Proposed Budget Cuts

Notable Items Proposed For Elimination:

Reduce Overtime Spending $5,972,308

Manage Position Vacancies, Civilianize Positions and Implement Alternative Staffing Methods $1,416,923

Reduce the Hours of Four Basic Life Support Units from 24 Hours to 8 Hours Monday Through $953,735

Eliminate the Seventh Fire and Rescue Battalion $692,705

Decrease Operating Expenses Spending and Eliminate the Issuance of a Second Set of Gear to $500,000

Eliminate Dedicated Staffing of the Hazardous Materials Support Unit $452,825

Eliminate One of the Two Uniformed Fire Officer Positions Staffed Daily $287,795

Decrease Firefighter/Medic Compensation While in Recruit School and Paramedic Internship $175,724

Eliminate Special Projects Deputy Fire Chief $117,043

Eliminate a Fire Captain II in the Fire and Hazmat Investigations Section $95,266

Eliminate Weekend Fireboat Patrols on the Potomac River and Pohick Bay $10,000


See the proposal by clicking on this link:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/fy2011/advertised/county_executive_summary.pdf

Budget Cuts

EMS Vehicle Hits and Injures Two Firefighters

Important Bingo Notice at FS02

Editors Note: We thought this was funny, and decided to share it:


From: co02-bounces@fcvfra.org on behalf of Anthony Stancampiano

Sent: Sat 2/13/2010 9:14 PM
To: co02@fcvfra.org
Subject: [co02] ***SPAM*** IMPORTANT BINGO PARKING NOTICE


Bingo will be on as scheduled tomorrow.

The Vienna Fire station parking lot has been cleared of snow with a few exceptions. All parking spaces are going to be made available to Bingo customers. If you are scheduled to work and unless you have a physical hardship, you need to either park at the Church parking lot across the street or the Vienna Community center. There is no parking on Cherry St. and cars parked there will likely be towed at owners expense. Career staff will also be moving their vehicles before 4PM.

Thank You,
Anthony

Photos From Annandale Church Fire

http://www.wusa9.com/slideshows/gallery.aspx?slideshowname=Fairfax_church_fire&N=5

FS08 & FS10 Both Uninhabitable

FS08 PERSONNEL TO RUN OUT OF BINGO HALL


From: Johnson, Keith
To: FIRE
Cc: McKernan, David M.
Cc: Pylant, Ray
Cc: Patteson, James W.
Subject: Update and Considerations for Fire and Rescue Facilities
Sent: Feb 8, 2010 21:34

Fire and Rescue Staff, The following is a summary of today's events involving Annandale Fire Station 408 and Bailey's Crossroads Fire Station 410.

This morning at approximately 3 am, the apparatus bay roof collapsed at Fire Station 10 Bailey's Crossroads. The personnel assigned to the station heard a loud noise, they attempted to investigate and discovered the roof had collapsed in the apparatus bay on the vehicles. The personnel exited the building without any injuries. A structural engineer has evaluated the structure and determined that the entire structure to be uninhabitable at the present time. Fire Station 10's personnel have placed additional reserve units in service and will be re-located to other fire and rescue stations until further notice. A command and security presence will be maintained throughout the evening and a long term plan is being developed to relocate these units indefinitely.

Later this morning, personnel from Annandale Fire Station 408 determined that the structural integrity to the bay area of the station was also compromised and showed signs of possible failure. The FRD apparatus and personnel were evacuated without injury and a structural engineer also evaluated this structure and determined that the structure to be uninhabitable at the present time with the exception of the Bingo Hall. Engine 408 and Medic 408 as well as BC404 and the National Guard Unit will remain stationed at Fire Station 408 in the bingo hall. Station personnel can be contacted on the station landline. Battalion 404, the Deputy Fire Chief of Operations and the Uniformed Fire Officer have developed a plan for the relocation of units in order to provide adequate coverage to the areas of Annandale and Bailey's Crossroads.

The following safety information was received after consultation with the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services regarding the fire and rescue department facilities: The main concern for structural collapse or degradation of roof integrality will occur in flat roofs with steel bar joists. The main potential for damage other then the physical load of the snow is the melting of snow due to the interface with the warmer roof and the snow on the roof. This will cause water to accumulate and re-freeze and pool in low lying areas especially if the roof drains are clogged. Obviously, the additional snow loads that are expected remain an additional concern. Personnel should refrain from getting on roofs to unclog any drains or attempt to shovel snow off due the potential for falls and personnel causing a potential impact load to the roof structure. Personnel should remain aware of signs of potential roof failure include loud popping sounds that may indicate truss welds breaking and possible imminent failure. Other signs include visible roof or ceiling deflection or any bends in piping to include sprinkler pipes or leaks. If roofs are suspected of being damaged and failure possible, personnel should remove any equipment from the area if safe to do so and evacuate the structure. DPSC and supervisors should be notified and a request made for a building inspector to assess the structural stability.

These events serve as a good reminder of the need to ensure that all personnel have situational awareness of the status of their assigned facility and that each person has reviewed and understands the individual Facility Emergency Response Plan that addresses items such as building evacuations and the need for a meeting place outside of the structure should a sudden evacuation be necessary.

Keith Johnson
Deputy Chief Keith H. Johnson
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department Chief Training Officer
Training Division
Office: 703-631-8121
Cell:571-221-1020
Email: keith.johnson@fairfaxcounty.gov

Collapse at The Crossroads!

The roof at FS10 collapsed, reportedly in the apparatus bay. No injuries have been reported thus far. Please send us your stories of what happened!

Post Your Blizzard of 2010 War Stories Here!

The Blizzard of 2010 posed some pretty challanging situations for B and C-shifters. Post your stories in the comments here!

Brother Big Eye

Is it worth it to focus on only a few rescued victims?

This letter to the editor appeared in the Washington Post today. The author raises more than just the question of cost. He also suggests that the USAR teams were deployed to "unduly concentrated on sites where non-Haitians or wealthy Haitians -- the U.N. building and hotels". Many of our VTF1 team members may not have heard the media raising this question shortly after they arrived in Haiti. The media specifically questioned why the teams were sent to a hotel frequented by US citizens or wealthy Haitians, rather than areas where there were potentially more victims in lower income sections of Haiti.

Please note that The Big Eye is not questioning this, but the media, and the author of Post editorial have raised these questions. Here is the link to the editorial:

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013101898.html


Brother Big Eye