FY2017 Arlington Fire Department Annual Report FY 2017 | Page 33

I
n the fall of 2017, AFD sent
numerous firefighters to southeast
Texas
to
provide
emergency
response assistance associated with
the impact of Hurricane Harvey.
Arlington’s multifaceted response
included firefighters deployed as
part of the Texas Taskforce 1 Urban
Search and Rescue team. A second
team
of
Arlington
Firefighters
responded as a part the Texas
Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System
(TIFMAS)
and
partnered
with
TIFMAS teams from Austin and Fort
Worth
Fire
Departments.
The
Arlington TIFMAS team served communities along the Texas coast by clearing roads and
supporting logistics for the State in the City of Rockport and other local communities.
Additionally, AFD sent three
engine
companies
and
a
command unit, along with other
local north Texas city fire
departments, to provide fire
and
emergency
medical
services in southeast Texas.
Arlington Fire units specifically
served in the city of Houston by
operating out of Houston Fire
stations on the city’s westside
where significant flooding had
occurred. Locally, the AFD
Office of Emergency Management established an evacuation shelter at Lake Arlington
Baptist Church for potential evacuees. Fortunately, the shelter was not activated, but the
City of Arlington was ready to assist in
shelter operations if needed. Arlington
also participated as part of the State’s
disaster response plan by serving as the
“Vehicle
Replenishment
Point”
(at
Arlington Municipal Airport) for all buses
serving North Texas city shelters. This
event illustrates the fact that the AFD
team is a group of “can do” professionals
ready to solve all types of problems/
issues for those in need. We were
honored to be a part of a statewide
solution that helped our fellow Texans in
a time of need.
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