Secret Service takes over fire, rescue responsibilities.

[Pumperman]

By Matthew Cella
THE WASHINGTON TIMES


The U.S. Secret Service has developed a fire-and-rescue unit to operate exclusively on the grounds of the White House and the vice president's mansion at the Naval Observatory, according to public-safety sources with knowledge of the operation.
The unit will replace the duties of the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, whose traditional responsibilities have included responding to emergency calls at the executive mansion and standing by during takeoff and landing of Marine One, the presidential helicopter.

"The D.C. fire department will no longer be [dispatched to the White House] as a primary responder," said one source, who confirmed the existence of the unit on the condition of anonymity. "It will only be there to support the Secret Service unit during a crisis."
Secret Service officials yesterday would not confirm or deny the new unit's existence.
The sources said the Secret Service unit was instituted largely because of security concerns about D.C. fire department personnel, who have not been required to undergo FBI background checks since 1992.
The background check currently used by D.C. fire officials only looks at the recruit's driving history and whether he or she has a criminal record.
In the past, D.C. firefighters were required to undergo a "public trust" background check, which looked into their driving and financial records, checked for any criminal record and interviewed references and past associates.
The new unit is made up of uniformed Secret Service officers who have been cross-trained at the Maryland Fire Rescue Institute in College Park as firefighters, emergency medical technicians, hazardous-materials technicians and rescue technicians. The unit recently became operational, although it could not be determined how long ago.
A spokeswoman for the Secret Service said yesterday she could not comment on any operational aspects of the agency.
"Our employees, officers and agents, we are trained in a variety of aspects so that we can respond to a variety of situations," spokeswoman Ann Roman said.
Reached by telephone yesterday, a representative of Horton Emergency Vehicles in Grove City, Ohio, confirmed that the company had recently sold the Secret Service apparatus to equip the unit.
The unit is outfitted with rescue squads, fire engines and ambulances to protect the White House grounds and personnel. The vehicles bear the U.S. Secret Service decals and the agency's symbol, the five-point star.
Alan Etter, a spokesman for the D.C. fire department, could not confirm the existence of the new unit yesterday. He said the relationship between the fire department and the Secret Service is not formalized, adding that firefighters and equipment are called to the White House grounds as needed.
"I have no personal knowledge of this company," Mr. Etter said. "We provide the service [the Secret Service] asks for. That has traditionally been the nature of our relationship with the federal government."
It remains unclear what role, if any, the D.C. fire department will play in responding to emergency fire and medical calls at the White House in the future.
Mr. Etter said Engine 16 and Truck 3, stationed at 1018 13th St. NW, had been designated as the first unit to respond to an emergency at the White House since the company's formation 100 years ago this month. The company's motto — "First due to the White House" — appears on the unit's apparatus and T-shirts.
Mr. Etter said D.C. Fire Chief Adrian H. Thompson has begun work to obtain security clearances for firefighters and emergency medical technicians.
"There have been discussions within the department to credential certain personnel who would be most likely to enter federal buildings," he said.

[captain4life]

Is this the beginning of the Washington DC Capital Hill Fire Department? :rolleyes:

[Loo for life]

Whatever like we run soooooo many calls to the White House anyway, if it is something I am pretty sure we will be invited ;) Someone is gonna have to put it out, see this is what the IAFF gets for supporting that fricking Piece of Shit :D ....

[WesFx911]

Anyone know what they are using for apparatus. I doubt Horton sold them an engine or foam unit......and do they have a firehouse or what ???

[dccaptain1995]

:mad: Ok, let me this correct, now the secret service is going to handle all the landings for the feds, Capital Hill has their own haz-mat. MPD now has their own ERT “Rescue Squad” and handle none-FD calls [styled after NYPD ERT teams?] How long before MPD going to have their own Haz-Mat since most haz-mat incident involve some type law that was broken?

Perhaps I am missing something here, but it seems that DC Fire & EMS is loosing ground here. I mean Chief Thompson and his staff has to know all about this correct?
And they do nothing, I mean how hard is to get background checks done, especially if you give that responsibility back to the feds to be done.

I don’t know, but it seems history is repeating itself again [remember the 4 man truck, and yes we still have only one wagon, no pumper]

:confused: MPD - ERT, will they now do high rise rescue, and other rescue functions like NYPD, leave FD rescue units to do fire only? If so, will MPD- ERT respond to car accident “crime scenes” like NYPD? Or a better question, will DCFD start to use “Light rescue” engines like NYFD, and close down one more “heavy rescue” since they do not have know “high rise, collapse, trench rescue” since this now a part of MPD ERT response.

