Code Revamps County's Fire, Rescue System

Central Control Allows Volunteers' Autonomy

A fire and rescue system that will preserve volunteer organizations in Prince William County yet provide more centralized control to a countywide chief will take effect this fall, eliminating a system that, for generations, gave volunteers leeway on various operational matters.

"Our current [system] didn't serve us well in an era where a fire and rescue system needed to adapt to rapidly changing conditions," Prince William Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee said. "This proposal allows volunteer chiefs to lead and manage their department . . . while following requirements of the Fire and Rescue Association."

On Tuesday, Prince William supervisors adopted the Fire Prevention and Protection Code, which outlines how the county's fire and rescue system will operate. Volunteer and career fire and rescue personnel spent more than six months reviewing the system, a move that came after supervisors learned the Gainesville District Volunteer Fire Department chief and his family lived in the fire station. McGee said volunteers and career personnel support the proposal.

"This is a giant step forward for fire and rescue protection in the county," Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) said. "I, for one, am surprised we were able to get an agreement, and that's a pleasant surprise that you were able to sit together and work this out."

When the board first voted to upend tradition and revamp the fire and rescue system, some volunteers said they feared losing their identity and independence. Career staff member, however, said a unified system in which every organization followed the same standards and procedure was needed. The two sides spent most of the year battling over the issues. With the help of lawyers, county staff members and numerous meetings, they were able to settle their differences.

"I've been here since 1982 and have seen a lot of changes, but I'm very encouraged to see the sides came together to create a new, stronger fire and rescue association," Yorkshire Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jerry Deem said. "We've been able to preserve the volunteer system and have it continue to grow within this combination system."

McGee said the new code "facilitates us to operate as a system, as opposed to operating as individual entities."

It restructures the governing system and enhances the policymaking abilities of the Fire and Rescue Association's executive committee, allowing members -- McGee, three volunteer chiefs and three career staffers -- to appeal any association board decision to the county executive. The Fire and Rescue Association, which consists of the 12 volunteer companies and the career department, ensures that the entire system operates efficiently in the community.

"Before, if we had an issue that needed to be addressed, but it was voted no by the [association], it would die," McGee said. "This provides more opportunity for those types of issues to move on to a new level of consideration."

The code creates an audit committee and requires fire and rescue officials to update county supervisors quarterly, something deemed unnecessary before. It also requires that all volunteer organizations and the career department follow the county's purchasing and budgeting procedures, McGee said.

"We have new controls in place so we can assure proper use of taxpayers funds within the fire and rescue system as a whole," he said.

The only issue left is the participation of junior members, those 16 and 17 years old. McGee said he does not want junior members working in "immediately dangerous" situations, but the volunteer chiefs want to continue the state-sanctioned practice that allows them to participate in all situations.

Fire and rescue officials will begin implementing the code next month. McGee said it could take a few years for everything to come together.

"During this whole process, I saw the full range of emotions," McGee said. "This wasn't easy, but . . . [through all this], the guiding principles of volunteer independence and autonomy were preserved and balanced with principles of enhanced accountability to the board. This balance we will need as we face future fire and rescue challenges."