Meeting with DC Fire Chief

Fire Chief Meeting
On Monday, October 20, I joined Federation of Citizens Associations Vice President Dave Mallof, Elizabeth Elliot, ANC2B Commissioner and 20-year Fire/EMS Advisory Committee member Bob Meehan for a meeting with DC Fire Chief Rubin and two Deputy Fire Chiefs. Problems with the Fire Department and lack of facilities maintenance is long standing. Many stations are over 100 years old and some have had no significant work for from decades to half a century. The neglect over the decades was inexcusable. Mayor Fenty and Chief Rubin are now renovating an astounding three fire stations at a time. Three station renovations at a time is about all the system can handle, since the fire department has to remain on call at all times.
ANC2B and other groups fought for transparency in the public/private replacement of station #1 in Foggy Bottom. That station serves much of our Dupont neighborhood. We were successful in stopping the giveaway of this valuable property. However, the station has been dropped from the schedule for future renovations. We urged the Chief to put our fire station back on the list for badly needed renovations. Whatever the final resolution for the property, either as public or public/private, we want transparency in the process and we want the best for our fire department in renovating fire station #1. We also want federal funding for renovation of this station since it serves the White House, Executive Office Building and Marine Chopper 1.
Our other DC fire station serving our neighborhood is just west of 16th and U Streets NW and has been renovated. Stop by and see how a station should look like. Then go by 23rd and M Streets NW and see what most of DC fire stations look like.