Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department
Encyclopedia
The Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department (STVFD) is a combination career-volunteer fire department in Albemarle County, Virginia
. The department was founded in 1976 and protects the area of U.S. Route 29
immediately north of Charlottesville. With 2,577 unit responses in 2008, STVFD is the busiest station in Albemarle County. Its current chief is Douglas C. Smythers.
In 1987, STVFD began offering non-transporting emergency medical assistance to the area, assisting the Charlottsville-Albemarle Rescue Squad with medical responses.
Originally, the station was staffed by volunteers only in the evening, at other times volunteers would respond from their homes or jobs. In the mid-eighties, volunteers began to stay at the station overnight.
Beginning in 1998, career firefighters were hired by the county to staff the station on weekdays from 6 am to 6 pm. The career crew typically runs at the minimum staffing of three firefighters, at least one of whom is a medic.
Sunday through Thursday nights from 6pm to 6am five volunteer crews, labeled A through E, man the station and rotate 48 hour weekend shifts from Friday 6pm to Sunday 6pm. Each crew typically has enough firefighters to staff the first-due engine and the tower truck at least at minimum staffing. Crews are composed of one captain, one lieutenant, and a mix of firefighters ranging from probationary to senior level.
The department is dispatched for calls that include trauma and medic level rescue dispatches, mass casualty incidents, when manpower or special equipment is requested, and calls where an ambulance is not immediately available.
Another Pierce Arrow Class-A engine was delivered in February 1993. This new Engine 82 is dedicated to Johnny W. Baughman, a former STVFD president, and is still in service. It is run now as the third-due engine, meaning that the current E81 and E85 will take priority on calls and be dispatched first, before E82. If either E81 or E85 are out of service, E82 will move up to second-due. There is typically not enough staffing to run a third-due piece.
Tower 88 (T-88) is a 1998 Pierce Lance 100 feet (30 m) platform. T-88 has a 1500 US gal (5,678 l) per minute pump and a 200 US gal (757 l) tank.
Engine 85 is a 2000 Pierce Sabre, delivered in February 2000. In addition to a 750 US gal (2,839 l) per minute pump and 350 US gal (1,325 l) tank, the E-85 has prepiped foam capabilities and hydraulic extrication tools.
The station's most recent addition is its new Engine 81, a 2008 Pierce Dash. It has a 1500 GPM pump capable of flowing compressed air foam system (CAFS), which adds class-A foam to the hose lines. E-81 has a 750 gallons (2,839.1 l) tank, a bumper mounted winch
, a light tower for scene lighting, and several Hurst hydraulic tools, including spreaders, cutters, and rams. The engine is dedicated to Firefighter Walker A. Sisk, a former member, who was murdered on November 8, 2003.
All engines, as well as Tower 88 and Car 89, are equipped with medical equipment. On calls where the fire department arrives before the rescue squad, patient care is initiated by EMT and First Responder personnel, a report is given to arriving rescue personnel, and the fire crew remains on scene until placed in service by the ambulance crew. Medical responses make up a majority of calls run by the department.
The station also has a 1995 GMC pick-up truck which functions as the station's brush unit, Utility 86. Cars 80 and 82, a 2003 Chevy Tahoe and 2000 Ford Crown Victoria
, respectively, are command units used by the station battalion chiefs. Chief 80 uses Car 81, another Ford Crown Victoria, for chief responses. Car 89, a 2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with a custom camper shell is equipped for medical responses and with hand- and power-tools in a slide out insert in the truck bed. Car 83, a 1997 Chevy Tahoe, is used by firefighters to travel to training events and to run errands.
). This means staying outside during gas leak investigations, structure fires, and any other call which could require the use of an air pack, or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). DOTs are each assigned a mentor, a released firefighter on their crew, and are given a DOT book, a binder including the department’s SOGs and an outline of their training and promotion process (SOG-ADM-007).
DOTs are expected to attend a Firefighter I class, typically the semester-long Fire Academy held twice annually by the Albemarle County Fire Rescue Training Division. This class is a combination of several certifications, including Fire Attack- Essentials, Intermediate, and Evolutions (three separate certifications), Hazardous Materials Awareness NFPA 472-02, and Firefighter I NFPA 1001-02. After completing the Fire Attack classes and successfully participating in the Fire Attack live burn, DOTs are eligible to test for promotion to R-DOT.
