day at specific stations.LCFR does not use any one system-wide color-scheme to designate apparatus used by the volunteer companies. While career maintained apparatus have a common scheme, such as white with red highlights for chase vehicles & heavy vehicles (Rescue 607 & HazMat 619, which has red & blue highlights instead of red & tan), or red with tan & white highlights for ambulances and engines, the vast majority of apparatus colors are chosen by the volunteer companies themselves. These colors may reflect the individual company's logo, a sense of aesthetics, practicality , or a public community vote.
Every station is a little bit different in how they style their apparatus, or even what kind of apparatus they purchase, just like each engine or ambulance is unique to itself. For instance, Purcellville Fire apparatus are a yellow-green fluorescent color and Leesburg Fire use a Chicago-style black-on-red , whereas Ashburn has white over bright yellow and Philomont has a classic "fire-engine red" all over.
IAFF Local 3756
LCFR Career personnel are represented by International Association of Fire FightersInternational Association of Fire Fighters
The International Association of Fire Fighters is a labor union representing professional firefighters in the United States and Canada. The IAFF was formed in 1918 and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO in the United States and the Canadian Labour Congress in Canada. The IAFF is headquartered in...
Local 3756. The chapter was chartered in 1997, and now has 319 members, with representation across all shifts, divisions, battalions, and many ranks.
Virginia Task Force 1
Several members of the LCFR system are also members of Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 1Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 1
Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 1 or VA-TF1 is a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force based in Fairfax County, Virginia. VA-TF1 is sponsored by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department....
, a part of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
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...
.
Volunteers: The Series
Loudoun County is home to a grassroots program, titled Volunteers: The Series that aims to highlight volunteer fire and rescue companies from around the world. The show has quickly developed a small following since its 2009 inception from all over the world, thanks to a marketing campaign, using video clips, a facebook page, and word of mouth, featuring companies and stations within the LCFR system.While much of the series' fan base stems from the fire and rescue community, even if providers from other nations are fans, there are still many fans who simply wish to support the series and their local community.
See also
- Loudoun County, VirginiaLoudoun County, VirginiaLoudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
- Northern VirginiaNorthern VirginiaNorthern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
- Firefighting
- Fire DepartmentFire departmentA fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
- Ashburn Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department
External links
Official websitesCompany websites
- Aldie Vol. Fire http://www.aldiefire.org/
- Arcola-Pleasant Valley Vol. Fire http://www.arcolavfd.org/
- Ashburn Vol. Fire & Rescue http://www.ashburnfirerescue.org/
- Hamilton Vol. Fire http://www.hamiltonfire.org/
- Hamilton Vol. Rescue http://www.hamiltonrescue.org/
- Leesburg Vol. Fire http://www.leesburgfire.org/
- Loudoun County Vol. Rescue http://www.loudounrescue.org/
- Lovettsville Vol. Fire & Rescue http://lovettsvillevfr.org/index.html
- Middleburg Vol. Fire http://middleburgvfd.org/
- Neersville Vol. Fire http://www.betweenthehills.org/firerescue.html
- Philomont Vol. Fire http://www.philomontvfd.org/index.html
- Purcellville Vol. Fire http://www.purcellvillefire.org/
- Purcellville Vol. Rescue http://www.purcellvillerescue.org/
- Round Hill Vol. Fire & Rescue http://www.roundhillvfd.org/
- Sterling Vol. Fire http://www.sterlingfire.org/
- Sterling Vol. Rescue http://www.sterlingrescue.com/