03/28/2026
Just so you know, it is not all about who is ON scene...its the magic required BEHIND THE SCENE that ensures your safety as well. Well done! by the dispatchers that day. Have no fear of thinking outside the box.
Grateful for Our Regional Partners ❤️
Yesterday was an out-of-the-ordinary day for Jefferson County.
At approximately 1:00 PM, several 911 calls came in for an apartment fire on Cheney Ave near Bolivar. In less than three minutes, a Structure Fire assignment was dispatched. Upon arrival, crews immediately requested a Second alarm.
Our dispatchers worked quickly and efficiently to manage the incident.
Beyond dispatching resources to the fire scene, our Fire dispatchers also had to ensure the rest of Jefferson County remained protected by filling empty fire stations. Several surrounding counties were already assisting at the scene, so the dispatcher had to think creatively about where to find additional mutual aid.
Washington County MD, Frederick County MD, and Loudoun County VA were a tremendous help, providing resources both to the fire scene and for station fill-ins. However, it still wasn’t enough to guarantee rapid emergency response times across our county.
That led to a difficult decision - Rarely has it happened in our county, but we requested assistance from Montgomery County, MD. MCFRS responded generously by sending a Paramedic Engine from Germantown and an Ambulance from Gaithersburg. Despite the nearly one-hour drive, they arrived quickly at Station 2 in Charles Town and were immediately placed into service for emergency runs.
We also want to thank the following counties for their rapid and generous mutual aid:
•Berkeley County, WV
•Clarke County, VA
•Frederick County, VA
•Loudoun County, VA
•Washington County, MD
•Frederick County, MD
•Montgomery County, MD
A special thank you to Loudoun County for quickly patching radio talkgroups with Montgomery County. Their efforts ensured seamless communications across multiple jurisdictions, keeping everyone safe and coordinated.
This response showcased the very best of the fire service and public safety community — neighbors helping neighbors, no matter the county or state lines. Thank you to every department, every apparatus, and every dispatcher who stepped up yesterday.
