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City of Alexandria, VA

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  • Live

    Make the most of Alexandria's outstanding quality of life with information and services of interest to residents.

    • Be Prepared

      Are you ready? Find resources and information to help residents, businesses and visitors to prepare for all types of emergencies, and to stay safe.

      • Flooding Preparedness
      • Snow and Ice Control
      • Hurricane Preparedness
      • Emergency Preparedness
      • Public Health Emergency
    • Community Life

      Learn more about pets and animals, schools and libraries, parks and farmers' markets, community gardens, and more.

      • Community Gardens
      • Farmers' Markets
      • Parks
      • Pets
      • Recreation
    • Get Involved

      There are many opportunities to get involved to help better the City of Alexandria. Opportunities include serving on a Board, Commission or Committee, providing input on a new City project or speaking at a City Council meeting.

      • Boards and Commissions
      • Civic Engagement Policy
      • City Academies
      • Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
      • Speak at a Meeting
      • Volunteering
    • Getting Around

      Information on how to get to and through the City of Alexandria, including walking, biking, bus, rail, air, ridesharing, and more.

      • Bicycling in Alexandria
      • Bus and Rail
      • King Street Trolley
      • Parking in Alexandria
      • Street Maps
      • Taxis
      • Water Taxis
    • Historic Preservation

      Historic Alexandria is a treasure trove of early structures, artifacts, and records that creates a unique way of life for its citizens and provides enjoyment for thousands of people who visit this special community every year. The City continues to add resources to its collection of local and nationally designated historic districts.

      • Alexandria History
      • Board of Architectural Review
      • Historic Alexandria
      • Historic Districts
    • Licenses & Permits

      Find out whether a permit is required, the type of permit needed, fees involved, and what requirements are necessary for the activity you want to engage in Alexandria.

      • Building & Construction
      • Business Licenses
      • Health Permits
      • Marriage Licenses
      • Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
    • Parking

      Information about parking in the City of Alexandria, including parking options, enforcement, districts and permits.

      • Contest a Parking Ticket
      • Guest Parking Permits
      • Parking Permits
      • Parking Studies
      • Parking in Old Town
      • Pay a Parking Ticket
    • Public Health & Wellness

      Alexandria is committed to ensuring our residents thrive through physical, mental, and social health.

      • Aging & Adult Services
      • Domestic Violence
      • Environmental Health
      • Environmental Quality
      • Health Department
      • Health Clinics
      • Sexual Assault
      • Substance Abuse Prevention
      • Substance Abuse Services
      • Teen Pregnancy Prevention
      • Teen Wellness Center
    • Public Safety & Courts

      Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

      • Fire Department
      • Police Department
      • Sheriff's Office
      • Circuit Court
      • Clerk of Circuit Court
      • General District Court
      • J&DR Court
      • Court Service Unit
    • Public Works

      Learn more about how the City maintains streets, sidewalks, bridges, and other infrastructure in the City.

      • Bridge Maintenance
      • Paving and Potholes
      • Sewer Maintenance
      • Street Sweeping
    • Real Estate & Taxes

      The City collects car and real estate taxes, maintains tax relief programs and assesses property values. Taxes can be paid in a variety of ways including online, by phone and by mail.

      • Payments
      • Personal Property/Car Tax
      • Real Estate Assessments
      • Real Estate Tax
      • Tax Guide
      • Tax Relief
    • Schools & Libraries

      Did you know that ACPS is one of the most diverse school systems in the country? Our students come from more than 80 different countries, speak more than 60 languages, and represent a myriad of ethnic and cultural groups. The Alexandria Library is an educational, user-oriented service institution providing free public access to recorded knowledge and ideas.

      • Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)
      • Alexandria Library
      • Child Care
      • Higher Learning
      • Out of School Time Programs
    • Social Services

      The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

      • Aging & Adult Services
      • Child Care Assistance
      • Homeless Services
      • Housing Resources
      • Mentoring Programs
      • Military & Veteran Services
    • Trash & Recycling

      Find information on the City's refuse, recycling and yard waste collection programs.

