District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department
Operational area
Country United States
Federal district District of Columbia
Agency overview[1]
EstablishedJuly 1, 1804; 219 years ago (1804-07-01)
Annual calls~212,459 (2019)
Employees2,153 (2019)
Annual budget$258,502,000 (2019)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefJohn A. Donnelly Sr.
Mayor of Washington, DC responsibleMuriel Bowser
EMS levelAdvanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS)
IAFF36
Facilities and equipment[2]
Battalions8
Stations34
Engines33
Tillers15
Platforms1
Rescues3
Ambulances39
HAZMAT2
USAR1
Airport crash1
Wildland1
Fireboats4
Light and air2
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (also known as DC FEMS, FEMS, DCFD, DC Fire, or DC Fire & EMS), established July 1, 1804,[3] provides fire protection and emergency medical service for the District of Columbia, in the United States. An organ of the devolved district government, Fire & EMS is responsible for providing fire suppression, ambulance service and hazardous materials containment for the federal district.[4]

History

A DCFD fire engine in December 2005.
DCFD Engine Company #23 (Foggy Bottom Firehouse)
DCFD Engine 7

On January 13, 1803, District of Columbia passed its first law about fire control, requiring the owner of each building in the district to provide at least one leather firefighting bucket per story or pay a $1 fine per missing bucket.[5]

The first firefighting organizations in the district were private volunteer companies. To end the problems created by rivalries between these companies, District of Columbia approved in 1864 an act to consolidate them and organize a paid fire department.[5] Seven years passed before it was implemented on September 23, 1871, creating the all-professional District of Columbia Fire Department (DCFD) with a combination of paid and volunteer staff.[3] The department had seven paid firefighters and 13 call men to answer alarms, manning three engines and two ladders.

By 1900, the DCFD had grown to 14 engine companies, four ladder companies, and two chemical companies.[3]

In 1968, the entire DCFD was mobilized during the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The four days of disorder saw widespread civil unrest, looting and arson, which ultimately required help with 70 outside companies to battle over 500 fires and perform 120 rescues.[6]

In the 1970s and 1980s, the department was rife with racial tension, as the nearly all-white department became much more racially integrated and African Americans sought upper-level supervisory and management positions.[7]

2010s budget and maintenance problems

Main article: History of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department

In January 2010, The Washington Examiner reported that, in a major management failure, the agency failed to budget for seniority pay in its fiscal 2010 budget, causing a $2 million shortfall.[8] After a hiring freeze left 130 positions unfilled, the department was projected to spend $15.4 million in fiscal 2010 (2.5 times the budgeted amount).[8] More than 75 percent of the agency's budget goes to salaries and fringe benefits.[8]

Problems with vehicle maintenance also worsened after 2010. The department lost track of the location of reserve vehicles, and sometimes listed fire engines as available for duty when they had been stripped for parts and sent to the junkyard. In 2012, the agency hired a consultant at a cost of $182,000 to create an accurate database of vehicle status and location. Both the D.C. Council and the District of Columbia's inspector general have strongly criticized the department's record. The District of Columbia Firefighters Association, Local 36, and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) have argued that the problem lies with poor management, while DCFEMS has said the problems either cannot be accounted for or are the result of rank-and-file incompetence or neglect.[9]

In July 2013, more than 60 DCFEMS ambulances were out of commission due to maintenance issues, and the department was forced to hire a private ambulance service to provide staffing at a Major League Baseball game. On August 8, 2013, a DCFEMS ambulance ran out of fuel while part of President Barack Obama's motorcade, and ended up stranded on the South Lawn of the White House (EMS personnel said they reported a broken fuel gauge months ago, while DCFEMS said workers failed to fill the vehicle with gasoline.) On August 13, 2013, two DCFEMS ambulances caught fire—one while delivering a patient to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the other while responding to an emergency call at an apartment building on Benning Road SE (another ambulance was dispatched to take the patient to the hospital.)[9]

In June 2015, Jullette M. Saussy was named the medical director of DC Fire and EMS.[10] On January 29, 2016, she announced her resignation from that position in a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser. In her letter, she called the department's culture "highly toxic to the delivery of any semblance of quality pre-hospital medical care."[11]

Stations and apparatus

Engine 10 and Truck 13's quarters in Trinidad.
Engine 20 and Truck 12's quarters in Tenleytown
Firehouse 13 in L'Enfant Plaza

As of June 2015, these are the DCFD's stations and equipment.[2][12]

Firehouse Number Neighborhood Engine Company Truck Company Rescue Squad Company Ambulance or Medic Unit Specialized Unit Command Unit Battalion
1 West End Engine 1 Truck 2 Ambulance 1
Medic 1		 Twin Agent Unit 2 6 [13]
2 Chinatown Engine 2 Rescue Squad 1 Medic 2 Field Command Unit

Mobile Command Unit

Rescue Squad 1 Support Unit

Battalion Chief 6

EMS 6

6 [14]
3 Judiciary Square Engine 3 Ambulance 3
Medic 3		 Water Supply Engine 52 6 [15]
4 Pleasant Plains Engine 4 Ambulance 4 Air Unit 1

Customer Service Unit 4

Mass Decon

EMS 7

Safety Officer

Special Operations Battalion Chief

4 [16]
5 Georgetown Engine 5 Medic 5 Canteen Unit 1

Rehab Unit

5 [17]
6 Shaw Engine 6 Truck 4 Ambulance 6 1 [18]
7 Navy Yard Engine 7 Medic 7 Brush Unit 1 2 [19]
8 Lincoln Park Engine 8 Ambulance 8

