Department

2
From The Fire Chief
Richard R. Bowers, Jr.
Front Lines September 11, 2016
It's hard to believe it's been just over a year since World Police and Fire
Games! The games were world class because of everyone stepping up!
As we have turned the corner on 2016, we have faced many
challenges and huge successes. Several recent recruit classes have
started and graduated. We graduated our second VCU paramedic
class. We graduated 59 new paramedics this past year and put
over 30 ALS intermediates through the bridge course to paramedic
certifi cation.
We have gone from two feet of snow to 100 degree temperatures and
humidity that has challenged our women and men during the past
several months. The incidents have been relentless and the troops have
responded admirably each and every time!
Our fi eld training, driver training, Operational Academy Rotations
(OARs) training and street smart training have all been professionally
delivered and tremendously received by the personnel. Remember we
play like we practice!
We now begin our push toward another new year with new challenges
and new successes in front of us; by working together, staying positive,
and staying focused while delivering high performance mission critical
services to the residents of the County.
“We now begin
our push toward
another new
year with new
challenges and
new successes
in front of us; by
working together,
staying positive,
and staying
focused while
delivering high
performance
mission critical
services to the
residents of the
County.”
Be ready, be safe, fi t and healthy!
Fire Chief Richie Bowers
“The Fairfax Way, Moving Forward.”
September 11, 2016 FRONT LINES
3
9/11
We will never forget
In This Issue
From The Fire Chief ....................................... 2
Fairfax County USAR Members Receive
National Recognition for Heroic Actions ..... 4
In the Community .......................................... 6
Suffi cient Grounds: Where Do Caffeine and
Other Ergogenic Aids Fit In? .......................... 8
Yellow Dot Program ..................................... 11
140th Recruit School .................................... 12
Fire Department Launches
Fill the Boot .................................................... 14
Hot Shots ....................................................... 16
Employee of the Year Awards .................... 17
Letter of Thanks............................................. 17
Top 10 Activity Report .................................. 18
Large Loss Fire Investigations ...................... 19
Taking Up....................................................... 20
In Memoriam ................................................ 22
Awards and Presentations .......................... 22
This year, fi refi ghters working throughout Fairfax
County found different ways to honor those fi rst
responders who died on September 11.
Anniversaries, Retirements, & New Hires .... 23
Station Profi le, Fire & Rescue Station 39 ..... 24
(from left to right) Station 38 placed fl ags in front of their station, Station
41 held a moment of silence, Station 21 did 343 burpees - one for each
fi refi ghter who died on September 11.
Richard R. Bowers, Jr., Fire Chief
Ashley Hildebrandt, Editor/Layout/Design
Cathy J. Richards, Copy and Web Editor
© COPYRIGHT 2016
Fairfax County
Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
703-246-3801
FRONT LINES is the newsletter of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
and is published by the department’s Public Affairs and Life Safety Education staff.
Questions regarding deadlines or publication schedule should be addressed to Ashley
Hildebrandt. All submissions should be sent to Public Affairs and Life Safety Education,
marked “Attn: Editor, FRONT LINES.”
“The Fairfax Way, Moving Forward.”