      • Recycling
      • Refuse Collection
      • Yard Waste
    • Utilities

      The City of Alexandria does not operate any public utilities. The following companies are the primary providers of their respective service:

      • Cable TV (Comcast / Xfinity)
      • Drinking Water (Virginia American Water)
      • Electricity (Dominion Energy)
      • Natural Gas (Washington Gas)
      • Sewage/Water Treatment (Alex Renew)
      • Wired Telephone (Verizon)
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  • Play

    Whether you live here or are just visiting, Alexandria is a great place to shop, dine, take in the arts, get outdoors, and just have fun.

    • About Alexandria

      If you are looking for small-town charm and big-city amenities, Alexandria is the place to find them. Alexandria has a fascinating history, and many of its historic buildings are still preserved today. The City's many historic homes, churches, businesses, and museums allow residents and visitors alike to experience the past that makes it the charming town it is today.

      • Alexandria's History
      • Demographics & Statistics
      • Maps & GIS
      • Visit Alexandria
    • Arts & Culture

      Through engaging the community, encouraging participation, and facilitating access to arts and culture, the City builds a vibrant community for its residents, workers, and visitors.

      • City Concerts
      • City Events
      • Historic Property Rentals
      • Museums & Historic Sites
      • Office of Historic Alexandria
      • Office of the Arts
    • Entertainment

      Find events and activities, shops and restaurants, concerts and performances, arts and culture, historic attractions, parks and libraries, farmers' markets, and more.

      • City Concerts
      • City Events
      • Office of the Arts
      • Visit Alexandria: Things to Do
    • Getting Around

      Information on how to get to and through the City of Alexandria, including walking, biking, bus, rail, air, ridesharing, and more.

      • Bicycling in Alexandria
      • Bus & Rail
      • King Street Trolley
      • Parking in Alexandria
      • Street Maps
      • Taxis
      • Water Taxis
    • Museums & Historic Sites

      Alexandria is a desirable location to live, work and play. The City owns many of the premier historic sites in Alexandria and it is charged with the conservation, interpretation and promotion of these links to the past.

      • City Museums
      • Historic Sites & Attractions
      • Office of Historic Alexandria
    • Parks & Recreation

      Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

      • Classes & Camps
      • Dog Parks
      • Facility & Park Rentals
      • Farmers' Markets
      • Marina & Waterfront Parks
      • ParkLink Interactive Map
      • Parks & Trails
      • Pools & Aquatics
      • Recreation Centers
      • Sports Leagues & Programs
    • Visit Alexandria

      Information about visiting Alexandria, including shopping, dining, attractions, accommodations, events listings and more. Plan your visit with an itinerary builder, interactive maps, hotel booking, online restaurant reservations and much more.

      • Group Tours
      • Meet in Alexandria
      • Plan Your Visit
      • Trip Planning Assistance
      • Visitor Center
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  • Services

    We are here to serve you. Browse the topics to the right to learn more about the programs and services we offer.

    • Alex311

      Connect with professional and knowledgeable staff for City service and information requests from every City department.

      • Missed Collection
      • Parking
      • Potholes
      • Street Cleaning
      • Trash & Recycling Containers
      • Trees
      • Yard Waste / Bulky Items Pickup
    • Animals

      What you need to know about animals, pets and wildlife in Alexandria.

      • Animal Adoption
      • Animal Control
      • Dog Parks
    • Buildings & Construction

      The City provides services to residents, businesses, contractors, and visitors needing permits for constructions and other developments.

      • Building Codes
      • City Code
      • Code Administration
      • Green Building
      • Land Use & Zoning
      • Permit Center
      • Permits & Land Use Applications
    • Environment

      "Green" initiatives, air quality, noise, water conservation, mosquito and rodent control.

      • Air Quality
      • Clean Waterways
      • Climate Change
      • Eco-City Alexandria
      • Green Building
      • Mosquito Control
      • Noise Control
      • Rodent Control
      • Stormwater Management
    • Jobs
      • City Government Jobs
      • Alexandria City Public Schools
      • Job Search Assistance (Workforce Development Center)
      • Collective Bargaining
    • Maps & GIS

      Geographic Information Systems (GIS) centrally manages, shares and analyzes information about locations through specialized mapping technology. This information increases transparency, improves many City technology applications and provides critical data to decision makers and the public.

