Virginia - Here and There

[Guest]

Wow, so the Bailey's Crossroads VFD no longer exists? And good2go....I really appreciate that you don't use the COG numbers when you post your pics! I think we get enough of that Rdiculousness on the radios thanks to Fairfax and the rest of the State of Northern Virginia pushing that on PG and Montgomery....

[davemcclung]

[quote name='Good2Go' timestamp='1294918435' post='420142']

I remember that sign being there since around 1995. I use to pass it during my commute from Vienna to Ashburn for work each day!



Thanks for the update Sr

[/quote]



They had taken that sign down when the postponed the process. So the sign is back up now? When I was last in town in November the plan was still on hold. Sounds like maybe there is movement. Thanks srfire for the news.

[SrFireOfficial]

[quote name='CVFDASSTChief' timestamp='1294930152' post='420160']

Wow, so the Bailey's Crossroads VFD no longer exists? And good2go....I really appreciate that you don't use the COG numbers when you post your pics! I think we get enough of that Rdiculousness on the radios thanks to Fairfax and the rest of the State of Northern Virginia pushing that on PG and Montgomery....

[/quote]



Not to be splitting hairs here but I think the only time the numeric prefix is used is to designate the units, not the station, i.e. Engine 428 is housed at Fire Station 28.

[Guest]

Here she is gents!



Fairfax County, VA "Edsal Road"

New Foam 26

2010 Pierce Quantum



Thanks to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Explorer Michael Hogan for posting this on Facebook

[Roto-Ray]

[quote name='SrFireOfficial' timestamp='1294946683' post='420194']

Not to be splitting hairs here but I think the only time the numeric prefix is used is to designate the units, not the station, i.e. Engine 428 is housed at Fire Station 28.

[/quote]



I believe that some of the hatred for the COG numbering on the north side of the Potomac comes from the complete adoption of the numbering system in MoCo and PeeGee, where the new stations are actually named and lettered 806, 711, etc....

[Guest]

Very true. All new firehouses in PG (806, 816 and 826) and Montgomery County get the COG prefix attached to the station number, while none of the NOVA houses do.

[drfeelgood]

[quote name='SrFireOfficial' timestamp='1294946683' post='420194']

Not to be splitting hairs here but I think the only time the numeric prefix is used is to designate the units, not the station, i.e. Engine 428 is housed at Fire Station 28.

[/quote]



Amen Sr. I have been telling folks that for a long time. Some just can't read a policy <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> As for PEEGEE and MoCo doing it enough said <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[davebowen]

[quote name='Good2Go' timestamp='1294875057' post='420073']

Fairfax County, VA

Annandale Volunteer Fire Department

Engine Company 8

Unknown Year Pierce Quantum

[/quote]



I HAVE IT AS A 2004 Pierce QUANTUM 1250/750

[Guest]

SrFireOfficial, the station/unit numbering method has been changed to the way it should be by the Interim Fire Chief. The Stations will be referred to as "33" or "29" and the units will still have the "800" identifier.....for now. We're still trying to get it eliminated for in-county or non-COG Mutual Aid Responses.

[VFN102]

[quote name='CVFDASSTChief' timestamp='1294930152' post='420160']

Wow, so the Bailey's Crossroads VFD no longer exists? And good2go....I really appreciate that you don't use the COG numbers when you post your pics! I think we get enough of that Rdiculousness on the radios thanks to Fairfax and the rest of the State of Northern Virginia pushing that on PG and Montgomery....

[/quote]





me too....I like the "Wagon" and "Engine" designations.

[Guest]

[quote name='VFN102' timestamp='1294979797' post='420308']

me too....I like the "Wagon" and "Engine" designations.