Also is DCFD going to rid of the TAU, and Foam units since no longer respond to Fed landing functions? Seems like a manpower cut backs are in the future, and yes let's get rid of the 7th Battalion. What are they going to be in charge of, one fireboat, and two rescue units, and if we are lucky a haz-mat unit a total of 4 companies.

I am not going to get myself started on Chief Thompson and his chief appointments, but it seems like his staff is missing a lot of things here, and really starting to hurt DCFD. Perhaps all they know is discipline, does all the DFC’s just know is how to suspend someone, could they care more about anything else except how “not to rock the boat”. I know all the BFC’s and up have to follow chief Thompson and his “rules”, but are we just digging a deeper hole for ourselves here?



:p PS, I started using MPD computers instead of DCFD , better equipment :eek:

[Hey Slim]

Captain, I agree with some of what u say.
But u still sound a little bitter 2 me

[DrNapalm]

For the record MPD has already started there own Hazmat team. It started after some dumb ass cop went charging into a white powder incident and then refused to give up there guns during Decon, and then had the balls to say they don't have confidence in our hazmat skills. They have a few guys with some various meters and suits in the trunks of there cars. Word on the street is that that new squad is going to be pulling double duty with rescue & hazmat. Someone needs to go to the council and ask them why the cops are trying to duplicate services.

Can't say I am surprised about the secret service move; saw this coming when they started announcing that fire trucks and ambulances were going to be used by terrorists.

[The BRC]

Hey Capt1995

MPD has a unit call the Environmental Crimes Unit! Sounds like a fancy way of saying Haz Mat.

[24/7 NOT 72]

The ESU Unit from MPD has been around for over four years now.

Can someone from DCFD tell me how many times they have seen us cutting at a 10-50 ?

How many times we run a BOX with them ?

And how many high angle rescues have we done just because we got to the scene first ?

[QUITCRYIN]

:rolleyes: Hell.... I suppose the motto will have to change to "Second Due To The White House" :D

[Phantom]

No the secret Service motto will be "1st Due at Engine 16!"

[Loo for life]

Capt. Since 1987 we have worked with the Enviromental Crimes Unit of the FBI since MPD didin't have one, it was established sometime in the late 1990's.

MPD has always had a Special Ops Branch it's name is changed and duties expanded but regardless it has always been at least 22+ yrs i can rememeber.

At this point the Secret Service own a little black Ambulance and a small rescue unit as I have been told for those emergencies on White House Grounds they have taken all responsibilities which they had anyway for removing Pres. and Co. etc. from the Hazard area. Initial response to fire area will be USSS with DCFD notified to respond as is per normal routine.

The Times was correct on a few items prior to Chief Thompson we have lapsed in the old style full Background investigation the past chiefs knew what the results would be cause they did allow us to hire trash almost like MPD! Remember the MPD Classes of 1989 to 1991, who the hell do you think was supposed to be doing our checks if they didn't do there's what makes you think they did ours correctly, YEAH RIGHT!

24/72: a) You all always show up "GOING FOR THE GOLD at our fires" just not the new rig... b) as for a 10-50 are you showing your age or does MPD still use archaic 10 codes

Quit: Nope we will always be first due to the white house, since USSS will call us for the joe citizen who falls out on a Medical Local, they won't treat and transport you and I both know that ;)

[dccaptain1995]

Loo;

I stand a little corrected the Environmental Crimes Unit, the unit is a FBI investigation unit, supposed to be on a fed level only, but with DC being a Fed Territory, I guess it gets involved in local stuff here [just like ATF].
The MPD Special Ops [located at 22nd & L st NW been around for over 30+ years, it is just now they are becoming involved by setting up their own “rescue style unit” Before this they called the FD for every hostage, forcible entry, rescue, cut off handcuffs etc call.
The Black EMS & rescue van been around for a while [I believe since Regan was shot], they basically go everywhere the Pres. goes.

I guess time will tell what will happen with DCFD and the Fed's.

[? BUCKY IS HERE]

Let Them Have Their Fun ,they Know In The Back Of Their Little Minds When They Have Fucked Things Up So Bad Or They Have Screwed Their Selfs Up They Can Always Call For Us And Know We Will Be There To Bail Them Out!!!!

[24/7 NOT 72]

Let Them Have Their Fun ,they Know In The Back Of Their Little Minds When They Have Fucked Things Up So Bad Or They Have Screwed Their Selfs Up They Can Always Call For Us And Know We Will Be There To Bail Them Out!!!!