      • Interactive Maps
      • Open Data
      • Standard Maps
    • Parks & Recreation

      Alexandria is an active community that offers more than 900 acres of parks and dedicated public space, and a wide variety of neighborhood and recreation centers, pools, dog parks, farmers' markets, waterfront activities and more.

      • Classes & Camps
      • Dog Parks
      • Facility & Park Rentals
      • Farmers' Markets
      • Marina & Waterfront
      • Parks & Trails
      • Pools & Aquatics
      • Recreation Centers
      • Sports Leagues & Programs
    • Property & Housing

      The City administers various housing-related programs and services.

      • Housing Master Plan
      • Landlord & Property Manager Resources
      • Maps & GIS
      • Office of Housing
      • Parcel Viewer
      • Real Estate Assessments
    • Public Health & Wellness

      Alexandria is committed to ensuring our residents thrive through physical, mental, and social health.

      • Aging & Adult Services
      • Emergency Mental Health Services
      • Environmental Health
      • Environmental Quality
      • Health Department
      • Health Clinics
      • Sexual and Domestic Violence Services
      • Substance Abuse Services
      • Teen Pregnancy Prevention
      • Teen Wellness Center
    • Public Safety & Courts

      Agencies and programs that help maintain our safety and overall quality of life. These links contain information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

      • Fire Department
      • Police Department
      • Sheriff's Office
      • Circuit Court
      • Clerk of Circuit Court
      • General District Court
      • J&DR Court
      • Court Service Unit
    • Public Works

      Learn more about how the City maintains streets, sidewalks, bridges, and other infrastructure in the City.

      • Bridge Maintenance
      • Paving & Potholes
      • Sewer Maintenance
      • Street Sweeping
    • Real Estate & Taxes

      The City collects car and real estate taxes, maintains tax relief programs and assesses property values. Taxes can be paid in a variety of ways including online, by phone and by mail.

      • Payments
      • Personal Property/Car Tax
      • Real Estate Assessments
      • Real Estate Tax
      • Tax Guide
      • Tax Relief
    • Social Services

      The City provides public assistance as a safety net for individuals and families, including help with homelessness prevention, food, rent, utilities, medical coverage and prescriptions, job training and placement assistance, and much more.

      • Aging & Adult Services
      • Child Care
      • Children & Families
      • Discrimination & Disabilities
      • Gang & Youth Violence Prevention
      • Homeless Services
      • Housing Assistance
      • Human Rights
      • Job Search Assistance (Workforce Development Center)
      • Mentoring Programs
      • Military & Veteran Services
    • Trash & Recycling

      Find information on the City's refuse, recycling and yard waste collection programs.

      • Recycling
      • Refuse Collection
      • Yard Waste
    • Transportation

      Information on how to get to and through the City of Alexandria, including walking, biking, bus, rail, air, ridesharing, and more.

      • Bicycling in Alexandria
      • Bus & Rail
      • King Street Trolley
      • Parking in Alexandria
      • Street Maps
      • Taxis
      • Transportation Planning
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  • Business

    Ideally located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Alexandria is nationally recognized as one of the best places to live and do business on the east coast. Learn how we can help you start or relocate your business in Alexandria, and access resources for existing businesses and commuters.

    • Business Resources

      The City provides services and resources to help existing businesses expand within the City and promotes recruiting new businesses in Alexandria.

      • Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP)
      • Alexandria Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
      • BIPOC Small Business Program
      • Doing Business with the City
      • New Business Guide
      • Public-Private Partnerships
    • Jobs

      Alexandria offers wide range of job opportunities and services. Work for City government or City Public Schools, find out about an internship opportunity or learn about workforce development and career training options.

      • City Government Jobs
      • Job Search Assistance (Workforce Development Center)
      • Collective Bargaining
    • Licenses & Permits

      Find out whether a permit is required, the type of permit needed, fees involved, and what requirements are necessary for the activity you want to engage in Alexandria.

      • APEX Permitting & Land Use System
      • Business Licenses
      • Business Outdoor Program & Permits
      • Health Permits
      • Permit Center
      • Zoning Information
    • Real Estate & Taxes

      The City collects car and real estate taxes, maintains tax relief programs and assesses property values. Taxes can be paid in a variety of ways including online, by phone and by mail.

