Virginia Beach Fire Department

Virginia Beach Fire Department
Operational area
Country  United States
State  Virginia
City Virginia Beach
Agency overview[1]
Established January 1, 1963 (1963-01-01)
Annual calls 39,928 (2013)
Employees 434 (2013)
Annual budget $44,772,337 (2013)
Staffing Career
Fire chief Steven Cover
EMS level ALS and BLS
IAFF 2924
Facilities and equipment[1]
Battalions 4
Stations 19
Engines 20
Trucks 8
Rescues 2
Tenders 2
HAZMAT 2
Wildland 8
Fireboats 3
Light and air 1
Website
Official website

The Virginia Beach Fire Department(VBFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The department protects an area of 249 square miles (640 km2) as well as 59 square miles (150 km2) of inland waterways and 38 miles (61 km) of shoreline. The independent city is home to a population of 448,479, not including the summer population growth due to tourism, making it the most populous city in Virginia and the 39th largest city in the United States.[1]

History

The Virginia Beach Fire Department has origins dating back to 1906 when the Town Council felt the need to provide fire equipment to protect the rapidly growing resort area and formed an all volunteer fire department.[2] In 1928 the volunteers felt that the need had grown to require a paid system. The town hired a paid staff of firefighters that also performed the duties of police officers. This dual duty system was necessary as the town did not have the funding to hire single function employees. On January 1, 1963, the Town of Virginia Beach merged with Princess Anne County to form the City of Virginia Beach and thus the Virginia Beach Fire Department was born.[2]

Operations

USAR Task Force 2

The Virginia Beach Fire Department is the founding member of one of Virginia's two FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.[3] Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2) is available to respond to natural or man-made disasters around the country and the world to assist with search and rescue, medical support, damage assessment and communications.[4]

Marine Operations

The VBFD Marine Operations Team is responsible for patrolling 59 square miles (150 km2) of inland waterways as well as 38 miles (61 km) of shoreline.[1] The team also provides mutual aid to parts of North Carolina as well as the U.S. Coast Guard. The operations team has three fireboats at their disposal:[5]

Stations and apparatus

City Engine Truck Wildland Chief Other
1 First Landing Engine 1 Ladder 1 Fireboat 1
2 Davis Corner Engine 2Ladder 2Brush 2 Battalion 2
3 London BridgeEngine 3 Rescue 1, HazMat 1, HazMat 2
4 Chesapeake BeachEngine 4 PAC 1
5 Princess Anne Engine 5 Brush 5 Tanker 5,
6 Creeds Engine 6 Brush 6 Tanker 6, Fireboat 6
7 Thalia Engine 7Ladder 7 Rescue 2, Tech 1, Safety 1
8 Oceana Engine 8Ladder 8Brush 8 ATV 8, Support 8
9 Kempsville Engine 9 Brush 9
10 Woodstock Engine 10Ladder 10
11 Beach Borough Engine 11
Engine 14		 Ladder 11 Battalion 1
12 Seatack Engine 12 Brush 12 Fireboat 12
13 Blackwater Engine 13 Brush 13 Tanker 13
16 Plaza Engine 16 Ladder 16
17 Sandbridge Engine 17 Brush 17
18 Green RunEngine 18 Battalion 3
19 Stumpy Lake Engine 19 Brush 19
20 Little Neck Engine 20
21 General Booth Engine 21Ladder 21 Battalion 4 MCI Bus

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Virginia Beach Fire Department. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "History". Virginia Beach Fire Department. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Task Force Locations". FEMA. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "About". Virginia Task Force 2. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "The Marine Team". Virginia Beach Fire Department. Retrieved 21 April 2015.

Coordinates: 36°45′2.4″N 76°3′17.4″W / 36.750667°N 76.054833°W / 36.750667; -76.054833

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