Global InformationHistory of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department information
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Established | July 1, 1884[1] |
| Annual calls | 175,081 (2011) |
| Staffing | 2,000+[2] |
| Fire chief | John A Donnelly |
| EMS level | BLS/ALS |
| Facilities and equipment | |
| Stations | 34 |
| Engines | 33 |
| Trucks | 16 |
| Rescues | 3 |
| Ambulances | 39 |
| Fireboats | 3 |
The history of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, which grew gradually as volunteer companies formed between 1770 and 1860, then more rapidly with the addition of paid members starting in 1864 and the transition to a fully paid department in 1871, has been marked in recent years by various controversies and scandals.
Known today by a number of acronyms — DC FEMS, FEMS, DCFD, DC Fire, or Fire & EMS — DCFEMS remains the municipal fire department and emergency medical service (EMS) agency for District of Columbia, providing fire suppression, ambulance service, technical rescue and hazardous materials containment.[3]
Between 2000 and 2013, DCFEMS saw four Fire Chiefs: Ronnie Few, Adrian H. Thompson, Dennis L. Rubin, and Kenneth B. Ellerbe. Few's tenure is generally considered to be very troubled, with controversies over hiring and promotions, training, and firefighter grooming, as well as multimillion-dollar equipment failures. Thompson's tenure is widely praised, although there were troubles in the EMS division and continuing controversy over the grooming policy. The death of journalist David Rosenbaum led to widespread changes in the department and the merging of the firefighter and EMS divisions.
Rubin's tenure is also considered largely successful; it saw an end to the grooming policy controversy. Yet new scandals erupted over skyrocketing overtime, budget lapses, and the hiring of three deputy fire chiefs. A major controversy over the generous retirement terms offered to Deputy Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe led to a number of investigations. Rubin resigned after a change in mayors, and Ellerbe was appointed Fire Chief.
Ellerbe's tenure has been plagued by repeated scandal, including several involving his own hiring, but also uniform changes, higher overtime pay, new communication policy, charges of lying over how to count arson in the city, and retaliation against department employees. As of fall 2013, active controversies existed over fire engine and ambulance repair, the availability of vehicles for emergencies, and the location of vehicles.
- ^ "FEMS History". About FEMS. DC FEMS. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-09-09.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Noble, Andrea and Cella, Matthew. "D.C. Fire Chief Never Fully Vetted". The Washington Times. March 7, 2012.
- ^ "About FEMS". DC FEMS. Retrieved 2009-09-09.[permanent dead link]