Busy weekend for CVFD

It was a busy weekend for CVFD. We had members attending the Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course, which will allow them to driver emergency vehicles. We also had several members take our apparatus to the neighborhood Day Parade down Wilson Blvd. Utility 103 and Light and Air 103 both were staffed during the event while one member escorted Sparky the Fire Dog during the parade. One member was staffing the volunteer-operated Ambulance 102, which provides Basic Life Support EMS to the County and helped out at several special events, including the first annual Battle of the Boulevard's 10k, the parade, and a taekwondo studio's annual Kick-A-Thon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. All told, we treated 10 patients throughout the day. That afternoon, all county fire volunteers were treated to dinner by the Arlington County Fire and Rescue Association, where they gathered for BBQ. Another active day by the volunteer firefighters of Arlington County.

Volunteer firefighter protection act passes the House

On May 9, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act as part of H.R. 1684, the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act. This Act provides job protection for volunteer emergency services personnel responding to a Presidentially-declared disaster for up to 14 days per calendar year.

“Volunteer first responders shouldn’t be put in the position of having to choose between their jobs and responding to a major disaster,” said National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Executive Director Heather Schafer. “Passage of this bill eliminates the threat of termination or demotion.”

The legislation also reduces pressure on emergency managers who rely heavily on the availability and performance of the more than 800,000 volunteer first responders around the country. Pre-emergency planners must know what assets they have available to them so the deployment process can move as smoothly and quickly as possible.

The Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act was introduced as H.R. 1643 on March 22 by Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ) along with original co-sponsors Michael Castle (R-DE), Randy Kuhl (R-NY), and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ). The bill language was then offered as an amendment to H.R. 1684 by Congressmen Andrews and Pascrell, along with Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH).

“I’d like to thank all of our supporters in the House of Representatives for working with us to get this legislation passed,” said Schafer. “This bill means peace of mind for volunteer first responders and improves our nation’s emergency response capacity.”

The legislation only applies to emergency responders acting in an official capacity. “Self-responders” would not be eligible for job protection under this bill, and employers have the right to ask for documentation from the official supervising the response to verify that the employee was involved in an official capacity.

Another fire, another Cherrydale response

Last night at 9:19 p.m., ACFD and Fairfax County fire units were sent to 4514 North 41st Street for the House Fire. Cherrydale volunteer Lowry was aboard Engine 103, which arrived second due with a career crew of Captain Higgins and Firefighters Barb, Jaquays and Waterfall. Engine 103 advanced an attack line along with Engine 108's crew and was able to knock down the fire in short order.

Also on the call was Cherrydale's Light and Air unit, staffed with a crew from the Falls Church VFD. Firefighters Schomburg and Greear along with Recruits Deven Hessler and Addy Hessler, Frey and Weckstien assisted for seven hours packing hose, refilling air bottles, and assisting the fire marshal's office with their investigation.

Congratulations!

Congrats to Cherrydale's newest operational members, Mac McIntire and Carter Cromartie for passing their County Indoc program, which allows them to get out on the streets and play fireman with the big boys.

Going to work

At 2118 on Monday, April 30, Arlington County's Emergency Communications Center put out a call for a house fire in Engine 103's second due area. The career crew of Captain Higgins, Firefighters Jaquays and Reeve, Fire Trainee Waterfall with Cherrydale Volunteer Firefighter Lowry responded to 1210 North Taylor Street. The engine crew stretched a hose line from Engine 102 and entered the basement on the Baker Side. With Waterfall on the nozzle, the fire was quickly contained to the area of origin. There was little extension and Engine 103 cleared within an hour.