Arlington’s fire chief says he is willing to reconsider a contentious plan to consolidate the county’s two heavy rescue companies — if county leaders can find the funding to make that possible.
Fire Chief David Povlitz told County Board members that he would need about $480,000 in additional funding to halt a proposal to combine the two existing rescue units, which has drawn criticism from the county’s firefighter union over public safety concerns.
“If there are additional funds … then the senior leadership team will reevaluate the rescue-company consolidation,” Povlitz said at a March 19 budget work session.
As part of the fiscal 2027 budget package submitted by County Manager Mark Schwartz, the fire department would eliminate the two existing rescue units, located at Station 2 west of Ballston and Station 9 in Douglas Park. In their place would be a consolidated rescue unit at Station 1 at 500 S. Glebe Road.
Currently, Station 2 (4805 Wilson Blvd) and Station 9 (1900 S. Walter Reed Drive) each have three shifts of four full-time personnel staffing rescue units. Rescue-unit personnel at both stations have similar capabilities, but those at Station 2 specialize in technical rescue, while those at Station 9 have specialized training in hazardous-materials response.
The total number of personnel staffing rescue units would decline through consolidation, although “we will not be doing any layoffs or demotions” as cuts will be made to currently vacant positions, Povlitz said.
At the session, reducing staffing and consolidating operations was described as a difficult but necessary step given the county government’s current financial situation.
“Going from two to one, that’s not optimal,” Assistant Fire Chief Jason Jenkins told Board members. “But facing what we’re facing with proposed [budget] reductions, it’s the least amount of impact.”
“It’s a matter of doing the greatest good with what we have,” Jenkins said.
At the budget work session, Board members did not indicate whether they were leaning toward approving the consolidation plan or providing the extra funds to avoid it. County Board member Maureen Coffey and Chair Matt de Ferranti asked for more information before coming to a conclusion later in the budget season.
Follow-up materials would help Board members “know what’s going on in the data,” Coffey said.
Fire officials responded that, when it comes to rescue units, utilization rates don’t paint a complete picture.
Fire-rescue units typically are kept in reserve to address only critical incidents, ranging from underground and water rescues to hazmat incidents, Jenkins said.
“They’re not running every event, but they’re running critical events,” he said. “We’re not seeing those kinds of incidents every day, but when they happen, you need the folks that are on these special resources.”
De Ferranti also asked for further input from the Arlington Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association (IAFF Local 2800) on the impacts of consolidation.
Union officials have been critical of the proposal, suggesting it would “reduce the level of protection currently provided to Arlington residents, workers and visitors.”
If consolidation occurs, Station 1 is the “optimal location” for operations because of its central location, Povlitz told Board members.
“We think we can get it closer to some of the population centers in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, Columbia Pike and also to National Landing,” he said.
“However, there will also be a decrease in some of the coverage” in some parts of the county, he acknowledged. “There could be … some increased average response times.”
A final decision will come next month when Board members adopt the fiscal 2027 budget package.