[/quote]



Ok this is where I get confused what is the difference between a Wagon and a Engine as far as I know they both do the same job. The only thing I can think of is one has a bigger tank on it. Sorry if that seams like a stupid question but where I fought fires it was a brush truck engine or tanker

[SrFireOfficial]

When I volunteered in PWC during the mid 1980's there were Engine and Wagon designations on the radio even though the rigs were both triple combinations. Dale City back in the day had Wagon 13 and Engine 13 radio designations and more often than not, I really didn't know whether I was a wagon or engine the first few times I rode the front seat.



I also when I first learned fireground hydraulics in Virginia that the wagon was the attack piece and the engine was the supply piece. North of the Occoquan, the word engine was replaced with pumper.



Hope that helps.

[Truckman]

[quote name='SrFireOfficial' timestamp='1295002553' post='420339']

When I volunteered in PWC during the mid 1980's there were Engine and Wagon designations on the radio even though the rigs were both triple combinations. Dale City back in the day had Wagon 13 and Engine 13 radio designations and more often than not, I really didn't know whether I was a wagon or engine the first few times I rode the front seat.



I also when I first learned fireground hydraulics in Virginia that the wagon was the attack piece and the engine was the supply piece. North of the Occoquan, the word engine was replaced with pumper.



Hope that helps.

[/quote]





That is the way is was for us for a long time. Wagon carried the members and laid out, Engine put in at the hydrant and pump the line the Wagon laid out.

[Guest]

You got it Truckman. Here in Fairfax the Wagon rolled with 3 guys and the Engine with 1 (driver/pump operator). The change in terminology (I believe) occurred after the Air Florida crash when you had NOVA units working with DC and MD companies. For example a "Rescue" in Fairfax was a BLS ambulance, whereas DC called them Ambulances. A heavy rescue company in Fairfax was called a "Squad" where DC and MD called them "Rescue Squads", so asking for a "Rescue" from one jurisdiction would get you something entirely different from one to the other. Fairfax referred to their 2-piece Engine Companies as "Wagon/Engine" while DC referred to their 2-piece companies as "Engine and Pumper", which Fairfax eventually (and sadly) adopted as well. The rationale and reasoning is sound but parting ways with history and tradition is always difficult.



I will say that in my opinion the 2-piece engine company system is still a valid concept. The Engine lays out and the pumper immediately secures their water supply. Done deal. Go to work.



To my knowledge the only department in the USA to still be using a similar concept is the LAFD with their "Task Force/Light Force" system.



Corrections welcome! I think I was 10 years old when the Air Florida crash happened.

[stokess]

Couple of follow-ups to the conversations:



Bailey's Crossroads VFD still exist - they signed over the building/land, not everything they own. This will be a partnership like 1, 12 and 21, and quite frankly all the VFD's some day - unless some sugar daddy gives us $10M + there is no way Dunn Loring can afford to replace its building when its time. We know that and are already talking to the County about it (even though that might be 20 + years away) because this is one not to be caught flatfooted on. As SrFireOFficial states there have been issues on all parties parts - both internal with the volunteers and the county and mostly with the insurance company. We all learned a hard and valuable lesson about our agent and insurance company from this one. Agree with your last point Capt, and just one man's opinion but I don't think any thing will change and the next time, career or volunteer house, something like this happens I doubt we'll be better prepared then we were the morning of February 8, 2010.



Just checked my notes from last weeks volunteer commission meeting since 42 came up, we were told spring of 13 for completion by the chief - being driven by staffing and not the cost of the building. The building they have the money for, they don't have the budget to staff it. I say finish it and let the volies countywide staff it evenings and weekends until they have the staffing - I'm sure the companies would be willing to rotate their rigs out there, I'd be willing to send our engine and ambulance out there to equip it on a schedule or they could buy the rigs for 42 and put them there and we'd use them. Never happen, but a nice idea.







[quote name='SrFireOfficial' timestamp='1294918839' post='420143']

FS10 has had several issues in moving forward. The Bailey's Crossroads VFD signed over all their assets to Fairfax County in November 2010. There has been considerable hemming and hawing between the their insurance company and what they would cover, literally. The insurance company would not pay for a tent for Truck 410 since it is a county truck, not a volunteer owned rig, hence, T410 spends the night at FS28.