      • Business License Tax
      • Business Personal Property Tax
      • Lodging Tax
      • Meal Tax
      • Payments
      • Real Estate Assessment Search
      • Real Estate Assessments
      • Sales Tax
    • Transportation

      Information on how to get to and through the City of Alexandria, including walking, biking, bus, rail, air, ridesharing, and more.

      • Getting Around
      • Vehicle Registration
      • GO Alex Commuter Resources
      • Parking in Alexandria
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  • Government

    Learn more about Alexandria's accountable, effective, and well-managed government.

    • City Council

      The Alexandria City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. The Mayor, who is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over meetings of the Council and serves as the ceremonial head of government.

      • City Council Calendar
      • Communicate with City Council
      • Council Assignments
      • Meeting Dockets & Video
      • Speak at a Meeting
    • Boards & Commissions

      The City of Alexandria has a strong commitment to citizen participation as evidenced by the number of citizen boards and commissions established by City Council. These bodies compose a formal system through which citizens can advise City Council on all major issues affecting the City.

      • Meeting Dockets & Video
      • Apply for a Board or Commission
      • Boards & Commission Calendar
      • Boards & Commission Vacancies
      • Board of Architectural Review
      • Board of Zoning Appeals
      • Planning Commission
      • Park & Recreation Commission
      • Transportation Commission
    • Departments & Agencies

      View a list of City departments, offices and other agencies, and learn about their role in the organization.

      • City Government Departments & Offices
      • Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
      • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
      • Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)
      • Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP)
      • Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA)
      • Alexandria Transit Company (DASH)
      • Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA)
      • Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
      • Visit Alexandria (Official Tourism Site)
    • Public Safety & Courts

      Information about the City of Alexandria's law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, courts and judicial system.

      • Police Department
      • Fire Department
      • Sheriff's Office
      • Courts
      • Office of Emergency Management
      • Emergency & Customer Communications
      • Community Policing Review Board
    • Elected Officials

      Alexandria voters elect a Mayor and City Council and three local officers, as well as state and federal representatives.

      • City Council
      • Clerk of Circuit Court
      • Commonwealth's Attorney
      • Sheriff
      • Voting in Alexandria
    • Get Involved

      There are many opportunities to get involved to help better the City of Alexandria. Opportunities include serving on a Board, Commission or Committee, providing input on a new City project or speaking at a City Council meeting.

      • Boards & Commissions
      • City of Alexandria Academy Programs
      • Civic Engagement Policy
      • Speak at a Meeting
      • Volunteering
    • Transparency

      The City government acts with integrity in an open process, and provides timely access to clear, trustworthy information, presented and employed by all parties from the beginning to the end of the process, including the reasoning that leads to and supports the policy conclusion.

      • Operating Budget & Capital Improvement Program
      • Meeting Dockets & Video
      • Performance Analytics
      • Alexandria's Strategic Plan
      • Race & Social Equity
      • Community Policing Review Board
      • Collective Bargaining
      • City Code
      • Open Data
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  • Projects & Plans

    Much of our work involves creating and improving infrastructure and planning for the future. Learn more about major projects and plans here, and how you can get involved!

    • Arts & Culture

      Information about arts, culture and historic projects in the City.

      • Arts & Culture Master Plan
      • Public Art Implementation Plan
    • Development

      Information about commercial and residential development projects in the City.

      • Landmark/Van Dorn Area Planning
      • North Potomac Yard Implementation / Virginia Tech Innovation Campus
      • Potomac River Generating Station Redevelopment
    • Environmental

      Information about environmental and "green" projects in the City.

      • 500 Block N. Pitt St. Sewer Separation Project
      • Flood Action Alexandria
      • Franklin St. Sewer Relocation Project
      • Holmes Run Trail Repairs
      • Lucky Run Stream Restoration
      • Oronoco Outfall Remediation Project
      • Wheeler Ave. Sanitary Sewer Pipe Relining
      • Windmill Hill Park Project - Phase II
    • Neighborhoods

      Information about neighborhood projects in the City.

