Decent enough department for mid-size city. New suppression pieces every year, solid rotation for swapping out old trucks, modern fire fighting equipment and turnout gear.
Stations are dated and in disrepair. It took over 10 years to break ground on one replacement station, and nothing has been done since. Plumbing, kitchens, A/C, and mold are an issue in almost all the stations.
The real issue is on the EMS side. The ambulances are old, beat up, falling apart, and have terrible load outs. EMS accounts for 90% of the call volume, but is given nearly zero % of the attention. Dual-certified Fire Medics are held to no standard of care. The Department allows certifications like ACLS/PALS to be be held optionally. There is no attention paid to EMS training. The department runs all Paramedic training “in house” for about 1/8th the budget given to Fire Training. The medic course produces sub-standard medics, who in turn provide sub-standard care, and leads to avoidable bad outcomes for patients. When preventable mistakes happen, they are brushed away and there are no consequences for the provider.
The Department established and EMS-Only section a year ago, and have mismanaged it to the point that a mass exodus is looming. It took over a year to hire against the 12 available spots, and within the next 3 months at least 4 will leave for other opportunities. The Paramedic pay for the single-certified Medics is nit competitive within the region. Medic-only members only earn 2.5 sick days a year, and the Department admin refuses to address that with the City.
Overall, there are a lot of great firemen, some decent Medics, and no culture of accountability.
Rating Breakdown
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1 Reviews on “Newport News Fire Department”
Decent enough department for mid-size city. New suppression pieces every year, solid rotation for swapping out old trucks, modern fire fighting equipment and turnout gear.
Stations are dated and in disrepair. It took over 10 years to break ground on one replacement station, and nothing has been done since. Plumbing, kitchens, A/C, and mold are an issue in almost all the stations.
The real issue is on the EMS side. The ambulances are old, beat up, falling apart, and have terrible load outs. EMS accounts for 90% of the call volume, but is given nearly zero % of the attention. Dual-certified Fire Medics are held to no standard of care. The Department allows certifications like ACLS/PALS to be be held optionally. There is no attention paid to EMS training. The department runs all Paramedic training “in house” for about 1/8th the budget given to Fire Training. The medic course produces sub-standard medics, who in turn provide sub-standard care, and leads to avoidable bad outcomes for patients. When preventable mistakes happen, they are brushed away and there are no consequences for the provider.
The Department established and EMS-Only section a year ago, and have mismanaged it to the point that a mass exodus is looming. It took over a year to hire against the 12 available spots, and within the next 3 months at least 4 will leave for other opportunities. The Paramedic pay for the single-certified Medics is nit competitive within the region. Medic-only members only earn 2.5 sick days a year, and the Department admin refuses to address that with the City.
Overall, there are a lot of great firemen, some decent Medics, and no culture of accountability.