Skip to content
Learn more COVID-19 Info: Testing, vaccines, FAQs and more.
Watch Streaming: Volunteer Arlington MLK Day of Service (Live) - 9:30 AM

Fire Department

Small Fire From Unattended Cooking

Image Courtesy FEMA

September 30, 2018 at 12:38 pm units were dispatched for a structure fire in the 1600 block of McKinley Road. On arrival, Engine 106 was directed to a fire on the stove in the kitchen. The fire had been extinguished by the homeowners prior to the fire department’s arrival. There was minor damage to nearby cabinets, but no other extension. Units removed the smoke from the home prior to going in service. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. Damage was estimated at $300.

Safety Takeaways

  • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
  • A Class K extinguisher is necessary in or near your kitchen because it is designed specifically to put out fires fueled by vegetable or animal oils and fats.
  • Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the smoke and fire.
  • Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.

Fire Prevention Week and Poster Contest

Open House

ARLINGTON, VA – Fire Prevention Week is October 7th thru the 13th this year. Arlington County Fire Department will host an Open House event on Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 1000 – 1600 hours at all 10 fire stations. All stations will have light refreshments and give away items. Some stations will have attractions including: popcorn, cotton candy, moon bounce, face painter, costume fire gear for small children and fire safety props. Each station is different, so you’re encouraged to visit more than one station.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) “LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere”, highlights three important actions to keep yourself and your family safe from fire.

Look for places fire could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and address them. If necessary, have a qualified professional correct any hazards.

Listen for the sound of a smoke alarm. A smoke alarm is the most important safety feature of your home. Properly installed, working smoke alarms in your home cuts your risk of dying in a fire in half.

  • Install on every level of your home, including the basement and in every sleeping area.
  • Test smoke alarms once a month by pushing the “test button.”
  • Install new batteries at least twice a year, when you change your clocks for daylight savings.
  • Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

Learn two ways out of every room. Create and practice a home fire escape plan with everyone in your household. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds.

  • Plan two escape routes from every room, usually a door and a window.
  • Provide alternatives for anyone with a disability.
  • Agree on a meeting place where everyone will gather after you have escaped.


Youth Poster Contest

The Arlington County fire department will be hosting a youth poster contest coinciding with Fire Prevention Week to promote the theme
“LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere”. Any child in kindergarten through 8th grade is eligible to participate. Posters must be delivered to the fire stations by October 12, 2018. Please ensure your poster has the child’s contact information clearly written on the back, including their name, parent’s name, home phone number and email. Posters will not be returned.

The fire department’s Public Information Committee will select winners based on originality, clarity of message, and design. All 10 station winners will
be awarded a small prize and two grand prize winners will win either a ride to school in a fire truck or dinner at a fire station.

Poster Contest 2018 Flyer

Contest Rules

  1. Posters should promote fire prevention the Fire Prevention Week theme:
    “LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere” and encourage fire safety awareness in the home, school or community.
  2. A panel of judges will select the winning posters based on originality, clarity of message, and design. The decision of the judges is final.
  3. Posters must conform to the following description:
    1. Maximum size: 22 inches by 28 inches.
    2. Kind:  Any art medium.  Including painted cut-outs, ink, crayons, chalks, pencils, computer graphics, but not limited to these.
    3. No objects over one-half inch in thickness are to be placed on the poster.
    4. No live matches may be used on the poster.
  4. Children in Kindergarten through 8th grade are eligible to participate.  The Contest will be divided into two (2) age groups: (K thru 4th) and (5th-8th).
  5. On the backside of the poster please clearly write:
    1. Child’s Full Name.
    2. Phone number or Email.
    3. Child’s Grade.
  6. Posters are officially entered when they are delivered to any ACFD fire station and a picture is posted on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram tagging @ArlingtonVaFD.
  7. All entries must be submitted by October 12, 2018, to be eligible for a prize.
  8. Only one (1) entry per person.
  9. All posters become the property of the Arlington County Fire Department and will not be returned.
  10. Prizes:
    1. Grand Prize: Dinner at a Fire Station or Ride to School in Arlington County on a Fire Truck
    2. Runner Ups: ACFD T-shirt or Hat

 

Members Remember September 11th, 2001

Arlington County Fire Department members attended numerous events on September 11th as part of the annual remembrance of the sacrifices made that day in 2001.

  • A wreath-laying ceremony outside the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center at Courthouse Plaza  to remember the attack on the Pentagon. Representatives of the Arlington County fire and police departments and sheriff’s office were in attendance, as were representatives of the U.S. military, including personnel from nearby Ft. Myer and the Military District of Washington. A moment of silence will took place at 9:37, the moment the plane crashed into the Pentagon.

 

  • Lieutenant Wesley took part in a flag unfurling at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial with Fort Myer firefighters and Pentagon Force Protection Agency officers.

 

 

 

 

  • Members and some of their family took part in our annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at our fire training academy. Participants aim to do 19 rounds up to the top of the training tower and back down to equal the 110 stories firefighters would’ve climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Towers.

 

 

 

  • Captain Karl was one of the responders who spoke at a 9/11 Commemoration the FBI held for it’s staff. Captain Karl talked about his experiences at the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001.

 

 

 

 

  • Battalion Chief Wesley and retired Captain Devine spoke to a squadron stationed at Joint Base Andrews about their experiences responding to the attack at the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001.

 

 

 

 

  • Captain Tirelli talked about his experiences on September 11th, 2001 on a podcast interview he did with Scott Brodbeck of ARLnow 

Crystal City Apartment Fire

On September 10, 2018 at 7:18 pm, companies from Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Fort Myer, Metro Washington Airports Authority, and Arlington County Police Department responded for the report of a structure fire at 520 12th Street South. Units from Station 5 found two small fires burning in the kitchen and bathroom of the apartment. Both fires were quickly extinguished. There was minor smoke, fire, and water damage to the apartment.  The resident and one firefighter were transported to the hospital for evaluation. The Fire Marshals and ACPD both remained on scene to investigate the incident.