      • Alexandria West Planning
      • Duke Street and West Taylor Run Project
      • Eisenhower Avenue Metrorail Station Pedestrian Crossing Improvements
      • King-Callahan-Russell Intersection Improvement Project
      • Mount Vernon Avenue North Complete Streets
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      Information about parks and recreation projects in the City.

      • Beauregard Street Multi-Use Trail Project
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      • Eugene Simpson Park Renovation Projects
      • Joseph Hensley Park Renovation
      • Old Cameron Run Trail Project
      • Robinson Terminal South Update: Historic Ship Stabilization
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      Information about public facilities projects in the City.

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      • King Street-Old Town Metro Access Improvement Project
      • Municipal Broadband
      • Potomac Yard Metrorail Station Project
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      Information about social services projects and plans in the City.

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      Information about transportation projects and plans in and around the City.

      • Adaptive Traffic Signal Control
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Dual-Role Provider Frequently Asked Questions

In 2014, the Alexandria Fire Department began transitioning from a single-role staffing model to a dual-role or “all-hazards” model. The primary purposes of this transition are to provide a higher level of service to our community by ensuring that at least one member of every fire or ambulance crew will be certified to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) care, and that all fire engines and trucks will have a crew of four instead of three.
Page updated on November 12, 2021 at 3:58 PM

Fire Department

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Frequently Asked Questions

What types of personnel provide fire and emergency medical response in Alexandria?

The Alexandria Fire Department includes three types of first responders:

  • Firefighter-EMTs have at least 240 hours of training to fight fires, and at least 240 hours of additional training as Emergency Medical Technicians. EMTs can provide Basic Life Support (BLS) care, which includes performing CPR, controlling bleeding, administering automatic defibrillation, and providing oxygen support.
  • Firefighter-Medics have at least 240 hours of training to fight fires, and at least 781 hours of training as Paramedics. Medics can provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) care, which includes starting IVs, administering medications, and performing advanced emergency medical procedures.
  • Paramedics (“Medics”) have at least 781 hours of training to provide ALS care, but do not have training to fight fires.

Firefighter-EMTs and Firefighter-Medics are known as “dual-role providers” because they are trained and certified to provide both fire and emergency medical response. Medics are known as “single-role providers” because their focus is emergency medical response only.

Along with Firefighters, both EMTs and Medics are critical first responders, and all are truly heroes in our community. All meet the same high standards of professionalism and public service, and all have an important place in any emergency medical response system. Still, Medic certification is substantially more time-intensive and expensive to obtain and maintain, and many emergencies do not require ALS care. That’s why it’s not necessary for every provider to be a Medic, and why it’s important for EMTs and Medics to be distributed throughout the system in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

The Department also includes chiefs, quality managers, and administrative staff. The Alexandria Fire Department works closely with surrounding public safety agencies, particularly Arlington, Fairfax County, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Crews and vehicles from any of these agencies may respond to a fire or emergency medical call in Alexandria, depending on which unit is closest.

What types of calls for services does the Alexandria Fire Department receive?

In 2013 (the last full year before the new system began), 28% of calls for service were fire-related (e.g. fire alarm, smell of gas, actual fire), 32% of calls were for medical emergencies appearing to require ALS care (e.g. trouble breathing, major injury), and 40% of calls were for medical emergencies appearing to require only BLS care.

What has changed about the way fire and emergency medical service are provided in Alexandria?

In 2014, the Alexandria Fire Department began transitioning from a single-role model to a dual-role model.

  • In the old single-role model, ambulances were staffed with two Medics, and fire engines and trucks were staffed with three or four Firefighter-EMTs.
  • In the new dual-role model, staffing is being shifted so that each fire engine will carry one Firefighter-Medic and three Firefighter-EMTs, and each ambulance will carry one Firefighter-Medic and one Firefighter-EMT. This is also called an “all-hazards” model, because the crew of any unit can begin handling any type of emergency.

What were the drawbacks of the old single-role model?

Under the old single-role model, all personnel could provide BLS care for a medical emergency, but: 1) only fire unit crews could fight a fire, and 2) only ambulance crews could provide ALS care. If a fire unit arrived first to an emergency requiring ALS care, the patient would have to wait longer for an ambulance. If an ambulance arrived first to a fire, the Medic crew could not approach the fire.

