About the Department
- The Washington Heights Crash-Fire-Rescue service is one of two paid fire departments in Washington Heights jurisdiction, operating 4 shifts of career firefighters who staff the station 24/7. The firefighters work 24 hours, then have 72 hours off.
- Washington Heights CFR operates out of two fire stations. Currently, The department staffs four crash trucks, one structural engine, a tower ladder, and a Heavy Rescue.
- Washington Heights CFR protects all runways and grounds of the airport, including terminals and loading areas. The department also handles all EMS emergencies on site and provides Paramedic services to the airport, and is the back-up Paramedic for Washington Heights. However, the Volunteers from Washington Heights provide EMS transport.
- Annually, the department responds to about 3400 calls a year including responses on and off airport grounds. The department provides mutual aid to the municipal side of town, however it is limited to Medic Engine 1-12 or Fox-3 on a special request. Rescue 1-12 can be requested to respond only if Tactical Unit 1-12 or 2-12 is out of service or unavailable.
Command Structure
- Fire Chief - Ed Walters
- Deputy Chief - Sean O'Connel
- Assistant Chief of EMS - Sarah Burdick
- Assistant Chief of Training - David Burnes
- Assistant Chief of Fire Division - Samual Johnson
- Battalion Chief 5A - Cody Rikon
- Battalion Chief 5B - Tim Jones
- Battalion Chief 5C - Nick Swan
- Battalion Chief 5D - Matt Davidson
Staffing
Medic Engine 1-12 - 1 Captain, 1 FF/Medic, 1 FF/EMT
Rescue 1-12 - 3 FF/EMT
Platform 1-12 - 3 FF/EMT
Battalion 5 - Battalion Chief, 1 FF/EMT
Fox I - 2 FF/Medic
Fox II - 1 FF/EMT
Fox III - 1 Lieutenant, 2 FF/EMT
Fox IV - 1 FF/EMT
Rescue 1-12 - 3 FF/EMT
Platform 1-12 - 3 FF/EMT
Battalion 5 - Battalion Chief, 1 FF/EMT
Fox I - 2 FF/Medic
Fox II - 1 FF/EMT
Fox III - 1 Lieutenant, 2 FF/EMT
Fox IV - 1 FF/EMT
Response Protocols
Structure Fire - Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12, Fox III, Fox I, Rescue 1-12, Battalion 5, Fox II, Fox IV
(Includes Smoke in the building, Fire within a building, Appliance fires)
Vehicle Fire - Medic Engine 1-12, Fox I, Battalion 5*
(With Exposures add Fox III)
Brush/Outside Fire - Medic Engine 1-12, Fox I, Battalion 5*
(With Exposures add Fox III)
Rescue Assignment - Rescue 1-12, Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 112, Fox I, Battalion 5
(High/Low Angle, Confined Space, Trench Rescue, Collapse Rescue)
Motor Vehicle Accident - Rescue 1-12, Medic Engine 1-12, Fox I, Battalion 5
(On runways or with entrapment add Fox III)
Fire Alarm - Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12, Fox III, Rescue 1-12, Fox I, Fox II, Battalion 5*
(Automatic Alarms, Smoke Detectors, Pull Stations, Box Alarms, Heat Detector)
Odor Investigation - Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12, Fox III, Rescue 1-12, Battalion 5
(Odors of smoke or odor of something burning, all others considered hazmat)
Service Call - Medic Engine 1-12 or Fox I, Battalion 5*
(Lock-out/Lock-in, secure utilities, pump outs, fluid clean up, misc. non-emergency calls)
Accidental Alarm - Medic Engine 1-12 or Fox III, Battalion 5*
(Includes Food on the stove, call from facility with no problem, proper pass code, reset prior to arrival)
Medical Emergency - Medic Engine 1-12
(On runways or parked aircraft add Fox II and Battalion 5)
Hazardous Materials Response - Medic Engine 1-12, Rescue 1-12, Fox III, Platform 1-12, Battalion 5, Fox I*, Fox II*
(Includes unknown substances, odors, gas detectors, spills, suspicious package)
In Air-Aircraft Emergency - Fox II, Fox IV, Fox I, Fox III, Rescue 1-12, Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12 Battalion 5
(Emergency Landings, Medical Emergencies in-flight, Landing Gear Failure, Hard Landings)
Aircraft Down/Crash - Fox II, Fox IV, Fox I, Fox III, Rescue 1-12, Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12. Battalion 5
(Includes Smoke in the building, Fire within a building, Appliance fires)
Vehicle Fire - Medic Engine 1-12, Fox I, Battalion 5*
(With Exposures add Fox III)
Brush/Outside Fire - Medic Engine 1-12, Fox I, Battalion 5*
(With Exposures add Fox III)
Rescue Assignment - Rescue 1-12, Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 112, Fox I, Battalion 5
(High/Low Angle, Confined Space, Trench Rescue, Collapse Rescue)
Motor Vehicle Accident - Rescue 1-12, Medic Engine 1-12, Fox I, Battalion 5
(On runways or with entrapment add Fox III)
Fire Alarm - Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12, Fox III, Rescue 1-12, Fox I, Fox II, Battalion 5*
(Automatic Alarms, Smoke Detectors, Pull Stations, Box Alarms, Heat Detector)
Odor Investigation - Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12, Fox III, Rescue 1-12, Battalion 5
(Odors of smoke or odor of something burning, all others considered hazmat)
Service Call - Medic Engine 1-12 or Fox I, Battalion 5*
(Lock-out/Lock-in, secure utilities, pump outs, fluid clean up, misc. non-emergency calls)
Accidental Alarm - Medic Engine 1-12 or Fox III, Battalion 5*
(Includes Food on the stove, call from facility with no problem, proper pass code, reset prior to arrival)
Medical Emergency - Medic Engine 1-12
(On runways or parked aircraft add Fox II and Battalion 5)
Hazardous Materials Response - Medic Engine 1-12, Rescue 1-12, Fox III, Platform 1-12, Battalion 5, Fox I*, Fox II*
(Includes unknown substances, odors, gas detectors, spills, suspicious package)
In Air-Aircraft Emergency - Fox II, Fox IV, Fox I, Fox III, Rescue 1-12, Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12 Battalion 5
(Emergency Landings, Medical Emergencies in-flight, Landing Gear Failure, Hard Landings)
Aircraft Down/Crash - Fox II, Fox IV, Fox I, Fox III, Rescue 1-12, Medic Engine 1-12, Platform 1-12. Battalion 5