by Mike Sanders

Fairfax County has recently taken delivery of a new HAZMAT Squad that will be assigned to Fire Station 440 in Fairfax Center.

HAZMAT 440 is a 2009 Pierce Velocity with a 30′ custom built command, research, and equipment body. It is powered by a 515hp Detroit diesel series 60 engine and also has a Will-Burt light tower. The Fairfax County HAZMAT team consists of a two piece company located at Fire Station 440 and several heavy squads that specialize in HAZMAT support located throughout the county.

The original HAZMAT company was established in Fairfax County during the 1983 time period when Fire Station 34 in Oakton was opened. The very first HAZMAT squad was an interesting 1963 GMC/Reading that quickly became loaded down with equipment. The 1963 GMC was originally a rescue truck for the Mt. Vernon volunteers. A former heavy squad for the county (Squad 11 – 1980 Ford L/3D Metals) was modified for HAZMAT 34 in 1984, and provided some additional storage space.

In the early 1990′s, the HAZMAT team became a true two piece company, with a large HAZMAT unit and a large support unit. Prior to that time, a pick up truck ran with the HAZMAT unit to carry some of the larger equipment. A 1990 E-One Hush and a 1991 International/Hackney were delivered. Finally, in 2003 the county placed into service a large Spartan/Marion HAZMAT squad and a 2004 Spartan/SuperVac as the support unit. In 2006, the HAZMAT team was moved from Fire Station 34 in Oakton to the current Fire Station 440 in Fairfax Center (near the Training Academy).