About half the time (55%) you call 911 for a medical emergency, an ambulance will happen to be closest to you and will arrive first. But the other half of the time (45%), a fire unit will arrive first. ALS care is needed for about half of medical emergencies, and BLS is sufficient for the other half. This means that about half the time ALS care is needed, it was not available on the first arriving unit under the old system.

Under the old system, every ambulance carried two Medics. Although some emergencies may require two ALS providers, most do not. This meant that one ALS provider was on the scene of an emergency when he or she could have provided service somewhere else. When a patient was transported to a hospital, the ambulance would be driven by an ALS provider who could not provide either ALS or BLS care while driving. When the ambulance got to the hospital, the ALS provider would have to wait for the patient to be received and for the paperwork to be done before returning to service. In other words, by having two ALS providers on each ambulance, one was providing ALS care in the system far less often than the other, while other patients were waiting for ALS care elsewhere.

The new system ensures that all fire engines and ambulances carry both Firefighter-EMTs and Firefighter-Medics, so the first arriving unit will be able to provide both fire response and ALS care. By having ambulances driven by BLS providers instead of ALS (with an ALS provider in the back with a patient like always), ALS providers can spend more time providing patient care throughout the system.

What are the benefits of the new dual-role system for the public?

  • Nearly 100% of the time, you’ll get both Firefighters and at least one ALS provider on the first unit to arrive to your emergency. This means no matter what kind of help you need, you’ll get it first nearly all the time.
  • All 10 of our stations will house ALS ambulances. Currently, four of the 10 do not.
  • Under the old system, many fire units only carried a crew of three, and we did not have enough positions to staff a dedicated heavy rescue unit. Under the new system, we can ensure that every fire engine and truck has a full crew of four, and we’ll have enough staffing for a dedicated heavy rescue unit for special operations such as technical rescue, vehicle extrication, and hazardous materials support. This means safer working conditions for our first responders and better support for you. And since we’re reallocating existing personnel, we won’t have to add any new positions. This will save nearly $3 million per year versus adding a fourth firefighter to each fire unit by hiring new personnel.  The current staffing model includes a full crew for the fire engine at Station 210 on Eisenhower Avenue.

What are the benefits of the dual-role system for staff?

  • Under the new system, every provider will have the opportunity for a promotion. By cross-training, Firefighter-EMTs can choose promotion to Firefighter-Medic, and Medics can choose promotion to Firefighter-Medics. These promotions come with automatic pay increases of 10% to 20%. In addition, cross-trained staff can pursue competitive promotions to supervisory positions.
  • All personnel will be covered by the highest level of disability and retirement benefits. State law presumes that certain heart and lung diseases are a result of firefighting work, but does not provide this presumption for single-role medics. A cross-trained Firefighter-Medic will be covered by the presumption and therefore receive higher benefits in the case of illness. Cross-trained staff will receive additional pension benefits, as well.
  • Cross-training encourages staff to expand their public safety scope and further develop their professional skills. For those who wish to cross-train, this can provide exciting new opportunities.

How does the dual-role system compare to surrounding jurisdictions?

Alexandria is the only locality in our area that still uses the old, single-role model. However, since surrounding departments respond to calls in Alexandria every day when their units are closer, dual-role providers have actually been working successfully in Alexandria for years.

Will a Firefighter-EMT who recently cross-trained to become a Firefighter-Medic perform to the same standards as a Medic who has focused only on emergency medical service for years?

This question poses a false dilemma. Under the old system, 45% of the time you called 911 with a medical emergency, the first arriving unit did not carry a Medic at all. Therefore, the comparison should be between “no Medic” and “any Medic,” not between “old Medic” and “new Medic.”

That said, all personnel are required to follow the same national, state, and local protocols applicable to their certifications and the emergencies to which they’re responding, regardless of how long they’ve worked for the Fire Department or what their job titles are. For example, a Firefighter-Medic who recently cross-trained and a single-role Medic who chose not to cross-train are both required to follow the same approach to starting an IV. These protocols are continuously monitored by the Fire Department’s medical director (a doctor), and follow the same professional standards used throughout the country. The Fire Department also has a full-time position devoted to providing quality control of patient care. This is recognized as a best practice in emergency medical service and isn’t changing under the new system.

