City of Alexandria, VA Marine Division out of service for safety stand down until next year
City of Alexandria picture of Boat 201
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Watch Boat 201 in action from January, 2005 chopper crash in the Potomac
STATter 911 has learned the entire Marine Division of the Alexandria City Fire Department has been shut down due to safety concerns. The order came yesterday from Chief Adam Thiel. Department spokesman Captain Luis Santana says they expect the division to be operational again in early January, 2009.
According to Santana, there is no specific incident causing what he calls a “safety stand down”. Captain Santana says the action is as a result of a reevaluation of the division prompted by the recent drowning of a Fairfax County police officer during a training exercise on the Potomac River. Alexandria was not involved in the training, but did assist in search operations.
Santana says the unusual move comes on the recommendation of recently appointed Assistant Chief Denise Pouget. Chief Pouget says, “We are not to the level we want to be right now. So, we are going to ensure that we get there”.
Pouget cites the example of the military and believes safety stand downs are a good thing. The department expects to focus on training, operations and equipment over the next month.
According to Chief Pouget it is not out of the question that similar stand downs will be done with other specialized units of the department.
The department uses land-based firefighters to operate Boat 201, a 30 foot Metalcraft Marine Rescue Boat that has twin jet drive and a 1500 gpm pump. Boat 201 is berthed on the city’s waterfront and is the primary responsibility of Station 201 on nearby Prince Street.
Station 204, at the department’s headquarters on Second Street, operates two Zodiacs.
Captain Santana says the department will rely on mutual aid marine resources for any emergencies until the stand down is complete. Across the Potomac, Prince George’s County recently added a fire boat on the waterfront of the National Harbor complex.