Medic 8

Air Unit 2

Customer Service Unit 2

Mass Decon

Battalion Chief 2

EMS 2

2 [20]
9 U Street Engine 9 Truck 9 Ambulance 9 4 [21]
10 Trinidad Engine 10 Truck 13 Medic 10 1 [22]
11 Columbia Heights Engine 11 Truck 6 Ambulance 11 Water Supply Engine 54 Battalion Chief 4

EMS 4

4 [23]
12 Edgewood Engine 12 Ambulance 12 Customer Service Unit 1

Gator 1

Hazmat Unit 1

Hazmat Unit 2

Battalion Chief 1

EMS 1

1 [24]
13 L'Enfant Plaza Engine 13 Truck 10 Ambulance 13 Foam Unit 1

Foam Unit 2

Foam Unit Trailer

Twin Agent Unit 1

6 [25]
14 Fort Totten Engine 14 Ambulance 14
Medic 14		 1 [26]
15 Anacostia Engine 15 Rescue Squad 3 Ambulance 15
 Cave-In Unit

Cave-In Support Unit

Customer Service Unit 3

Rescue Squad 3 Support Unit

Battalion Chief 3

EMS 3

3 [27]
16 Franklin Park Engine 16 Tower 3 Ambulance 16 Deputy Fire Chief of Operations

EMS 8

6 [28]
17 Brookland Engine 17 Medic 17 1 [29]
18 Capitol Hill Engine 18 Truck 7 Ambulance 18 2 [30]
19 Randle Highlands Engine 19 Ambulance 19
Ambulance 19B

Medic 19

3 [31]
20 Tenleytown Engine 20 Truck 12 Ambulance 20 Battalion Chief 5

EMS 5

5 [32]
21 Adams Morgan Engine 21 Medic 21 Water Supply Engine 55 5 [33]
22 Brightwood Engine 22 Truck 11 Ambulance 22 4 [34]
23 Foggy Bottom Engine 23 Ambulance 23 6 [35]
24 Petworth Engine 24 Rescue Squad 2 Medic 24 Confined Space Unit

Mass Casualty Unit 1

Mass Casualty Support Unit 1

Mass Casualty Support Unit 2

Medical Ambulance Bus 1

Medical Ambulance Bus 2

Rescue Squad 2 Support Unit

Tunnel Rescue Unit

Heavy Wrecker

Arson Investigation officer 4 [36]
25 Congress Heights Engine 25 Medic 25 Mass Decon 3 [37]
26 Brentwood Engine 26 Truck 15 Ambulance 26 1 [38]
27 Deanwood Engine 27 Ambulance 27
Medic 27		 2 [39]
28 Cleveland Park Engine 28 Truck 14 Ambulance 28 5 [40]
29 Palisades Engine 29 Truck 5 Ambulance 29 Gator 2 5 [41]
30 Capitol View Engine 30 Truck 17 Ambulance 30
Ambulance 30B
Medic 30		 2 [42]
31 Chevy Chase Engine 31 Medic 31 5 [43]
32 Garfield Heights Engine 32 Truck 16 Ambulance 32 3 [44]
33 Highlands Engine 33 Truck 8 Ambulance 33
Medic 33		 Mass Casualty Unit 2

Medical Ambulance Bus 3

3 [45]
Southwest Waterfront Fire Boat 1

Fire Boat 2

Fire Boat 3

Fire Boat 4

Fire Boat Support Unit

6 [46]
Academy Engine 34

Engine 35 Engine 36 Engine 37

Truck 34

Truck 35

See also

References

  1. ^ "FY 2014 Proposed Budget and Financial Plan - Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department" (PDF). Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Chief Financial Officer. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Apparatus". District of Columbia Fire Department. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "FEMS History". About FEMS. DC FEMS. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-09-09.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "About FEMS". DC FEMS. Retrieved 2009-09-09.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ a b "FEMS History". About FEMS. DC FEMS. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  6. ^ "FEMS History". About FEMS. DC FEMS. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  7. ^ Hsu, Spencer S. "Black D.C. Firefighters File Lawsuit." Washington Post. October 16, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c Neibauer, Michael. "D.C. Fire Running Millions Over Budget."[permanent dead link] The Washington Examiner. January 21, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Hermann, Peter. "Two D.C. Ambulances Catch Fire While On Call." Washington Post. August 13, 2013. Accessed 2013-08-13.
  10. ^ "Audit finds D.C. fire officials failed to implement overhauls after 2006 death".
  11. ^ "Jullette Saussy Resignation Letter". Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  12. ^ "Fire and EMS Locations". DC Fire & EMS. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Engine House 1". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Engine House 2". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Engine House 3". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Engine House 4". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Engine House 5". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Engine House 6". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  19. ^ "Engine House 7". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  20. ^ "Engine House 8". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  21. ^ "Engine House 9". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  22. ^ "Engine House 10". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  23. ^ "Engine House 11". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  24. ^ "Engine House 12". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  25. ^ "Engine House 13". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  26. ^ "Engine House 14". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  27. ^ "Engine House 15". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Engine House 16". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  29. ^ "Engine House 17". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  30. ^ "Engine House 18". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  31. ^ "Engine House 19". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  32. ^ "Engine House 20". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  33. ^ "Engine House 21". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  34. ^ "Engine House 22". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  35. ^ "Engine House 23". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  36. ^ "Engine House 24". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  37. ^ "Engine House 25". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  38. ^ "Engine House 26". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  39. ^ "Engine House 27". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  40. ^ "Engine House 28". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  41. ^ "Engine House 29". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  42. ^ "Engine House 30". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  43. ^ "Engine House 31". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  44. ^ "Engine House 32". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  45. ^ "Engine House 33". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  46. ^ "Fire Boat". DC Fire and EMS Department. Retrieved 14 June 2015.

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