Arlington Fire Chief Don Crowson recently presented the department's Fiscal Year 2020 annual report to the City Council, highlighting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic response, proactive fire prevention efforts, emergency preparedness planning, and other priorities designed to keep the 99-square-mile city safe.
Crowson said he is immensely proud of the innovative, data-driven and compassionate response by the department to handle unprecedented challenges that arose during the coronavirus pandemic. Highlights include:
• The City’s early coronavirus response included conducting COVID-19 testing for the vulnerable populations in nursing homes and implementing strategies, such as decontamination and patent isolation, to prevent the spread of the virus to residents and employees at those facilities.
• The department also established COVID-19 protocols early on to help keep businesses open as well as began operating a drive-thru community COVID-19 testing site in East Arlington.
• Other efforts included establishing public health and safety protocols for both public facilities and special events, including high school graduation ceremonies, the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the World Series.
• Distributing protective face masks to businesses and residents.
• Providing educational materials in English, Spanish and Vietnamese throughout the community.
• The Department operated an emergency COVID-19 mass vaccination center between December 2020 and April 2021 in an effort to protect public health and reduce the strain on the local hospital system. More than 89,600 vaccines were administered during that time frame, including teachers and school employees with Arlington ISD, Kennedale ISD and Mansfield ISD.
• Arlington fire fighters also assisted with the Community Vaccination Center, which provided more than 131,200 COVID-19 vaccines at Globe Life Field, Esports Stadium Arlington and AT&T Stadium.
• The Fire Department has now opened a Point of Distribution facility to continue its targeted community vaccination efforts, which include churches, people who are home-bound with health issues, and other vulnerable populations and underserved communities.
The Arlington Fire Department is a people-oriented service organization focused on helping those in need. Responding with compassion is among its core values, Crowson said.
“In many cases, we are the only safety net or option a citizen may have when they are in a desperate or hopeless situation. It’s our willingness to follow through on problem resolution that makes a difference here in the Arlington Fire Department,” Crowson said. “Our words and actions show we are an organization that cares.”
Click here to read the Arlington Fire Department's FY20 Annual Report.
Data in Action, Champion Great Neighborhoods, Coronavirus
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