State confirms probe of Petersburg fire department; union, city at odds over fleet repairs

PETERSBURG — The state is investigating Petersburg's fire and emergency services department reportedly over allegations raised by the local firefighters union that the city is insufficiently protected against fires.

Marian Hunter, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Emergency Medical Services, confirmed her agency is investigating the city but would not say why.

"There is an active investigation and we cannot share any details at this time," Hunter wrote in an email to The Progress-Index. "As soon as the investigation is completed we can provide additional information upon request."

No timetable was immediately available on when that probe would be finished.

News of the investigation comes as Petersburg and Local 2773 of the Professional Firefighters Association are disputing the current state of the department and its vehicle fleet. City administration maintains that the department is operating "with no expected lapses in service," while the union counters that two of the most important vehicles in the fleet are parked because they are unusable now.

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"An operational firefighting vehicle fleet is vital to protecting Petersburg's residents and visitors," the union said in a social-media post over the weekend. "Addressing readiness of firefighting vehicles should not have to be based on attention from regulatory authorities and news media."

That post reflected both the state EMS investigation and a report last week by a Richmond television station that there was only one operational fire engine available for several hours on Friday, June 3.

In a follow-up post, the union released a statement noting that its two aerial-ladder trucks are sidelined with repair needs, "thus significantly reducing the capability to rescue occupants at residential and commercial fires." Because of that, firefighters have been forced to respond to fires using ambulances, according to the union.

Regarding when the trucks will be back on the road, the union said repair "has been significantly delayed."

The city and the union that represents its firefighters are at odds over routine maintenance of Petersburg's blaze-battling equipment, with the city calling service "operational with no expected lapses in service" and the union claiming that is not the case.

On the other side, the city is discounting the union's claims.

"The Petersburg Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services is operational with no expected lapse in service," city spokesperson Joanne Williams wrote in an email. Williams said the city has spent $500,000 this year on fleet repairs.

Petersburg Fire/EMS has four engines and two EMS ambulances currently in operation, according to the city. A fifth engine was scheduled for state inspection Monday and was expected to be back on the road Tuesday, and appointments have been made for all current vehicles whose inspections expire at the end of June.

Additionally, there is one engine on loan to Petersburg from Colonial Heights, Williams said.

As for the insufficient safety claims from the union, the city has cited mutual aid agreements with surrounding localities and Fort Lee for backup should it be deemed necessary.

"When assistance is needed by any of these localities to fight fires, aid is always available," Williams wrote in the email. She added that Petersburg Fire/EMS assisted Prince George County with a structure fire there and was still able to respond to a simultaneous report of a fire in the city.

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Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist and daily news coach for USA TODAY Network's Atlantic Region which includes Virginia. He is based in Petersburg, Virginia. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Virginia confirms probe of Petersburg's fire and EMS department