Safety Takeaways

  • If you smell or see smoke, call 9-1-1.
  • Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the smoke and fire.
  • If the fire is in your residence, make sure you leave the door unlocked so firefighters are able to enter quickly.

Oven Fire Spreads to Cabinets

On September 7th, 2018 at 6:20pm, units from Fairfax County Fire & Rescue, Fort Myer and Arlington County Fire Department were dispatched to 1200 S Courthouse Rd. for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival units found an 8 story mid-rise apartment building with no evidence of smoke or fire showing. There were reports of an oven fire on the fourth floor and that the affected apartment had been evacuated.  Companies quickly extinguished the fire which had extended to the cabinets. There was no extension to the remainder of the apartment or any adjoining units. Ventilation activities assisted with the smoke removal on the 4th floor. Air monitoring was completed and all occupants except for occupants of apt 419 were allowed to reoccupy their apartments. All units reported to rehab prior to picking up and returning to service. There were no injuries reported, but the affected apartment resident was displaced.

Fire Marshal’s remained on the scene to conduct investigation and determined the cause to be excessive temperatures within the oven while cooking that allowed fire to escape from the oven and spread to the cabinets. Damages were estimated at $20,000.

                                     

Safety Takeaways

  • If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
  • For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed
  • Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the smoke and fire.
  • Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.

 

 

First Female African American Battalion Chief in ACFD

During our last round of promotions, Battalion Chief Tiffanye Wesley became not only the first female African-American Battalion Chief in the Arlington County Fire Department’s history, she also became the first one in Northern Virginia. Since taking over her new post, she has done a number of interviews about her journey to her new position. While talking about her story, Chief Wesley encourages those who might be struggling in their careers to keep working, keep improving and they too can succeed. Check out the stories below.

NBC4 Story        WDVM Story                  ARLNow.com Story

“The Rock” Caps Off 34 Year Career

On September 6th, 2018, FF/Paramedic Phil Laub, “The Rock,” completed 34 years of service! Phil always took care of people whether they were patients, tenured firefighters or brand new rookies. He didn’t complain, he’d just do what he felt needed to be done, often going above and beyond what was required. He’d pull you aside to give you advice, and antagonize anyone who took themselves too seriously with his unmistakable chuckle. Physically, he’s always been a beast, shaming plenty of members half his age with his strength and stamina. He was the quintessential “Old School” guy always simplifying the situation and bring you back to the basics. Until a couple years ago, he’d routinely pull his “Blackberry” (a folded up paper with his hand drawn calendar) out of his pocket to check his schedule and jot down appointments.  “The Rock” has been a friend and mentor to many in the department and will be sorely missed. Congratulations and enjoy your retirement!

Mom and 2 Kids Nearly Escape Drowning

On Tuesday September 4th, 2018 at 3:23 pm units from the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue and Arlington County Fire Departments were dispatched to Bluemont Park near the playground for an “injury”. It was reported that a woman and two children were swept off the low-level bridge and into the creek. The caller stated that the woman had been able to get all parties out of the creek. Arriving fire department units found a mother, an infant and a toddler that were wet and had minor scrapes and bruises but were otherwise okay. The patients were warmed and evaluated by Paramedics and an Advanced Paramedic Officer. The mother refused transport to the hospital.

According to the mother, they started across the bridge when the water was not too high. Once they got on the bridge the level rose dramatically. There was a thunderstorm impacting north Arlington but very little precipitation had fallen at this location.

The Park Manager was notified a Park Ranger responded to place caution tape across the bridge.

Safety takeaways:

  • Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
  • Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
  • Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your
    vehicle away.
  • If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground. Flash floods
    are the #1 cause of weather-related deaths in the US.

Electrical Malfunction Sparks Attic Fire

On Wednesday, August 29th, 2018 at 6:42 pm, units responded to the 300 block of North Oakland Street for an odor of smoke in the home. Upon arrival Engine 101 found an odor of smoke that the homeowner said was not going away. On investigating the odor, they eventually located a fire burning in the attic space of the home.  The ceiling was pulled and the fire was quickly extinguished. Crews located all extension and extinguished all hot spots. Red Cross assisted the home’s occupants. The Fire Marshal determined the cause to be an electrical malfunction and estimated damages at $60,000. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.
Safety takeaways:

  • Always have working smoke alarms in your home.
  • If you smell smoke in your house or feel there may be a fire, call 911. It’s better to call and find nothing or a small fire, than risk waiting an allowing the fire to get bigger and more dangerous.

Kitchen Fire

On Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 3:37, units responded to the 5600 block of 7th Street North for a reported structure fire. EMS 112 was first on scene and announced there was a working fire in a 2 story single family house with fire and smoke showing in a window on the side of the house. Engine 101 arrived on scene, pulled a 200 foot preconnect hose and quickly knocked down the fire that appeared to have started in the kitchen. All searches were negative as no residents were home at the time of the fire. No firefighter or civilian injuries were reported. Damage is estimated at $200,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Safety takeaways:

  1. Make sure all heating appliances are off before leaving you home.
  2. Make sure you have working smoke alarms. Not only can they alert you to a fire in your home, they can also alert your neighbors there’s a fire in your home. This enables them to call 911, before the fire has much time to grow.

Fire Department Badge

Contact Us

Call 911 for Emergencies
703-558-2222 (Non-emergency requests)
703-228-3362 (Fire Chief’s Office)
703-228-4644 (Fire Prevention)
571-242-0271 (Media Relations)
TTY 703-228-4611 Email