City Manager Lawrence D. Hughes and several members of the Manassas City
Council hosted a "kick-off" breakfast for the new department at City Tavern
this morning.
The Department provides fire and EMS personnel on three 24-hour shifts to
staff an engine, medic units, and a specialized rescue squad. Members also
provide staffing for a tower ladder from 7:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
Volunteers from the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company and Greater Manassas
Rescue Squad provide additional staffing at night, and on weekends, and
holidays.
The city created a new fire district and added a 10-cent fire and rescue
levy to the 2009 budget in order to help finance the new department.
In March of 2008, the city council approved the immediate hiring of five
firefighters, a fire and rescue chief and an administrative associate IV.
Eleven more fire and rescue positions were approved for funding in the 2009
budget but will not be hired until the new chief develops and presents an
action plan for the department.
The city is currently reviewing applications for the chief's position and city manager Lawrence D. Hughes expects to fill the position by late summer.