Will I receive the same standard of care from a Firefighter-Medic and a Firefighter-EMT as I would have from two Medics?

Again, this question poses a false dilemma. Under the old system, 45% of the time you called 911 with a medical emergency, the first arriving unit did not carry a Medic at all. Therefore, the comparison should be between no Medic and one Medic, not between one Medic and two Medics.

To the extent there’s an advantage to having two ALS providers at a scene instead of one (which there may or may not be depending on the type of emergency and number of patients), it’s important to understand that you will still receive two ALS providers when your call appears to require ALS care. The only change in this regard is that the providers will arrive on separate vehicles instead of together. The fact that two vehicles may arrive instead of one is not new; since a fire unit is the first to arrive to a medical call 45% of the time, under the old system an ambulance would often be the second unit to arrive.

Every provider is in constant radio communication with dispatchers and can consult with a more experienced provider, a provider with a higher level of certification, or a supervisor, whenever necessary.

Is the new system just a proposal?

No. The new system began in 2014, and 38 Firefighter-EMTs and Medics are already in the process of cross-training or have completed their new certifications. As time goes on, more and more providers will cross-train and the benefits of the new system will expand to the entire city. The first fire engine with a fully cross-trained crew on all three shifts entered service in 2015, at Station 207 on Duke Street.

What will happen to personnel who choose not to cross-train? Will they be forced out?

No Firefighter or Medic will be required to obtain the other certification; they may continue in their current roles for as long as they wish. As they retire or choose other employment over time (due to the natural attrition in any organization), they will be replaced with cross-trained staff.

What is changing about shift schedules?

Under the old system, Firefighter-EMTs worked in three 24-hour shifts on the following schedule for an average of 56 hours per week, or an average of 10 days per month:

  • Work 24 hours - Off 24 hours
  • Work 24 hours - Off 24 hours
  • Work 24 hours - Off 4 Days

Medics worked in four 24-hour shifts on the following schedule for an average of 42 hours per week, or an average of 8 days per month:

  • Work 24 hours - Off 48 hours
  • Work 24 hours - Off 4 Days

Under the new system, all personnel will work in three 24-hour shifts on an average 56-hour weekly schedule. This is essential to providing the scheduling flexibility to redistribute personnel across fire units and ambulances.  All members of the Department have a strict limit on the number of consecutive hours they can work, and all are permitted to rest between required activities during their shifts.

Will a streamlined schedule make it harder to recruit qualified applicants?

No. Much of the pushback from single-role Medics over the new system results from their understandable desire to remain on the old Medic schedule. The old schedule also helped attract attention from applicants considering jobs among area jurisdictions, because Alexandria’s schedule was more generous than others. However, Alexandria has continued to receive more than enough qualified applicants even after discontinuing the old schedule for new hires. For example, the Department received more than 1,600 applications for 12 positions filled in August 2015.

Will Medics be compensated for working more hours if they cross-train?

Yes. Medics who cross-train to become Firefighter-Medics will receive a 10% pay raise for obtaining the additional certification and a 10% pay raise for working more hours per work, for a total of 20% higher pay. (Firefighter-EMTs who cross train as Firefighter-Medics will also receive the 10% pay increase for cross-training.)

Is the new schedule consistent with federal labor laws?

Yes. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a federal law that governs employment wages and hours, requires Firefighters to receive overtime pay (time and a half) for more than 53 hours per work cycle, and requires other staff to receive overtime pay for more than 40 hours per week. Both the old schedules and the new schedule provide overtime opportunities for all personnel, because this is less expensive for taxpayers than adding additional positions. The primary purposes of cross-training are to place an ALS provider on every first-arriving unit, and to achieve four-person staffing all on fire units, not to save money on overtime.

Does the new system provide equal opportunities for men and women?

Yes. All personnel hired since 2010 (whether male or female, and whether Firefighter/EMT, Medic, or Firefighter/Medic) have passed the same Candidate Physical Assessment Test (CPAT), and those hired before 2010 are not required to take the CPAT to cross-train. There are no differences in hiring or promotional standards between men and women.

