A few items of interest apparatus and apparatus staffing wise from city budget documents.
First,the city is planning to add Station 210 in the Eisenhower Valley with anticipated completion and online in 2012. Units slated for this station are an Engine and an ALS Medic unit. These will be new positions, not units moved from other stations.
Second, the city is planning to reconstruct or add onto the current Station 203 with an anticipated completion in 2015. A new ALS Medic unit will be added to Station 203 once the reconstruct or renovation/addition is complete.
Third, there were near simultaneous major incidents after a line of very severe thunderstorms swept through the DC area. Hundreds of calls in all jurisdictions and a 3 alarm incident at Alexandria Knolls West taxed the system (including communications) and resources. There were 5 firefighter injuries from this incident. Half an hour after the first call on the 3 alarm fire (lightning strike on the roof of a large hi-rise building) there was a 2nd alarm struck forlightning strike fire on the roof of a hotel off of Eisenhower Road. The new (at the time) fire chief and city manager recognized the need for an outside critique of this incident and retained the gentleman who is now heading up the investigation into the Charleston, SC fatalities. His report to the city cites many recomendations. Three directly affect apparatus staffing. One recommendation calls for going from 3 to 4 firefighters on all supression apparatus. The second recommendation calls for full staffing a heavy rescue apparatus (currently Rescue 206 is cross staffed with staffing from Rescue Engine 206). The third recommendation is to staff 24/7/365 the Light and Air Unit with a driver/operator.
First,the city is planning to add Station 210 in the Eisenhower Valley with anticipated completion and online in 2012. Units slated for this station are an Engine and an ALS Medic unit. These will be new positions, not units moved from other stations.
Second, the city is planning to reconstruct or add onto the current Station 203 with an anticipated completion in 2015. A new ALS Medic unit will be added to Station 203 once the reconstruct or renovation/addition is complete.
Third, there were near simultaneous major incidents after a line of very severe thunderstorms swept through the DC area. Hundreds of calls in all jurisdictions and a 3 alarm incident at Alexandria Knolls West taxed the system (including communications) and resources. There were 5 firefighter injuries from this incident. Half an hour after the first call on the 3 alarm fire (lightning strike on the roof of a large hi-rise building) there was a 2nd alarm struck forlightning strike fire on the roof of a hotel off of Eisenhower Road. The new (at the time) fire chief and city manager recognized the need for an outside critique of this incident and retained the gentleman who is now heading up the investigation into the Charleston, SC fatalities. His report to the city cites many recomendations. Three directly affect apparatus staffing. One recommendation calls for going from 3 to 4 firefighters on all supression apparatus. The second recommendation calls for full staffing a heavy rescue apparatus (currently Rescue 206 is cross staffed with staffing from Rescue Engine 206). The third recommendation is to staff 24/7/365 the Light and Air Unit with a driver/operator.
Dave McClung
Arden Hills, Minnesota but....
my heart is also back in Northern VA, especially Alexandria.
All pictures are taken by me and subject to copyright.
No picture taken by me may be copied or linked without my
express permission.
Arden Hills, Minnesota but....
my heart is also back in Northern VA, especially Alexandria.
All pictures are taken by me and subject to copyright.
No picture taken by me may be copied or linked without my
express permission.
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