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Help Needed If you are a Firefighter in the city of Virginia Beach, we need your help to verify the station information shown below is current and correct. The purpose of this section is to better educate the general public and firefighters elsewhere with accurate information about the incidents you face and the tools you have to work with. If you have any photos or information to add to this section, please email us at admin@virginiafirefighters.com |
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The Virginia Beach Fire Department The City of Virginia Beach has 19 Fire Stations, 12 of which share facilities with Rescue Squads. A variety of community services such as safety seat inspections, blood pressure checks and station tours are delivered to citizens and visitors on a daily basis. The Fire Operations Division provides trained personnel for 24-hour response to emergencies which includes: all reported fires and technical rescues, hazardous materials incidents, extrications, boat emergencies in and around the costal waters of the city, administering medical care to the sick and injured, providing services during disasters, and responding to public service calls. The Marine Operations Team is tasked with responding to emergency operations involving fires on vessels, fires along the shoreline, EMS calls involving swimmers or boaters in distress, vessels in distress (e.g. boats taking on water), and hazardous materials response. This specialized team maintains and operates a 21-foot vessel in the City of Virginia Beach and can respond within the port of Hampton Roads as requested. In addition to serving the citizens of Virginia Beach, the team assists the Coast Guard and may be requested by any agency for assistance. The team assists with Harborfest yearly and was deployed during OpSail 2000. The Virginia Beach Fire Department provides first response emergency medical care from our engine, ladder, and specialty companies. The members assigned to these units are certified Emergency Medical Technicians, and provide basic life support skills utilizing an assortment of emergency medical equipment. Additionally, each engine, ladder, and specialty company apparatus is assigned an Automatic External Defibrillator for use in cardiac emergencies. The department also provides the opportunity for those holding Advanced Life Support (ALS) certifications the ability to practice these skills. Each engine, ladder, and specialty company is assigned the necessary ALS equipment to fully function as the primary care provider for patients requiring advanced pre-hospital treatment. Virginia Beach firefighters are members of the IAFF Local 2924 The Virginia Beach Fire Department's HazMat Team responds to materials emergencies, spills, releases, or accidents. This specialized team is trained in accordance with OSHA and industry standards. The minimum level of training for our personnel is that of "Technician". Many team members receive training all the way to the "Specialist" level. The Technical Rescue Team is tasked with responding to emergency operations involving structural collapse incidents, trench and excavation collapse, confined space rescue, vehicle and machinery extrication, and high angle rope rescue. In order to meet the rigorous demands of these types of incidents each team member undergoes extensive training in each of the various disciplines culminating with the weeklong Urban Search & Rescue Structural Collapse Technician School. In addition to serving the citizens of Virginia Beach the team also participates in the Tidewater Regional Technical Rescue Team and is a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force II (VATF2). Virginia Beach is the sponsoring agency for VATF2 and has served the City proudly during numerous deployments including responses to Hurricanes Hugo and Opal, Oklahoma City, the Pentagon, and two Olympic games (the Summer games in Atlanta and the Winter games in Salt Lake City). Virginia Beach are members of the IAFF Local 2924 |
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The Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services The mission of the Department of Emergency Medical Services is to provide services to the community which preserve life, improve health and promotes the safety of citizens and visitors, who live, learn, work and play in our community. This mission is accomplished through a systems approach focused on providing timely responses; high quality patient care services; public awareness and education; proactive safety interventions; and all hazards readiness. The Operations Division is commanded by two Division Chiefs under the general supervision of the Deputy EMS Chief . This Division contains the major components of the department which include the Volunteer Rescue Squads, Special Operations and supplemental first responder services provided by the Fire and Police Departments. The Division Chief oversees the day-to-day operations of the career medic services bureau of the Division. This includes the direct supervision of 4 Brigade Chiefs, which provides daily street supervision as well as, the rapid response to and proper provision of patient care services to the general public. This service is provided by utilizing career medics in the provision of Advanced Life Support care and augments volunteer personnel in staffing ambulances if staffing falls below recommended levels. The Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medical Services operates the nation's largest volunteer rescue squad program. Volunteers serve as EMTs and paramedics to provide emergency medical services for the city's 427,000 citizens and 2.5 million annual visitors. Administrative volunteers assist at all 10 of the city's rescue squad stations. |