FCVFD - Incident Photos
Emergency Vehicle Operator Course
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Description
Six Falls Church personnel were joined by two Cherrydale VFD members in the completion of the 16-hour VDFP/VAVRS Emergency Vehicle Operator Course. The course was led by AFCVRS Chief Tony Schloss with assistance from EMT Frank Bellavia and FCVFD Assistant Chief Pat Evinger. Classroom instruction consisted of defensive driving theories, vehicle dynamics, motor vehicle laws, and operator responsibilities. In addition to the classroom, students were required to complete practical exercises on a course and on public roadways. The practical course consisted of five obstacles that were navigated with each type of vehicle for which the students sought certification: diminishing clearance, perpendicular backing, offset-alley, parallel parking, and serpentine. Each obstacle is designed to test various skills required of an emergency vehicle operator and to familiarize the student with the size and handling characteristics of the vehicle. Many thanks to the Falls Church Sheriff's Office for the use of their traffic control trailer that supplied our cones for the practical evolutions. Also a thank you to WMATA for permission to set up our course in the parking lot at the West Falls Church Metro Station.
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