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Friday, January 15, 2010

The Potomac Fire Department

Anyone who has ever been by Alexandria Fire Department Station 2 (202) on Windsor Avenue has undoubtedly noticed it says Potomac Fire Department above the doors. As I am sure some have asked, “How is this, I thought I was in Alexandria?” Read on my friends as this firehouse has something of a convoluted and interesting history.


This area of Alexandria Virginia known as Del Ray and Saint Elmo were laid out back in 1894 along the then new Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon trolley line at where it crossed the Virginia Midland Railroad leading west (this was previously the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire and later became the Southern Railway Bluemont Line then Washington and Old Dominion Railway’s Bluemont Division). A popular racetrack and gambling spot also opened here situated between the two communities. At the time, this area was in Alexandria County not Alexandria City. In 1902, the Washington and Southern Railroad (later Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac) that followed the Potomac River opens its Potomac Rail Yard east of here. Del Ray and Saint Elmo quickly become home to many railroad workers. In spring 1908, Del Ray and St Elmo incorporate as the "Town of Potomac” the first and only municipality within Alexandria County beyond of course Alexandria City.


In 1920 Alexandria County becomes Arlington County named after the Custis-Lee mansion Arlington House taken during the Civil War for use as a National Soldiers Cemetery. Late in October 1924, the Del Ray Engine and Motor Co. organizes in Potomac promptly beginning service with a new combination chemical pumping engine housed in a church shed on Windsor near Commonwealth Avenue. Within a month, the Saint Elmo V.F.D. also organizes also beginning service promptly with a modified “Model T” chemical hose wagon housed in shed off Commonwealth Avenue. On November 6, both companies are placed under oversight of a new town agency titled the Potomac Fire Department (FD) with Del Ray designated Engine Company 1 and Saint Elmo as Engine Company 2. This entity has no chief or paid personnel as the two volunteer compaies exist under it answering to the town council.

Following a meeting of January 11, 1926, the Del Ray and Saint Elmo volunteer companies consolidate titled as the Potomac Truck and Engine Company Number 1. Both engines remain labeled for their respective community. Soon after, the department consolidates physically, moving to a new two-story, three-bay brick station on Windsor Avenue. This has the Potomac Town Hall on the second floor with the town jail on the bottom behind the apparatus bays.

Effective January 1, 1930, the southern portion of Arlington County beyond Four Mile Run is annexed into the City of Alexandria. This includes the Town of Potomac and the Potomac FD that becomes Alexandria Fire Department (FD) Station 2 as then there is only a Station 1, 4 and 5 the original Company 2 the Sun Fire Company long disbanded. This is the last annexation to affect Arlington County as by ruling of the Virginia Supreme Court, annexations and municipal incorporations are no longer permitted.

Soon after, AFD assigns a new tractor drawn 100-foot ladder truck to Station 1. This displaces their 1918 ALF city service truck that is re-assigned to Station 2 as Truck 2. That year, the Alexandria Rescue Squad also forms from Potomac Station 2 adding an ambulance then the only one in the city. In 1935, an open cab new ALF city service quad arrives for Truck 2.

By 1948, the Alexandria Rescue Squad expands by now running Rescue 1 and 2 that are both ambulances adding Rescue 3 an International, Oren rescue truck and Rescue 4 a trailered boat. In 1954, Truck 2 gets the ’51 ALF 100-foot midship from Truck 1 their city service quad going to the Annandale VFD in Fairfax County.

In 1973, Truck 2 from Station 2 is deactivated and the aerial truck sold. No ladder has run from station since. In 1974 volunteers on all Alexandria Rescue Squad ambulances are replaced by career EMTs. Then or soon after, Rescue 2 is removed re-assigned to nearby Station 4. In March 1977, the Alexandria Rescue Squad becomes the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division of the Alexandria FD with units staffed and equipped as transport capable Advanced Life Support (ALS) Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU) still called rescues. In about January 1979, the unit designation “Rescue” is changed to “Medic”. On December 1, the medic unit from Station 4 returns to the Potomac Station now known as Medic 52.

In October 1983, the Departments new Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat) Team goes in service at Potomac Station 52 assigned a ’76 Chevy “C-30” with shop modified Morysville 10-foot utility body. Designated Haz-Mat 52 this is staffed by assigned personnel of Wagon 52. About that time the Potomac firehouse adds one of the more unique engines to serve the Alexandria FD. Wagon 52 gets a canopy cab-over new Ford “C-8000”, E-One 1250-gpm triple with a 40-gallon foam tank and a large 1000-gallon water tank. The need for this is the Del Ray area suffers low water pressure and the company is also first due to the Potomac Yards. In mid 1989, Haz-Mat 52 gets a new GMC, Hackney as well as its own driver. In late 1992, Engine 52 is replaced by a new piece with standard for the department 500-gallon water tank.


In 2006, Potomac Station now designated 202 is assigned a new Mass Casualty Unit. On November 1, 2009, the new Station 209 opens just northeast in Potomac Yards. The station is located within a multi-story 64-unit apartment complex addressed at 2800 Main Line Boulevard. This large and currently stand alone building is south of Glebe Road and east of US 1. It is assigned Engine 209 and Haz-Mat 209 both from Potomac Station 202 plus afoam trailer and new spill response truck. The building also has a glass mural along the US 1 side windows showing the old ’35 ALF Quad of Truck2. Recently renovated "Potomac Fire Department" Station 2 remains open home to Medic 202, the Mass Casualty Unit and Safety Officer with room for various reserves. This is no doubt one of the more unique fire service history stories in Northern Virginia. Both photos by the author.

1 comment:

  1. The Potomac Truck and Engine Company #2 and The Alexandria Volunteer Fire Dept volunteers run a Support Unit 202 out of that Station and has a office on the second floor. The Volunteers have their monthly meetings on the second floor.

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