I don't know Bucky sometimes you just can't show, up put water on it break everything in sight and ride away. :D

They might not call you... Maybe others ... just not you....

[obxpoepoe]

I got a call from a Loo at E16 asking me about this.

FESCO not only sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 vehicle to USSS, the US Capital Police bought a bunch of vehicles also. No idea what their intent is or why Capital Police bought them but they did.

[33bullie]

Some of you may recall an incident that took place at 13 1/2 St N.W and Penn Ave just North of the Ronald Regan Bldg. back in late 2000. E-16, Tk-3 and R-1 were there with a Green Peace protest school bus. The F.D. crews were in what I saw normal rescue mode. The only thing was that there was no rescue involved. So in an attempt to "Extricate" the protesters the MPD ESU (then back in 2000 called the Improvised Device Unit, IDU) were alerted to respond to this incident to do the "Cut-outs." Upon our arrival we met up with DCFD inside this bus to explain how to do this cut out. Well I know in my 17 year F.D. backround I sure as hell would not want a cop to tell me how to do a cut-out and niether did the men of R-1. Well these folks we were cutting out were not your average Dick and Jane wanting to be rescued. In stead if they had a fraction of a chance to be injured they would for thier media spotlight and law suit down the road. Well since R-1 refused to hear what we had to say (which I don't blame them!) the first cut-out resulted in an oldman sustaining an air chisle bit through the top of his hand. As MPD IDU again tried to direct R-1 where to attack the item, again R-1 went with thier route and chisled into the arm of a woman. Do I blame DCFD? Hell no, I blamed the MPD IDU Lt. because R-1 did not know our capabilites do to the fact that we did no train together ( as we preach over and over to the MPD Lt.). Yeah I think MPD ESU is a mess with the direction it is heading and its current leadership, but it has a few good folks on it that don't want to do the F.D. task, in stead they want to be the MPD tool box so you DCFD guys can do the F.D. stuff. As for the USSS/FD on the house grounds, I think that is where DCFD should have stepped up to the plate and had Foam 1 relocated with its own DCFD staff assiged to it for the white house. Hell all the money being spent, it is possible to a mini-station built on the grounds to house that piece with a crew assigned there and have a second one at the VP's Home. It is just heart wrenching to see so many leaders in both the fire and police F_ _ K up such up such simple as stuff. Since there are about 37+ P.D.s in D.C. I guess some brain surgen is saying " lets have 30+ F.Ds. as well.' You got me, Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Missing the big Capitol but not the Headaches!! Stay safe folks
Bobby Hay 3D 1380
Thats "Mr. ESU" to you!

[24/7 NOT 72]

Thats funny stuff coming from you of all people ROBERT. How many jobs have you had since leaving MPD ? Why is that ? You just can't leave it alone.

The only problem ESU had when your were on it, was you were on it. You were asked to be on the unit you did'nt start it like you would like everyone to believe.

If some of the guys from DCFD are wondering about this dude a few years back they had a pretty good fire at 601 Edgewood NE and people said they saw a PGFD coat on the scene. Well you did it was him! He put his stuff on and ran in. He would carry an SCBA and gear around the city while he was at work.

Thats not what the ESU Unit is about and thats the reason he got put out. Now the bus incident what ever, how you can blame the Lt. from ESU is beyond me. If someone on the scene makes a suggestion and others don't want to listen how is that his fault?

And by the way dumb ass the very first day ESU drilled together R-1 was there and they desided for themselves that they wanted know part of playing with the POLICE. But I guess you forgot that too. Like I tell people on my post all the time ROBERT if your going to talk shit tell the truth.

And could you please from now use your Atlanta Fire Dept. ID # you don't work for MPD anymore. Im sure they won't mind you using that at least for a couple of months till you move on to the next job.

The guys from DCFD would get the piont about you. When you move from house to house its not always the house thats the problem. Sooner or later you start looking at the person......

[33bullie]

No I can't leave it alone!! Its sad my getting kicked of the unit happened the way it did. Its to much like a certain PG Vollie house that seems to chase away it members when they become a threat to a certain person. Its funny you bring that fire up. That is what statred me writing the proposal for an ESU unit. That is exactly what kind of incident that involves a fire with a large life hazard where you find cops and fire fighters doing the evacuation job. I never took a hose or hook in and try to play fireman. I believe it all boils down to being in the public saftey business and if your cops are going you do that stuff have the equipment and the trained ones there to help. And yes I do remember the training at the academy, and again all it would take would be the joint training approach and the balls to take the step foward to encourage and welcome it. Hell DCFD were there that day. I remember al to well when we kept preaching to train more move foward but a cert person said "They were waiting for the right time ( for them)." But then again that would be to much effort. Sounds like I hit a nerve with my post above thus resulting in such personal attack in your reply. Why is that? You know I've learned and done alot in these jobs and I've done a great job keeping myself and others I work with as well as for from being hurt. BE A MAN "24/7 NOT 72" sign your post!!! Gotta go just 2 more days on this job till I find another...LOSER!!

