Fire Department
Fire News
New Equipment Will Enhance Response CapabilitiesThe Arlington County Fire Department has been instrumental in acquiring the new Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle (MERV) on behalf of the region's Metro system. |
Fighting Fire With Friends: Local Man Discovers Camaraderie at Fire Department (Washington Post Express article)
"MAN IS BY NATURE a social animal," the philosopher John Locke wrote. Wandekha Kanthula would agree. It's one reason he joined the Arlington County Fire Department. Kanthula, 27, grew up in Springfield, Va., and majored in criminal justice at Old Dominion University; he wanted to go into federal law enforcement. Becoming a firefighter or police officer seemed like "a quick way to get into the real world," though, so he applied in several jurisdictions while looking into which would be the best fit . . . more
Smoking News
Every year, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. The U.S. Fire Administration is working to help prevent home fire deaths and injuries caused by smoking materials. Fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials are preventable. You can make a difference! Learn more...
Home Fire Sprinklers Save Lives and Property
Installing both smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system reduces the risk of death in a home fire by 82%, relative to having neither. Ninety percent of fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on a fire.
Home fire sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene. Fire sprinklers save lives, reduce property loss and can even help cut homeowner insurance premiums. If added into new construction, sprinklers cost approximately 1% of the cost of building construction.
For more information on residential sprinklers, check out the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition.
Could Fire Sprinklers Have Made a Difference?
Fire sprinklers can save lives. Fire Chief James Schwartz, is urging all residents to prepare for fire emergencies by testing their smoke alarms, performing a home fire safety inspection and preparing a home fire escape plan. Read a special message from the Fire Chief (PDF) to residents.
For more information on residential fire sprinklers, visit the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition.
County Board Approves Land Swap
The Arlington County Board approved a land swap with Koons Arlington Toyota that paves the way for the County to build a new Fire Station #3 on the back of the auto dealership's Lee Highway site. Read more...
Sign Up For Arlington Alert System
New real-time text messaging service allows people who live or work in Arlington to receive emergency and public safety alerts via e-mail, cell phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. Register Now
After-Action Report for Sept. 11 Response
The After-Action Report (AAR) describes the activities of Arlington County and the supporting jurisdictions, government agencies, and other organizations in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon more info.
Join Our Team
Arlington's Fire Training Academy graduated 22 Fire Fighter/EMT trainees on January 2, 2009. To be notified by e-mail when the next positions open, sign up here.
