Stafford County History and Fire & Rescue Department Overview

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the historical development of Stafford County and the organizational structure, history, and customs of the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department (SCFRD).

Patawomeck

The native tribe for whom Stafford County was home; they used the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers as major trade routes.

1608

The year Captain John Smith explored and documented the area that would become Stafford County.

1613

The year Pocahontas was captured by English colonists in present-day Stafford.

1664

The year Stafford County was officially established, originally as part of Westmoreland County.

Government Island

A location in Stafford from which stone was used in the construction of the White House and the Capital building.

Ferry Farm

The location along the Rappahannock river that served as George Washington's boyhood home.

Trail to Freedom

The name given to the movement of a large number of enslaved people who crossed into Union lines in Stafford seeking liberty after the Union victory at Fredericksburg.

Burned Record County

A designation for Stafford County due to the destruction or theft of two-thirds of its pre-Civil War records, including deeds and marriage registers, by the Union Army.

1917

The year construction began on the Quantico Marine base, which led to a population explosion and increased diversity in Stafford.

December 18, 1964

The specific date the Stafford section of $I-95$ was completed, leading to a shift toward being a commuter county.

Stafford County Area Stats

The county covers a total of $280.1\,sq\,miles$, consisting of $268.5$ of land and $11.6$ of water.

Falmouth Volunteer Fire Department

Established in $1941$, this was Stafford’s first fire house.

Walter P. ‘Bill’ Quesenberry

The first elected Fire Chief of the Falmouth volunteer Fire department.

Department of Emergency Services (DES)

The organization developed between the late $1970s$ and $1990s$ as the first step toward a unified county fire service.

September 20, 2005

The date the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department was officially created as a combination career-volunteer system.

Medic 6

The first fully staffed $24hr$ career apparatus under the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department.

SCFRD Core Values

Courage, Respect, Integrity, Service, and Pride.

Paramilitary

A term defining a group of civilians organized in a military fashion; SCFRD utilizes this through training, discipline, chain of command, and Esprit de corps.

Lieutenant

A frontline supervisor responsible for a company level unit.

Captain

A frontline supervisor responsible for a company level unit, management of a fire station, and/or EMS supervision.

Battalion Chief

A rank responsible for multiple companies, administrative duties, and staffing for their shift; there are $2$ per shift.

Deputy Chief

The shift commander and direct representative of the County Fire Chief, responsible for Training and EMS Divisions.

Assistant Chief

A rank responsible for command level units such as Operations, Administrative, or Support Services.

County Fire Chief

The senior officer within the Fire Department who reports directly to the County Administrator and Board of Supervisors.

‘Direct’

A communication term used to mean ‘I understand and will carry out the instructions.’

Guidon

A small flag pennant carried to represent a unit; it is handled with utmost respect and stays with the class at all times.

Position of Attention

A drill position where heels are together, feet are at $45\,degrees$, arms hang with thumbs along trouser seams, and the recruit remains silent and still.

Parade Rest

A modified drill position where the left hand is placed against the back with the right hand inside it, and the right thumb lightly grasps the left thumb.

National Ensign

The American flag, which should never be dipped, never touch the ground, and only be flown between sunrise and sunset (unless illuminated).