Also if my guess is right, your might just be one of those MPDC 90 percenters, ya know the ones who have just held the department back and do every thing but police work for 24/7 and just tell every body they are the police.

[24/7 NOT 72]

No I can't leave it alone!! Its sad my getting kicked of the unit happened the way it did. Its to much like a certain PG Vollie house that seems to chase away it members when they become a threat to a certain person. Its funny you bring that fire up. That is what statred me writing the proposal for an ESU unit. That is exactly what kind of incident that involves a fire with a large life hazard where you find cops and fire fighters doing the evacuation job. I never took a hose or hook in and try to play fireman. I believe it all boils down to being in the public saftey business and if your cops are going you do that stuff have the equipment and the trained ones there to help. And yes I do remember the training at the academy, and again all it would take would be the joint training approach and the balls to take the step foward to encourage and welcome it. Hell DCFD were there that day. I remember al to well when we kept preaching to train more move foward but a cert person said "They were waiting for the right time ( for them)." But then again that would be to much effort. Sounds like I hit a nerve with my post above thus resulting in such personal attack in your reply. Why is that? You know I've learned and done alot in these jobs and I've done a great job keeping myself and others I work with as well as for from being hurt. BE A MAN "24/7 NOT 72" sign your post!!! Gotta go just 2 more days on this job till I find another...LOSER!!

Also if my guess is right, your might just be one of those MPDC 90 percenters, ya know the ones who have just held the department back and do every thing but police work for 24/7 and just tell every body they are the police.

First of all PRICK I didn't say you took a line in on that fire ( because they would have kicked your ass if you tried). But when you have to put gear on to do a so called " evacuation " damn if your scared say your scared. If your helping to evacuate Robert you should have been out of the FD's way and standing in the lobby helping but NO NOT SUPER HAY...

Write a PROPOSAL FOR ESU HMMMMMMMMM. Why are you lost in such a haze on this thing. I guess you must have taken in to much smoke helping with that evacuation. :D The proposal that you wrote was so you could start a unit of your own at 3-D. Which you did and were told several times to park the unit and be done with it. But as the Hay turns you did'nt listen and continued to run your own show, until your were told by the EAC to park your shit.

Now as far as POLICE WORK yes you may have me on that one I mean I might be alittle scared to put my stats up against someone who drove the transport wagon ( GIVE ME A BREAK ). Most of the 90% on the job I know drive the wagon when they come to work but what do I know right. :confused:

Im sorry if you feel that the last post was such a personal attack on you. But I guess the truth hurts in this case. And I can tell you with all honesty that there was NO NERVE struck by you on this end.

[33bullie]

Again Gutless, no name on post,PUSSY. Having equipment makes one scared? Do you work the streets without a gun? Well class lets begin todays history lesson reflecting back to the 13th St. incident again. After that incident a giddy Lt. was congradulated on a job well done by the SOD commander (saddly he did not see the cluster and aimless management) at the time. Well the IDU team was advised by this Lt. that he had the slot of the new position of Air Sopport Lt. which was offered to him by this commander.
When asked "what is going to happen to the direction of the IDU the reply was in the lines of it would be a back burner plan. Prior to the IDU (ESU) devolopment a third district commander was all for a proposed unit (SET) to pilot out of the center of the city, 3D. After the back burner remark this SET plan was placed on the 3D commanders desk by sevaeral members of the IDU. The commander gave the green light to build this unit for presentation to the number 2 man of MPDC. When this Lt. found out he did not get his "WING JOB", in stead it was given to a Lt. that worked for the #2 man, it was learned by this Lt. that the SET team was being formed.
This resulted in a phone call of "fear" from this Lt. thus stating "you got your unit and I got mine!" thus resulting in my removal from the team. The other members whom were onboard the SET plan quickly jumped back to they IDU ship. I didn't blame them.