There have also been issues involving the leases the volunteer corporation has with various telecommunciations companies that utilize the volunteer-owned cell tower which had to be ironed out in the transfer of assets to Fairfax County. A suitable location has to be found to set up a temporary fire station with tents and trailers since the piece of land the current FS10 sits on can't support an active construction site and one of the county's busiest fire stations.



An architect still has to be contracted and the site plan and design completed and approved/accepted by Fairfax County. For as continency-planning oriented as the Fire and Rescue Department can be for anticipated disasters and coupled with the experiences (learning curve) gained after the fire at the Burke VFD, this process should have been a bit more streamlined.

[/quote]

[Truckman]

[quote name='Good2Go' timestamp='1295022343' post='420388']

You got it Truckman. Here in Fairfax the Wagon rolled with 3 guys and the Engine with 1 (driver/pump operator). The change in terminology (I believe) occurred after the Air Florida crash when you had NOVA units working with DC and MD companies. For example a "Rescue" in Fairfax was a BLS ambulance, whereas DC called them Ambulances. A heavy rescue company in Fairfax was called a "Squad" where DC and MD called them "Rescue Squads", so asking for a "Rescue" from one jurisdiction would get you something entirely different from one to the other. Fairfax referred to their 2-piece Engine Companies as "Wagon/Engine" while DC referred to their 2-piece companies as "Engine and Pumper", which Fairfax eventually (and sadly) adopted as well. The rationale and reasoning is sound but parting ways with history and tradition is always difficult.



I will say that in my opinion the 2-piece engine company system is still a valid concept. The Engine lays out and the pumper immediately secures their water supply. Done deal. Go to work.



To my knowledge the only department in the USA to still be using a similar concept is the LAFD with their "Task Force/Light Force" system.



Corrections welcome! I think I was 10 years old when the Air Florida crash happened.

[/quote]







Air Florida, aka Palm 90, crashed January 13, 1982. A terrible snow storm was about.



Google it to read the story.



Many heros that day!!



<img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/usa.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/3_12_21.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Chasselber1]

I thought DC ran with the Wagon-Pumper and Fairfax ran with Wagon-Engine...? Which is why most DC FF's stiil call the engine companies "Wagons".

[Guest]

Thank you for the explamation.

[Guest]

[quote name='Truckman' timestamp='1295038789' post='420407']

Air Florida, aka Palm 90, crashed January 13, 1982. A terrible storm storm was about.



Google it to read the story.



Many heros that day!!



<img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/usa.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/3_12_21.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[/quote]



Right you are again Truckman! Many heroes! First and foremost the US Park Police Helicopter Crew (Eagle 1 I believe) who went WAY beyond the call of duty in horrendous weather conditions to rescue survivors and bring them ashore, along with citizen Arland D. Williams Jr, a civilian who repeatedly passed off the rescue rope from the hovering US Park Police helicopter to victims other than himself before ultimately sinking below the icy water and perishing (the bridge has since been named after him). I remember watching it live on TV as a kid and being moved to tears...

[SrFireOfficial]

[quote name='Good2Go' timestamp='1295055628' post='420459']

Right you are again Truckman! Many heroes! First and foremost the US Park Police Helicopter Crew (Eagle 1 I believe) who went WAY beyond the call of duty in horrendous weather conditions to rescue survivors and bring them ashore, along with citizen Arland D. Williams Jr, a civilian who repeatedly passed off the rescue rope from the hovering US Park Police helicopter to victims other than himself before ultimately sinking below the icy water and perishing (the bridge has since been named after him). I remember watching it live on TV as a kid and being moved to tears...

[/quote]



And don't forget about an hour into the plane crash, METRO had a triple fatal derailment between the Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations. I have a recording of the vocal alarm for that being dispatched and with so many resources being sent to the Air Florida crash, DC sent their last rescue squad available along with the salvage wagon. Awesome to hear the dispatch.