A Historical Review: 1942-1999
The 1940's
The 1950's
The 1960's
The 1970's
The 1980's
The 1990's
Prepared by Andrew T. Eastman
The 1970's
1970 signaled the beginning of significant change for volunteers in the county.
A report commissioned by the county questioned the future of the volunteer
service in Fairfax County. While concerns mounted over the report, the county
assumed maintenance for all fire and rescue apparatus operating in the county.
A new dispatch system was implemented and due to concerns over insurance for
volunteers, the board approved the purchase of workman’s compensation style
coverage. The Cadillac ambulance was sold and Bingo duty was made a requirement
of membership as a volunteer. The department instituted life service awards and
pins were given to members for every five years of service. Past chief Russell
Burke dies.
Further additions were made to the new building in 1971. A new ceiling and
trophy cases were added to the social hall, and new furniture was purchased
for the day room, which was also newly paneled. The parking lot was sealed
and the firefighter’s kitchen was remodeled. The Ladies Auxiliary paid for
an extension to be built on the social hall kitchen. The board voted to purchase
a new Chevrolet ambulance. The Filene Center at Wolf Trap Farm Park burned to
the ground in one of the largest fires in recent times. Chief Alexander became
the new fire chief for Fairfax County and established a new dress code. Street
tests became a requirement for all drivers and red traffic signals could no
longer be run during an emergency call. The county moved to regulate volunteer
battalion chiefs.
In 1972, the board approved the chief’s requirement that riding members must
participate in 15% of all fire calls between the hours of 1800 and 0600
(approximately 35 calls) annually to remain in good standing. In addition,
a probationary committee was formed to monitor the rookie members of the
department. Paid staff were formally integrated into the chain of command by
the chief, and the county implemented a 4-1-1 response for commercial fire
calls and a 3-1-1 for residential fire calls. Units began running both directions
on Beltway calls to reduce response times. A fifth paid firefighter was added
to the night shift bringing the career compliment up to seventeen. The
department replaced the gasoline tank, purchased a gas explosion meter,
and installed new gear lockers and shelves in the storage room. ChemTREC
began service in 1972 and made a presentation to the department. The Fireman’s
Association merged with the Volunteer Fire Chiefs Association. Glenn Gaines
resigned from the department and was made an honorary life member. Tysons
Corner Center falls victim to a major underground fire exposing dozens of
firefighters to deadly carcinogens.
The department changed the color of firefighter’s helmets to black, while
the county issued red helmets for probationary firefighters in 1973. EMT training
began in the county. Volunteers were encouraged to gain certification, but the
first class for volunteers was canceled mysteriously. On their own initiative,
the department held its own EMT class. The first paid EMT was assigned to Dunn
Loring bring the staff to eighteen, six per shift. Direct radio contact for
relaying patient information was established with the hospital. The state’s
30-hour fire school was made a requirement for any riding member. Volunteers
were required to take a physical examination and many ending up failing it.
Much discussion occurred over the course of the year in regards to this issue
and how volunteers could meet the requirements of the state’s Heart-Lung Bill.
Women were welcomed to join the rescue squad in 1973. A mutual-aid agreement
was signed with Wolf Trap Farm Park. The Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department
ceased to run calls into Fairfax County resulting in an agreement with Arlington
County to share coverage of the area left unattended. This was the year that the
Ladies Auxiliary started to have difficulties with their membership and asked
the board to intervene. Despite the difficulties, the auxiliary purchased two
new Sentry ambulances for the department bringing the amount of their contribution
over the past six years to $70,428.90. Two existing ambulances were
decommissioned; one being sold and the other converted to a canteen unit for
the auxiliary. The first chief’s car was purchased this year. Bingo permits
were issued to allow legal operations, and the department hired an off-duty,
uniformed police officer to be present during the games.
Two more paid firefighters (one being an EMT) were added to staff in 1974
bringing the total compliment up to twenty-one, or seven per shift. The county
capped the staff at that number due to the limitations of the facility. The
energy crisis being experienced by the nation began to take its toll on the
fire service requiring changes in the running orders. The Board of Trustees
requested the county provide a new pumper, but then reversed itself and refused
to accept one after the county placed specification requirements on new
apparatus that would qualify for the stipend proposed to increase from $2,500
to $4,000. The board voted to donate the Maxim pumper to the Fairview Beach VFD
after attempts to repair it became too costly. Two new ambulances were
purchased from Roadside Emergency Vehicle Corporation. The county requested
the department allow them to review the bylaws over concerns about discrimination
and use of public funds. No problems were found and only a minor inclusive
statement was suggested for inclusion. David Banks became the first volunteer
EMT and later became nationally registered.
Author’s Note: The minutes for August 1974 through December 1975 have been
lost providing no official record of the department’s activities.
Sometime between 1974-1975, the first woman was voted into the rescue squad.
Initially, there were no female facilities allowing daytime duty only. Later,
accommodations were provided in the line office through use of a cot and a
lock on the door. Lengthy discussion occurred during board meetings on whether
female members would be allowed to bunk in the same room as the men. This was
permitted for a short period, but the women were required to sleep fully
clothed. A chronic problem with roof leaks prodded the board to take action
and several lawsuits were filed in 1975. The department purchased two
Ward-LaFrance Ambassador Custom 1500 pumpers for $79,000 each. These were
the first units at Dunn Loring to be painted yellow and white. In order to
help finance the purchase, the 1961 Mack and 1968 Oren pumpers were sold.
The fire bell was removed off one of the pumpers and saved for ceremonial
purposes. The department purchased a couple of portable radios while the
county announced the discontinuation of radio ten-codes and signals and
converted to plain language. It was also during this year that the county
required volunteer compliance with county general orders. The rank of
volunteer assistant chief was no longer part of the county’s chain of
command. The Fire Commission approved the waiver of the five-year qualification
for volunteer chief in individual circumstances. The Chantilly VFD, Company 15,
was turned over to county. The first DLVFD Policy and Procedures Manual was
issued.
In 1977, the first Tuesday of each month was set as the official Board of
Trustees meeting night. The Fire Commission adopted the new county EMS plan.
The department started sending letters to those patients receiving services
in order to try and generate further donations. JKJ Chevrolet established a
program through which it donated $2500 annually to the department towards
maintenance of the apparatus. An automatic closing system was installed on
bay doors to prevent the firehouse from being left open after apparatus departed.
The board decided to go on record opposing the proposed Merrifield Fire Station
30, as it will infringe upon Dunn Loring’s first due area. Starting this year,
the county required an ambulance to stand by at high school football games.
Dunn Loring pledged to cover the games at George C. Marshall High School.
The Boy Scout Explorer post was reestablished in 1978. The board set a
spending limit of $1,000 for the chief and president, and authorized the
refurbishment of one of the two Roadside Emergency Vehicle ambulances. By
this time twenty-six paid firefighters were on staff at Company 13.
1979 saw the reorganization of the battalion structure with the opening of
county fire stations 29 (Tysons Corner) and 30 (Merrifield). Company 13 was
moved into Battalion 2. As a result, Truck 13 was permanently moved to
Company 30 along with a paid firefighter. The utility was sold and JKJ
Chevrolet donated a 1979 Malibu station wagon to be used as the chief’s car.
The firehouse was painted; new carpet was installed in the bunkroom, new
grates for the apparatus bay drains and a new roof was installed. The
department purchased two portable radios. After three months in office,
Chief Boles resigned his position and David Banks was elected to succeed
him.
More History: The 1980's