WASHINGTON — The region’s fire departments will continue to staff a position in Metro’s troubled rail control center on a part-time basis for several more months.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on Wednesday was expected to approve D.C. grant money to keep the position filled through September.
Since shortly after smoke filled a Metro train near L’Enfant Plaza last year killing one rider and sending dozens more to the hospital, the region’s fire departments have had a seat in Metro’s Rail Operations Control Center to make sure the right response goes to the right place at the right time when there is smoke or fire in the rail system.
A lack of funding put the fire staff position in jeopardy despite wide agreement that staffing a representative of the fire services in the rail control center has been helpful in assisting Metro riders and ensuring that first responders aren’t pulled away from other calls unnecessarily. The position has been staffed 16 hours per weekday.
The region’s fire chiefs have asked to expand coverage to all day, every day. But finding the funding for the position has been a challenge.
Initially, Metro paid for the position to get it started. One person from Fairfax County Fire and one from Prince George’s County Fire have been filling the role for months.
A further regional deal will be required by the fall to keep the position in place beyond September or to expand it to cover weekends or other times of day.
