Planning staff in collaboration with County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management (FREM) have reviewed and proposed updates to the draft FREM Section of the Comprehensive Plan's Public Facilities Element. The draft amendments are attached in redline markup format to clearly identify where amendments have been proposed.  Corresponding new draft maps have also been attached. Due to the section’s specialized focus, County FREM staff will be present during the meeting should technical or operational questions arise. 

The draft includes a summary of existing facilities and status of a number of existing services within the County and region. These updates show progress since the last Comprehensive Plan FREM update in 2013.

Considering existing facilities, as part of this update staff has improved depiction of the 5- Mile response zones for existing facilities with use of FireView Software as noted within the Section update. FireView has enabled depiction of response distances based on road miles travelled as opposed to “as the crow flies” 5-mile buffers around FREM stations. This more accurately depicts underserved areas to help target areas for future service improvements. This improved depiction of response areas has resulted in a reduction in reported county-wide service coverage from 90% of the County to 67% of the County.

This update also considers and incorporates by reference the George Washington Region Hazard Mitigation Plan (last updated in February, 2018). The Plan is updated on a 5-year cycle with coordination led by the George Washington Regional Commission. The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors endorsed the current iteration of the Plan in October, 2017. That Plan contains detailed study and recommendations concerning locality specific and regional hazards resulting from flooding, tornadoes, drought, hurricanes, and a variety of other emergencies.

Short term and long term goals are aimed at identifying FREM service and capital facility improvements to improve levels of service. Considerate of the Code of Virginia Sect. 15.2-2232 that links Capital projects additions to the Comprehensive Plan. From 15.2-2232:

…unless a feature is already shown on the adopted master plan or part thereof or is deemed so under subsection D, no street or connection to an existing street, park or other public area, public building or public structure, public utility facility or public service corporation facility other than a railroad facility or an underground natural gas or underground electric distribution facility of a public utility as defined in subdivision (b) of § 56-265.1 within its certificated service territory, whether publicly or privately owned, shall be constructed, established or authorized, unless and until the general location or approximate location, character, and extent thereof has been submitted to and approved by the commission as being substantially in accord with the adopted comprehensive plan or part thereof.