In the late 1940's, from the back seat of a reserve DCFD sedan, the
canteen service was initiated and has been operated uninterruptedly to
this day. In the early 1970's, the days of the "Coffee Car" were over
when the DCFD shops built out, to the Association's specifications, the
first mobile "Coffee Shop." The unit
was disposed of in 2007 due to age and mechanical problems.
In the late 1980's, the soon-to-retire Fire Chief,
Theodore Coleman, requested the Association to draw up specifications
for a new "Canteen Unit", the result being the purchase by DCFD of a
larger, more versatile vehicle.
In 1996, the Rehab Bus was purchased, financed entirely with FFA contributions, and put into service on Inauguration Day, 1997. Up to that time, fire and rescue personnel had no place to come out of the cold or intense heat when ordered to "rehab". With the "horseshoe" (or perimeter) style seating configuration in the bus, paramedics are afforded adequate access in which to perform a thorough check of vitals. This unit has been sold to a southern fire department for continued use as a rehab vehicle.
In 1998, through the good graces of Montgomery County, Maryland's Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, the Association acquired the Squad's former Air Unit. With donated equipment, the unit was fitted out and repainted by DCF/EMS Fleet Maintenance Division. Designated the "Rehab Support Unit" and displaying "patches" of both the DCF/EMS Department and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, the unit was placed in service in March of 2000, and is used as a backup and resupply vehicle.
In 2005 the new Rehab and Canteen Units were placed in service. Those units will be quartered at Engine 5 for the foreseeable future. Activity statistics for 2007 are as follows:
121 total responses to which either the
canteen unit, rehab unit, or both
responded to. FFA provided 1418 hours of volunteer service in
performance of
these activities, and served the following:
228.5 gallons of drink mix
160.5 gallons of water
82.1 gallons of coffee
461 cups of hot chocolate
25 cups of tea
6 cups spiced cider
7787 bottles of Gatorade
3413 bottles of water
4170 assorted snack packs
155 dozen donuts
317 assorted sandwiches
20 large pizzas
Undetermined amount of fried chicken.
426 public safety personnel went thru rehab
13 civilians were given shelter.
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