As for being ordered to park the truck. It was under the direction of the 3D commander to letter it and put it on the road and sell it to the #2 man, which was successfully done when he stated while at a CDU exercise in 6D, lets make this happen and told the 3D commander that day to have the operational plan on his desk in a week. Well saddly after the plan was summitted to the 3D commander it sat in his office from May until August, until being relieved of his command . Saddly a unit that only took a like push had come so close to lifting off the ground. And again saddly a unit that is already off the ground has just needed that "little push" to move foward and provide services that the city and its officers can greatly benifit from. Why is that this unit not at a full time status almost 5 years later. As for the wagon do you know what was carried in it every night as well as how busy it stayed. I'm sure you do know the truth about that. Yeah this is a subject that has created a great deal of unrest to alot of folks because of the mislead direction, lack of professional communication, and selfishness upon the leadership.
As for the ESU title. It was to establish a portion of ESU, not the entire unit. Lets look at the title, Special Equipment Truck/Team (SET). What is an ESU? Well lets see. Does MPDC ESU do SCUBA-no, SWAT-no,high risk high angle M.O rescue-no, barricade perimeter enforcement-no and there are more nos as the list would go on. Lets see what they may like to do that may be a duplication of services. Auto extrication and haz-mat. WHY? Does not sound like and ESU to me.

That concludes todays lesson. Now back to work since I have about 1 day left at this job. I wish I could go 24/7. You were up pretty earily this morning. Oh my bad, you 24/7, you don't need 72.

[24/7 NOT 72]

Once more you are not hearing me with those big ears of yours.... If your the POLICE, GUN YES,TURNOUT GEAR NO. :eek:

As far as leaving my name why should I, that would'nt be fun for the rest of the post's I leave.

I guess you and I were at a different CDU practice in 6-D,because the one that I was at was the last time I saw your unit on the street. As I recall that was the end of your attempt not the start. :o

A dive-team nope don't need it we have Harbor for that. Working on the scene of a barricade well plans are in the works but how would you know your in HOTLANTA.... If you haven't heard the LT. is at Canine now. You know Canine, Helicopter Branch whatever it's all still SOD right BOBBY.

Talk about striking a NERVE. OK Im sorry about the wagon comment Im sure you worked hard at all those transports back and forth from the cellblock. Hows that some credit for all your hard work while at MPD. :rolleyes:

[Tk_3_Barman]

hey guys,
This thread was started in a humorous fashion. Relax already. There have been points brought up by MPD, and DCFD that make sence toward all sides. This stuff going on between you two is personal. Take it to another thread, maybe MPD has a version of the watchdesk........if they don't......try starting one. :(

[QUITCRYIN]

Very True Trk-3......It was all fun, Until 33 Bullie /Hay Jumped In With Some Bullshit...anyway Maybe He Will Find A Georgia Thread To Cry On Or Has He moved from there already :eek:

[citywide]

Hey guys,

This website is for fire departments, NOT for personal grudges between cops.

Bullie,

You need to get the hell off of here. AND, you need to get a spellcheck system on your computer!! Now, we know the truth behind the old adage, "if you scored higher on the exam, you'd have been a fireman," 'cause you had to have failed all grammar portions of that exam!!

Examples: (just from his LAST post)

33Bullie / Webster's (or anybody with half a brain)

congradulated / congratulated
saddly(4x) / sadly
sopport / support
devolopment / development
savaeral / several
in stead / instead
summitted / submitted
benifit / benefit

And that's not to mention the grammatical errors. I don't know, it's just funny as shit!!

Bullie--lighten the fuck up and stay outta here.

[Odie23]

Hey Lou,

There are a few more pieces of USSS apparatus out there. I know of at least 1 black haz mat unit (I posted a pic on the dcfd photo page) several black ambulances, a red mini-pumper, 3 heavy rescue squads (International cabs, not sure who built the bodies) they're painted white over gold over black and look similar to Riverdales paint scheme but with big USSS markings and their star on the body. I haven't heard about any supression pieces bought yet, but I took over another shift and don't get to talk with the USSS as much as I used to. If I see anything else I'll try to photograph and post them.

Odie

[TCosgroveJones]

I don't know if it counts , but here is are some pictures of a Secret Service Pumper I saw today in my rounds.. Won't this look good parked infront of the Whitehouse!!!! :eek:

Cosgr :D ve

[Odie23]

Cosgrove, that's the same color scheme as the mini-pumper. If you don't mind, where did you shoot that? I'd like to add it to my collection.

Odie

[SouthsideLadderMan]

Thats Old Engine 152 from the Naval District Washington, Chesapeake Bay Detachment in Calvert County. Sure looks better Red than it did Slime Lime!

[NorthSTAR]

Apologies & credit to the original photographer, I forget where I got this picture: