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Virgina Department Questioned Over Half-Mile, 10 Minute Response
AMANDA CODISPOTI
The Roanoke Times
Reprinted with Permission
Robert Mullins watched flames shoot out of his Vinton home for seven minutes Monday night before a Roanoke fire truck rolled up.
It was followed by a Vinton fire truck, which took 10 minutes to arrive from the station that was less than a half-mile from the fire.
"Certainly we'd like for that to be better, being so close to the station," said Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Chief Rick Burch.
After 6 p.m., the Vinton fire station relies on 22 volunteers, many of whom respond to fire calls from home. The fire truck can't leave the station until at least three firefighters are on board, and that's what caused the 10-minute response time Monday night, Burch said.
There are no countywide response time goals, Burch said, adding that the response time for Catawba would be very different for Vinton.
"We just monitor it, and if we see something that we think took too long, we'll look at it and see what the issues are," he said.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that an urban, volunteer fire station such as Vinton's get 15 firefighters at the scene of a fire within nine minutes 90 percent of the time.
Slow response times in Vinton prompted Burch two years ago to seek funding for career positions to staff the station 24 hours a day, he said. He couldn't get the funding because of budget cuts.
"We've known for a while that there's issues, but we don't have the resources available to resolve the problem," the chief said.
The fire at the duplex in the 200 block of West Cleveland Avenue displaced three residents, killed three pets, including Mullins' cat, and caused $150,000 in damage. No one was hurt.
Mullins didn't want to be interviewed, said his nephew, Tommy Mullins. Tommy Mullins is a former volunteer firefighter and said he and his parents, who own the duplex, understand why it took Vinton firefighters 10 minutes to get to the house.
"We're not upset," he said. "We're wishing Vinton would utilize our tax money" for career firefighters.
Firefighters from Read Mountain, Mount Pleasant and the North County station were also called to the blaze, which took about 40 minutes to quell.
Roanoke fire trucks from stations No. 6 on Jamison Avenue Southeast and No. 1 on Franklin Road Southwest were called to the fire as part of a mutual aid agreement between the city and county.
Related
Vinton fire crew needed 10 minutes to go half-mile
The Roanoke Times
Reprinted with Permission
Robert Mullins watched flames shoot out of his Vinton home for seven minutes Monday night before a Roanoke fire truck rolled up.
It was followed by a Vinton fire truck, which took 10 minutes to arrive from the station that was less than a half-mile from the fire.
"Certainly we'd like for that to be better, being so close to the station," said Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Chief Rick Burch.
After 6 p.m., the Vinton fire station relies on 22 volunteers, many of whom respond to fire calls from home. The fire truck can't leave the station until at least three firefighters are on board, and that's what caused the 10-minute response time Monday night, Burch said.
There are no countywide response time goals, Burch said, adding that the response time for Catawba would be very different for Vinton.
"We just monitor it, and if we see something that we think took too long, we'll look at it and see what the issues are," he said.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that an urban, volunteer fire station such as Vinton's get 15 firefighters at the scene of a fire within nine minutes 90 percent of the time.
Slow response times in Vinton prompted Burch two years ago to seek funding for career positions to staff the station 24 hours a day, he said. He couldn't get the funding because of budget cuts.
"We've known for a while that there's issues, but we don't have the resources available to resolve the problem," the chief said.
The fire at the duplex in the 200 block of West Cleveland Avenue displaced three residents, killed three pets, including Mullins' cat, and caused $150,000 in damage. No one was hurt.
Mullins didn't want to be interviewed, said his nephew, Tommy Mullins. Tommy Mullins is a former volunteer firefighter and said he and his parents, who own the duplex, understand why it took Vinton firefighters 10 minutes to get to the house.
"We're not upset," he said. "We're wishing Vinton would utilize our tax money" for career firefighters.
Firefighters from Read Mountain, Mount Pleasant and the North County station were also called to the blaze, which took about 40 minutes to quell.
Roanoke fire trucks from stations No. 6 on Jamison Avenue Southeast and No. 1 on Franklin Road Southwest were called to the fire as part of a mutual aid agreement between the city and county.
Related
Vinton fire crew needed 10 minutes to go half-mile
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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After 6 p.m., the Vinton fire station relies on 22 volunteers, many of whom respond to fire calls from home. The fire truck can't leave the station until at least three firefighters are on board, and that's what caused the 10-minute response time Monday night, Burch said.
