When the Call Comes In: Interview with Andrew Sauer, Rescue Lieutenant, Part II

When someone calls 911, dispatchers identify the location of the call and get a sense of the situation. Within seconds, the light panels around the station light up alerting the crew to the call. “The panels have different colored lights, which tell us which vehicles have been dispatched — blue for ambulances, red for fire […]

Interview with Andrew Sauer, Rescue Lieutenant, Part I

When Rescue Lieutenant Andrew Sauer with the Nokesville Volunteer Fire Department started volunteering, he was aiming to do something unique, build a skillset and take on a challenge. Looking back, he notes he never realized just how much work goes into staffing an ambulance or fire engine. By day, he’s an IT systems administrator for […]

Name That PWCFRS Department Quiz

Here at Prince William County Fire and Rescue System (PWCFRS), we are proud of and grateful for all of our volunteers. Each department proudly serves its surrounding areas and makes a positive difference in the lives of our citizens every day. And while all of our teams perform the same jobs, each department features a […]

Rural, Suburban and Urban Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments? Prince William County Has Them All!

We often say in Prince William County, “We have it all.” While realtors think of convenient locations and incredible amenities, volunteer firefighters and first responders interpret that a bit differently. By “all,” we mean we’ve got rural, suburban and urban areas to serve and protect — and PWC is a big county! With 336 square […]

Training All Around! Prince William Fire and Rescue System Volunteer Positions Part II

In our last blog, we discussed the many positions open to volunteers on the firefighter path. This time, we’d love to tell you more about our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) volunteer positions. As we said previously, many people hear “volunteer” and don’t realize the rigorous jobs that volunteer firefighters and rescue workers perform. Prince William […]

Training All Around! Prince William Fire and Rescue System Volunteer Positions Part I

Many people hear “volunteer” and don’t realize the rigorous jobs that volunteer firefighters and rescue workers perform. Prince William County Fire and Rescue System (PWCFRS) offers a variety of positions and advancement opportunities, providing our volunteers with extensive training and on-the-job experience. You can rise through the ranks while performing rewarding duties within our organization. […]

Women in Firefighting: A Long, Strong History

When we talk about women in firefighting, most people assume that this is a fairly recent achievement for females. But what if we told you women have actually been fighting fires for almost 200 years? Yep, it’s true. Ladies have had roles in firefighting since the 1800s. The Earliest Accounts Molly Williams, a slave in […]

Volunteer Firefighting: Rich History, Steady Service…Great for Quizzes

Did you know? Volunteer firefighting began in 1736 in Philadelphia. The man who is credited with the idea also invented bifocals and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. You might have heard of him — Benjamin Franklin. Yep, ‘ole Ben wasn’t just out flying kites to test electricity in the atmosphere; he was also brainstorming […]