To become an R-DOT, or a rookie firefighter, several lectures and skills taught in Academy need to be reviewed with the DOT’s mentor. With the permission of his or her crew captain, the DOT may take the written DOT test and perform a series of practical evolutions to show their capabilities (SOG-ROP-014). Once promoted to R-DOT, the volunteer don SCBA and enter potential IDLH environments with an officer or senior firefighter (SOG-ADM-009). Rookies are given black helmets which have yellow dots with “R” written on them.
After passing Firefighter I, rookies may test to become fully released firefighters, at the discretion of their officers. The process is similar to the DOT to R-DOT process (SOG-ROP-015). Fully released firefighters may work independently on a fire ground or with other released firefighters. They are issued traditional black helmets and fitted for new turnout gear.
Once released, firefighters are expected to continue participate in weekly crew training during their duty shift and especially on weekend shifts where time allows for more extensive training. They can advance further by training to drive and operate apparatus, train as an EMT, and several other opportunities. Albemarle County offers an annual Regional School which teaches courses over a weekend such as Rural Water Supply, Aerial Operator, and the Walker Sisk Memorial Truck School. The Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad offers an annual, three-day vehicle extrication class every March which all members are encouraged to attend.
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...
. The department was founded in 1976 and protects the area of U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, to Pensacola, Florida. This highway's northern terminus is at Maryland Route 99 in Ellicott City, Maryland...
immediately north of Charlottesville. With 2,577 unit responses in 2008, STVFD is the busiest station in Albemarle County. Its current chief is Douglas C. Smythers.
History
STVFD was founded in November 1976 by a group of around forty volunteers. A year later, on November 8, 1977, the station began responding to emergency calls. In 1978, the station ran a total of 166 calls. Bingo nights were held at Woodbrook Elementary School every Saturday night in order to raise money for the department. In 1980, the department was able to move out of the maintenance garage where its engine has been held to its current building at 3055 Berkmar Drive. After renovations, the building currently has a large training room, a workout room, a kitchen and dining room, three bunkrooms which hold six people each, an office, a TV room, and three door bay.In 1987, STVFD began offering non-transporting emergency medical assistance to the area, assisting the Charlottsville-Albemarle Rescue Squad with medical responses.
Originally, the station was staffed by volunteers only in the evening, at other times volunteers would respond from their homes or jobs. In the mid-eighties, volunteers began to stay at the station overnight.
Beginning in 1998, career firefighters were hired by the county to staff the station on weekdays from 6 am to 6 pm. The career crew typically runs at the minimum staffing of three firefighters, at least one of whom is a medic.
Sunday through Thursday nights from 6pm to 6am five volunteer crews, labeled A through E, man the station and rotate 48 hour weekend shifts from Friday 6pm to Sunday 6pm. Each crew typically has enough firefighters to staff the first-due engine and the tower truck at least at minimum staffing. Crews are composed of one captain, one lieutenant, and a mix of firefighters ranging from probationary to senior level.
Emergency Medical Services
"The objective of the EMS Program is to deliver immediate and appropriate medical care to those persons suffering perceived life threatening sudden illness or accidents."The department is dispatched for calls that include trauma and medic level rescue dispatches, mass casualty incidents, when manpower or special equipment is requested, and calls where an ambulance is not immediately available.
Equipment
The STVFD started with one engine (Engine 81) in 1977. The department added Engine 82 in 1980 and Engine 83 in 1983. The department expanded again in 1989 to add a Pierce Arrow Class-A engine, Engine 84. Engine 84 had a pump volume of 1250 US gal (4,731.8 l) per minute and a tank capacity of 500 US gal (1,892.7 l). Engine 84 was replaced by a new E-81 and is currently on loan to the Training Division of Albemarle County Fire Rescue. It is used in training classes such as the county's Firefighter I class.Another Pierce Arrow Class-A engine was delivered in February 1993. This new Engine 82 is dedicated to Johnny W. Baughman, a former STVFD president, and is still in service. It is run now as the third-due engine, meaning that the current E81 and E85 will take priority on calls and be dispatched first, before E82. If either E81 or E85 are out of service, E82 will move up to second-due. There is typically not enough staffing to run a third-due piece.
Tower 88 (T-88) is a 1998 Pierce Lance 100 feet (30 m) platform. T-88 has a 1500 US gal (5,678 l) per minute pump and a 200 US gal (757 l) tank.
Engine 85 is a 2000 Pierce Sabre, delivered in February 2000. In addition to a 750 US gal (2,839 l) per minute pump and 350 US gal (1,325 l) tank, the E-85 has prepiped foam capabilities and hydraulic extrication tools.