Slow response times in Vinton prompted Burch two years ago to seek funding for career positions to staff the station 24 hours a day, he said. He couldn't get the funding because of budget cuts.
Another fine example of money trumping service. Don't be whining and complaining about poor service when you need it.....but sure is fine to whine and complain when you don't, right?
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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The headline is quite misleading, it sounds like the boys just needed to pull their boots on and run down the road when really it was a home response, so 10 minutes from dispatch-page-slow drive to the station (I don't think Virginia allows blue lights) and then respond half a mile...that's not too bad!
Piss poor reporting strikes again!
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Permalink Reply by 55 TRUCK on
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I Agree Vic. These guys are doing the best they can with what they have. Having to come from home to the station then get to the scene 10 minutes isn't to bad. Perhaps the people should look at doing a part time program. Perhaps 4 firemen on 12 hr shifts. Not sure about the blue light thing in Va.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Koontz on
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No matter how many times I see it or go through it, I still can't believe people have the nerve to criticize when they refuse to support their own department. They don't want us to have newer equipment, but they go nuts when the 20 year old engine we have doesn't get there fast enough, or doesn't do the job we need of it anymore. Everyone should email this reporter, and tell her to try it from our side of the fence for once, or just tell her what you think of her "journalism"
amanda.codispoti@roanoke.com
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Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
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"Not sure about the blue light thing in Va."
I'm sure there's a thread about that here somewhere.
I agree, having to respond from home to the station, then wait til you've got 3 FF's, then respond down the road... 10 minutes sounds pretty good. Like 55 Truck said, "They're doing the best they can with what they have".
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Permalink Reply by Firefighter30 on
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so when it says "after 6pm" they rely on 22 volunteers...so what do they rely on befoer 6pm, do they have people staffing the stations during the day?
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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And I'm sure there's loads of rural areas (and even urban) where 10 mins is considered lightning fast. Good call Vic.
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Permalink Reply by John Dobson on
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Thats why I don't understand when I read on here departments not allowing volunteers to drive POVs to the scene. We cover 100 square miles in two townships are avg response time is around seven mintunes. No we don't drive fast or like jackwagons to get to the scene. We have members scattered all over that area and some are outside the boarders. If we had to wait on them to come to the station. Well that time would most likely be 45 minutes.
The blue light thing well the only thing I have found there good for is when you along side the road working a scene. Or off the road to use as a locating beacon for in coming units. Very few around here yield to a fire truck. I have even heard them joking about it on the local radio that they didn't know you are suppose to yield to a fire truck. So they not going to yield to a POV.
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Permalink Reply by Phoenix on
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10 minutes for a home, to station, to call response is smoking. It takes me, as well as most of our active members 5-7 minutes from home to station....I live in a very rural area. Sounds like they need to hand the uncle and former firefighter some bunker gear so they can walk a mile in our shoes.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Roanoke FD is a Paid/Career Dept. which means they had a crew in station at the moment the call was dispatched.
Like John said....these folks will vote against small tax hikes to support a paid position and B*tch when something happens but at the same time they aren't stepping up to the plate to volunteer either.
They name streets after people like them........ONE WAY
OK Paul....Time to Chime In. :>
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Thats why I don't understand when I read on here departments not allowing volunteers to drive POVs to the scene. We cover 100 square miles in two townships are avg response time is around seven mintunes
It depends entirely upon the makeup of the dept and resources available. There are still many depts that do respond direct to the scene, but the issue is about getting the necessary equipment to the scene. Having a crew of say 10 vollys with gear on scene is useless if you don't have the rigs and equipment. Without those, you are just a well dressed observer.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Crothers on
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In response to the remark about F/F just being well dressed observer-- Some of our F/F go directly to the scene. However, they do not just stand around. They do size up and report to the responding Officer and trucks as to what is needed. That insures we have enough manpower and equipment responding. The officer can then up grade or stage units. This works well for us but ever Dept. and ever response is different. We can have a F/F on scene in minutes. Average response time for trucks is 12 minutes.
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Cheese and rice Dave, the point about being a well dressed observer is the absolute fact that one really can not mitigate the emergency without haveing the necessary equipment there to do so. Sure give a report do a size up, tell what is needed...OK fine, that's done, now what? Put the fire out...with what? ladder the building...with what?
I understand that things are done, the bottom line is that if responding to the scene without the equipment you are absolutely limited in what you can do. Plain and simple. This is also why department establish their rules as they see fit. If everyone rolled to the scene in their POV, there isn't much they are going to do.
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