City of Alexandria, Virginia

firecollage1 The Fire Department holds a special place in the history of Alexandria. Founded in 1774, it counts George Washington among its early members. The first paid professional firefighters were hired in 1855.

Today, the department employs more than 300 professional personnel, which include firefighters, paramedics, code enforcement and administrative support. A network of eight stations protects 15 square miles. Among the department’s specialized teams are the Northern Virginia Regional Hazardous Materials Team, Technical Rescue, Marine Operations and the Special Operations Team.

Alexandria also has a volunteer organization, the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD). The AVFD has served the citizens of our fine City for more than two hundred years. AVFD members provide assistance in the areas of firefighting, emergency medical services, communications, canteen and administration.

The members of the Alexandria Fire Department are dedicated to serving those who live, visit and work in the City of Alexandria.

To learn more about the operation and functions of the Alexandria Fire Department, we invite you to spend some time browsing through our web site. Not only will you find numerous "links of information" but a breakdown and explanation of the services we provide. There is something for everyone -- from safety tips for kids to adult educational topics. Have fun! And remember, "Be fire safe, NOT a fire statistic."

What's New

On Monday December 1, 2008, the Alexandria Fire and EMS Department will launch an energy saving competition among its eight fire stations in an effort to reduce energy consumption and make a positive impact on the environment, while saving City funds. Every month utility bills for each station will be compared to the previous month’s bills to determine the levels of energy used. The levels of energy saved and the percentage change used will be compared among all stations. The station that demonstrates the highest levels of saved energy will be recognized and rewarded.

Department Fire and EMS employees from the winning station will be rewarded with a dessert of the month. At the end of eleven months, the station with the greatest number of winning months will be rewarded with a dinner. The goals of the competition are to reduce energy usage in a competitive manner, to demonstrate the Department’s commitment to conserve energy, and to reduce utility costs in these tough fiscal times.

Ongoing research of creative ways for reducing energy waste will be shared with all Department personnel through “Tips of The Month.” Short-term measures for reducing energy consumption include adjusting thermostats, closing outside doors, shutting off electric appliances while not in use and cutting down on water usage. Longer-term measures may include sensored lighting and more efficient heat systems. The Department’s competition complements the City of Alexandria’s “Eco-City” initiative. The Department has set as its goal an annual reduction of five percent in utility usage.

You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide (CO), but at high levels, it can kill a person in minutes. Recently, the fast action of one of Alexandria’s residents averted a potentially tragic outcome. The resident did not have a carbon monoxide detector in the home when he and his family began experiencing symptoms of CO poisoning. He called 911 right away and, within minutes, fire crews arrived and detected high levels of CO in the home. The home was evacuated until all levels were back to normal. Protect yourself and get the FACTS ON CO.