The station's most recent addition is its new Engine 81, a 2008 Pierce Dash. It has a 1500 GPM pump capable of flowing compressed air foam system (CAFS), which adds class-A foam to the hose lines. E-81 has a 750 gallons (2,839.1 l) tank, a bumper mounted winch
Winch
A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the "tension" of a rope or wire rope . In its simplest form it consists of a spool and attached hand crank. In larger forms, winches stand at the heart of machines as diverse as tow trucks, steam shovels and...
, a light tower for scene lighting, and several Hurst hydraulic tools, including spreaders, cutters, and rams. The engine is dedicated to Firefighter Walker A. Sisk, a former member, who was murdered on November 8, 2003.
All engines, as well as Tower 88 and Car 89, are equipped with medical equipment. On calls where the fire department arrives before the rescue squad, patient care is initiated by EMT and First Responder personnel, a report is given to arriving rescue personnel, and the fire crew remains on scene until placed in service by the ambulance crew. Medical responses make up a majority of calls run by the department.
The station also has a 1995 GMC pick-up truck which functions as the station's brush unit, Utility 86. Cars 80 and 82, a 2003 Chevy Tahoe and 2000 Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Crown Victoria
-1992–1994:Released in March 1991 as an early 1992 model, the Crown Victoria sedan was completely redesigned with a rounder, eight-window roofline . The redesign reduced the coefficient of drag from 0.42 to 0.34; the suspension setup was also heavily revised...
, respectively, are command units used by the station battalion chiefs. Chief 80 uses Car 81, another Ford Crown Victoria, for chief responses. Car 89, a 2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with a custom camper shell is equipped for medical responses and with hand- and power-tools in a slide out insert in the truck bed. Car 83, a 1997 Chevy Tahoe, is used by firefighters to travel to training events and to run errands.
Training
As a probationary member, a volunteer is called a DOT, or a firefighter in training, in reference to the yellow dot on the back of his or her red probationary helmet (SOG-ADM-009). Members at this experience level are not permitted to enter environments which are immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLHIDLH
IDLH is an initialism for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health, and is defined by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as exposure to airborne contaminants that is "likely to cause death or immediate or delayed permanent adverse health effects or prevent escape from such...
). This means staying outside during gas leak investigations, structure fires, and any other call which could require the use of an air pack, or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). DOTs are each assigned a mentor, a released firefighter on their crew, and are given a DOT book, a binder including the department’s SOGs and an outline of their training and promotion process (SOG-ADM-007).
DOTs are expected to attend a Firefighter I class, typically the semester-long Fire Academy held twice annually by the Albemarle County Fire Rescue Training Division. This class is a combination of several certifications, including Fire Attack- Essentials, Intermediate, and Evolutions (three separate certifications), Hazardous Materials Awareness NFPA 472-02, and Firefighter I NFPA 1001-02. After completing the Fire Attack classes and successfully participating in the Fire Attack live burn, DOTs are eligible to test for promotion to R-DOT.
To become an R-DOT, or a rookie firefighter, several lectures and skills taught in Academy need to be reviewed with the DOT’s mentor. With the permission of his or her crew captain, the DOT may take the written DOT test and perform a series of practical evolutions to show their capabilities (SOG-ROP-014). Once promoted to R-DOT, the volunteer don SCBA and enter potential IDLH environments with an officer or senior firefighter (SOG-ADM-009). Rookies are given black helmets which have yellow dots with “R” written on them.
After passing Firefighter I, rookies may test to become fully released firefighters, at the discretion of their officers. The process is similar to the DOT to R-DOT process (SOG-ROP-015). Fully released firefighters may work independently on a fire ground or with other released firefighters. They are issued traditional black helmets and fitted for new turnout gear.
Once released, firefighters are expected to continue participate in weekly crew training during their duty shift and especially on weekend shifts where time allows for more extensive training. They can advance further by training to drive and operate apparatus, train as an EMT, and several other opportunities. Albemarle County offers an annual Regional School which teaches courses over a weekend such as Rural Water Supply, Aerial Operator, and the Walker Sisk Memorial Truck School. The Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad offers an annual, three-day vehicle extrication class every March which all members are encouraged to attend.
External links
- http://sites.google.com/a/stvfd.org/public-documents/
- http://www.stvfd.org/history
- http://stvfd.org/files/STVFD_SOG_binder.pdf
- http://www.stvfd.org/apparatus
- http://www.stvfd.org/join
- http://www.albemarle.org/department.asp?section_id=1827&department=fire
- http://warhammer.mcc.virginia.edu/cars/upcmclass.html