[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY DEPARTMENT 
                           OF FIRE AND RESCUE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2016

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the 
achievements and the 50th anniversary of the Prince William County 
Department of Fire and Rescue. In January of 1966, Prince William 
County hired its first paid firefighter, Phil Ponder. Ponder was the 
first of what is now over 600 Fire & Rescue personnel.
  Prince William County holds a number of records such as the first 
jurisdiction on the east coast to implement a 911 system and the first 
jurisdiction in the state and national capital region to implement a 
physical agility exam for career firefighters. In addition to those 
achievements, the department hired the first female fire chief of a 
metropolitan-sized department.
  I had the pleasure of meeting with Prince William County Department 
of Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee recently where we talked about how 
the Department has evolved. Chief McGee always challenges his team to 
be on the cutting edge of firefighting and emergency rescue. Time and 
again Prince William County Fire and Rescue personnel have used their 
skills not only to help the people of Prince William County but also 
the citizens of Northern Virginia and beyond at their time in need.
  Over the years, Prince William County Fire and Rescue has assisted 
with incidents like the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and with rescue 
efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Today, the department has 555 
uniformed and 60 civilian staff providing service around the clock. It 
is one of three jurisdictions in the Commonwealth with a delegated 
training authority for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and is 
a partner in the National Capital Region Incident Management Team.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to acknowledge the achievements 
of the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue over the 
last 50 years and thank all of the staff, both past and present, for 
protecting the lives and property of the region. I offer sincere 
gratitude for their service to the community, the Commonwealth, and the 
nation over the past 50 years and know that high quality service will 
be engrained in the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue 
for generations to come.

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