§ 5-401. Area of service; division of District into fire companies; pre-hospital care and services; approval required for major changes in manner of fire protection.

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 4-301.

1973 Ed., § 4-401.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 17-147 designated the existing text as subsec. (a); in subsec. (a), substituted "Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department ('Department')" for "Fire Department"; and added subsec. (b).

D.C. Law 17-353 validated a previously made technical correction in subsec. (a); and, in subsec. (b), deleted "Fire and Emergency Medical Services" preceding "Department".

D.C. Law 19-168 added subsec. (c).

D.C. Law 19-171 made a technical amendment to D.C. Law 17-147, § 2(a)(2), that did not change the text of the section.

Emergency Act Amendments

For temporary change in the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department to allow it to rotate the closing of no more than 8 companies on a daily basis, see § 202 of the Fiscal Year 1996 Budget Support Emergency Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-264, April 26, 1996, 43 DCR 2412).

For temporary (90-day) implementation of management reforms involving safety equipment and personnel, see § 1012 of the Service Improvement and Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Support Emergency Act of 1999 (D.C. Act 13-110, July 28, 1999, 46 DCR 6320).

For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 3002 of Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-187, August 26, 2009, 56 DCR 7374).

Legislative History of Laws

Law 1-111, the "Fire Department Operations Act of 1976," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 1-377, which was referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on July 27, 1976, and September 15, 1976, respectively. Enacted without signature by the Mayor on January 7, 1977, it was assigned Act. No. 1-198 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.

Law 17-147, the "Emergency Medical Services Improvement Amendment Act of 2008", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No.17-170 which was referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on January 8, 2008, and February 5, 2008, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on February 25, 2008, it was assigned Act No. 17-313 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 17-147 became effective on April 15, 2008.

Law 17-353, the "Technical Amendments Act of 2008", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 17-994 which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 2, 2008, and December 16, 2008, respectively.   Signed by the Mayor on January 15, 2009, it was assigned Act No. 17-687 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.   D.C. Law 17-353 became effective on March 25, 2009.

For history of Law 19-168, see notes under § 5-119.10.

For history of Law 19-171, see notes under § 5-131.03.

Miscellaneous Notes

Relocation of Engine Company No. 3: Pursuant to Resolution 5-407, the "Relocation of Engine Company No. 3 Resolution of 1983," effective November 1, 1983, the Council authorized the relocation of Engine Company No. 3.

Redesignation of fire department: See Mayor's Order 90-147, October 31, 1990.

Relocation of Engine Company No. 24 Resolution of 1994: Pursuant to Resolution 10-247, effective January 14, 1994, the Council authorized the relocation of Engine Company No. 24 of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

Closing of companies: For temporary changes in Fire and Emergency Services Department, see § 502 of the Omnibus Budget Support Emergency Act of 1995 (D.C. Act 11-44, April 28, 1995, 42 DCR 2217), and § 802 of the Omnibus Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 1995 (D.C. Act 11-124, July 27, 1995, 42 DCR 4160).

Section 802 of D.C. Law 11-52 provided that, pursuant to D.C. Law 1-111, the Council approved the following changes in the Fire and Emergency Services Department:

(1) The Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department may permanently close Rescue Squad 4, located at 4930 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., and Truck Company 1, located at 500 F Street, N.W.

(2) The Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department may rotate the closing of no more than 5 companies on a daily basis.

Section 201 of D.C. Law 11-152, provided that pursuant to § 5-401, the Council approves the change in the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department to allow it to rotate the closing of no more than 8 companies on a daily basis.

Section 404 of D.C. Law 11-198 provided that "notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department shall discontinue the rotational closing of any fire or rescue company after September 30, 1996."

Section 405 of D.C. Law 11-198 repealed § 802(2) of D.C. Law 11-52.

Section 406 of D.C. Law 11-198 repealed § 201 of D.C. Act 11-279.

Section 1001 of D.C. Law 11-198 provided that titles I, II, III, V, and VI and §§ 405 and 406 of the act shall apply after September 30, 1996.

Section 1012 of D.C. Law 13-38 provides:

"(a) The Mayor shall direct the Chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department ('Department') to establish as a funding priority for the Department, the purchase of equipment, including state of the art air masks and radios, and other articles identified in the Reconstruction Committee Report on the October 24, 1997, fire that resulted in the death of Sergeant Carter; and to implement a dual role/cross trained/firefighter/paramedic pilot program within the Department, using existing and other funds which may become available, including overtime funds, during Fiscal Year 2000.

"(b) The Mayor shall direct the Department Chief to deploy 2 Advanced Life Support Paramedics on 4 engine companies in the Department's fleet. The Mayor shall direct the Chief to utilize existing or overtime funds to implement this project. The Mayor shall direct the Department Chief to consult with the Council before he determines which 4 engine companies will participate in the pilot program."

Short title: Section 6011 of D.C. Law 19-168 provided that subtitle B of title VI of the act may be cited as "State Safety Oversight Agency Establishment Amendment Act of 2012".