This is what being a volunteer in the City of Falls Church is all about.
The DC-VA-MD area saw a record snowfall of up to 30 inches Feb. 4-10 over two separate snow storms that swept through the mid-Atlantic.
At the request of the Arlington County Fire Department, the FCVFD put into service two Utility units, two BLS ambulances, and the Light & Air unit to support emergency operations during the storms.
This was perhaps the largest operation the department undertook, only rivaled by our response during Hurricane Isabel in 2003.
A Virginia National Guard heavy wrecker was assigned to Station 6 during the storm to assist ACFD units stuck in the snow.
Governor Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth on Feb. 8.
A Virginia National Guard heavy wrecker at Station 6
FCVFD Fire Captain Steve Sisler, in his failed attempt to commandeer the vehicle and redesignate it as the new Chief’s Buggy
In the aftermath of the storm, the final stats for our department were as follows:
Utility 106 – 112 hrs – 42 responses
Utility 116/108 – 73 hrs – 23 responses
Ambulance 106 – 70.5 hrs – 14 responses (9 transports)
Ambulance 102 – 111 hrs – 38 responses (20 transports)
Light/Air 103 – 40.5 hrs – 1 response (house fire/standby)
Canteen 106 – 1.75 hrs – 1 response (house fire)
Total staffing – 32 personnel – 1154.5 hrs
One memorable call I ran was an apparent malicious opening of a fire hydrant during the first storm on Feb. 6.
I was driving Utility 108 with FF Zures as the unit officer on our way back to the station after running a call for wires down in Station 3’s first due.
We were on the same road we took to the scene, and we had seen several teenagers playing in the snow with a snow sled.
We waved, and went on our merry way.
On our way back, we noticed water pouring into the street from the location where we had seen these kids.
Upon scene size-up we discover that a fire hydrant near the location where the teenagers were playing in the snow with their sled had been open.
We had to call in Utility 106 to bring a hydrant wrench to shut the thing down.
Utility 106 arrives on scene
Utility 108 securing the scene while Utility 106 secures the maliciously opened fire hydrant
The fire hydrant shut off
Later we heard that there was a tool going around among high schoolers in the area that could open fire hydrants.
FYI – only fire departments and public works have fire hydrant wrenches that can open and close fire hydrants. (at least, in theory)
I ran 16 calls with 66 hours of standby hours throughout the storm on UT 106 and UT116/108 as driver/operator.
And in a rare opportunity, I was also the acting officer for UT108 for a 12-hour shift.
Now some lessons learned from my experiences:
- BE CONCISE! (when giving a report to ECC over dispatch)
- Work on your territory
Here are some other photos and videos from the storm response:
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