Prior to the transition, 14% of Firefighter/EMTs and 30% Medics were women (vs. national averages of 4% for Firefighters and 29% for EMTs and Medics). As of August 2015, 35% of the Firefighter/EMTs and 8% of the Medics who have already chosen to cross-train are women. In other words, the Department has had no problem recruiting women for either Firefighter or Medic roles; in fact, we exceed the national averages for both. Likewise, many women are choosing to cross-train for additional certifications.

While any given man or woman might prefer riding on a fire unit or riding on an ambulance, neither assignment is objectively better than the other. All personnel are assigned job duties based on the community’s public safety needs, and these duties are always subject to change.

(The next questions are additional Q&As added after October 2015.)

For patients requiring ALS care, can Firefighter/EMTs perform time-critical lifesaving interventions?

Yes, Firefighter/EMTs can perform time-critical, lifesaving, BLS interventions up to their level of training and certification. ALS providers (Firefighter/Medics) have the training and ability to perform more advanced lifesaving interventions.

Since most patients require a transport to the hospital, what is the value of having an ALS provider on a fire engine that can't do patient transport?

Under the old system, when a patient required transport in an ambulance, two ALS providers were taken out of service until the patient reached the hospital and the necessary paperwork was completed to transfer the patient.  Under the new system, one of those ALS providers will still be in circulation and will often be the first to arrive at a call for service until the ambulance arrives.

Will single-role Medics be removed from ambulance riding positions and placed in other jobs?

No. Single-role Medics will continue to ride on ambulances as the Fire Department transitions to the new model. No positions have been or will be eliminated as a result of the new system, and no Medic will lose his or her job if he or she chooses not to cross-train. The Fire Chief has converted eight riding assignments for Firefighter/Medics and single-role Firefighters while adding a Firefighter/Medic to an engine company.  This conversion of eight riding positions has had no impact on the single-role Medics in the Department, due to vacant single-role Medic positions. Again, no Medics were forced to cross-train or lose their jobs due to this change.  

The Fire Department has always stated that we would look at and consider options that would further enhance our system and to provide opportunities for those that can’t cross train or choose not to. 

In 2014, an EMS Supervisor was moved from Station 203 to Station 210. Since there are no other ALS providers at Station 203, would it have been better to leave the supervisor there?

This move was approved at the request of the EMS Supervisors in order to move a Supervisor closer to high call volume in the west end of the City, and in order to provide for a Supervisor at Station 210 until Engine 210 is staffed. EMS Supervisors do not automatically respond on all ALS calls.  When the new system is fully implemented, all fire engines and ambulances will be able to respond to all calls as needed.

When will all 10 stations have ALS providers?

As staff chooses to cross-train or turns over due to normal hiring and attrition, more fire engines will be staffed with a Firefighter/Medic.  All 10 stations will have ALS capacity once the new system is fully implemented.

Will the net pay increase for Medics who choose to cross train be less than 10%?

No. Numerous calculations have been done for those personnel who have already cross-trained or are considering cross-training, and all have shown at least a 10% net pay increase when including transition pay.

Will the total number of ALS providers in the system significantly increase, thereby reducing each provider's exposure to ALS patients and resulting in decreased skill proficiency and worse patient outcomes?

No. The total number of ALS providers needed under the new system remains about the same as before; they will just ride on different vehicles.

Did the latest Firefighter recruit class include any women?

For the group of 12 Firefighters hired in August 2015, two women were offered positions. One declined in order to take another job, and one is on military duty and may join a later class. A new recruit class will start later in the fall, in which six of up to eight recruits will be women. Approximately 17% of the Department's Firefighters are women, compared with national average of less than 4%.

Is a “tiered” EMS system—which deploys Firefighter/EMTs on first arriving units and supplements them with a small cadre of experienced Medics—both more efficient and more effective than one that deploys Firefighter/Medics on fire engines?

There are different approaches communities use to deliver EMS. The new system has been determined to be best for Alexandria and for the regional response system as a whole. This system also addresses staffing on the fire apparatus which respond to all hazards. This is an enhancement to overall service to the community.

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