What Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department does

The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (DC FEMS) is a municipal government agency providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, and rescue capabilities to Washington, D.C. The department operates from 33 firehouses staffed 24/7/365 with a workforce of approximately 2,100 personnel, including 1,600 Firefighter EMTs certified as National Registered EMTs and nearly 300 paramedics who are also firefighters. Operational assets include 33 engine companies, 16 ladder trucks, 17 paramedic-staffed medic units, 22 basic life support ambulances, plus specialized rescue squads, a hazardous materials unit, and a fireboat — enabling 21 paramedic engine companies to deliver advanced life support within 4–6 minutes for nearly 80% of life-threatening emergencies.

Name

Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department

Legal name

District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department

Website

https://fems.dc.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department is the municipal fire/EMS agency for Washington, D.C., providing fire suppression, advanced life support, rescue, and prevention services through 33 firehouses and approximately 2,100 dual-trained firefighter-EMTs and paramedics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tax-funded Operations: Primary funding from District of Columbia tax revenues to support fire protection, rescue capabilities, and emergency medical services.
2. Ambulance Transport Fees: Fees charged for ambulance transport services. As of October 2025: BLS, ALS-1, and ALS-2 transport at $1,750 (increasing to $2,000 January 2026); Ground transport mileage at $26.25 per loaded mile (increasing to $30.00 January 2026). Insurance payments offset approximately $1 out of every $8 spent on EMS.
3. Special Event Services: Contracted EMS service, fire suppression, mass casualty, command and control, fire and life safety, and water safety services for public and private events in the District.
4. Fire Inspection and Permit Fees: Business fire inspection fees and operational permits for hazardous operations including fireworks, pyrotechnics, blasting, assembly events, and open flame permits.
5. CPR Training Fees: Certification courses for CPR, AED, First Aid with fees ranging from $40-$85 per course. Healthcare provider certification at $75.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DC FEMS is a municipal government agency that provides fire suppression, emergency medical services (BLS and ALS), rescue and hazardous materials response, and fire prevention services to the District of Columbia. The department's core offering includes 911-dispatched fire and EMS response from 33 firehouses using engine companies, ladder trucks, medic units, BLS ambulances, and specialized units, supplemented by the Prehospital Whole Blood Program, fire inspections, permit issuance, CPR/AED training, community risk reduction programs, and contracted special event services.

Product overview

DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department is a government emergency services agency providing fire protection, emergency medical services, and rescue capabilities across the District of Columbia. The department operates 33 engine companies, 16 ladder trucks, 17 medic units (paramedic-staffed ambulances), and 22 basic life support ambulances from 33 firehouses. The agency's product portfolio centers on core emergency response services supplemented by community health programs (Blood Pressure Screening, Hands on Hearts CPR AED Program, Free Smoke Alarms), fire prevention (Fire Safety Education, Juvenile Firesetter's Intervention, Business/Fire Prevention Inspections), emergency medical programs (Prehospital Whole Blood Program, AED Incentive Program), and administrative services (Ambulance Billing, FOIA/HIPAA Records, Special Events Support). Key divisions include Fire and EMS Operations, Office of the Fire Marshal, State Safety Oversight, and Media/Community Relations. The department employs approximately 2,100 personnel including 1,600 Firefighter EMTs and nearly 300 paramedics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prehospital Whole Blood Program Early blood transfusion by paramedics for trauma patients with severe hemorrhage, using low-titer Type O whole blood sourced from American Red Cross and stored at George Washington University Hospital. Pediatric protocols for patients older than one year developed with Children's National Hospital. As of June 22, 2026: 532 units administered, 492 patients treated, 365 lives saved, 93% survival rate (excluding traumatic cardiac arrest).
• EMS Operations 911-dispatched emergency medical services including protocols, PulsePoint AED program, opioid case data tracking, 17 medic units staffed by paramedics, and 22 basic life support ambulances staffed by EMTs, with 21 paramedic engine companies providing advanced life support within 4-6 minutes.
• Hands on Hearts CPR AED Program Free hands-only CPR training and AED awareness program for DC community members, with integration of the PulsePoint Respond mobile application to alert CPR-trained citizens to nearby cardiac emergencies and direct them to closest AED locations. 160,000+ individuals trained as of May 31, 2026.
• Blood Pressure Program Free blood pressure screening available on a walk-in basis at any DC fire station, providing community members with convenient access to basic health monitoring.
• CPR Training Program American Heart Association-certified CPR training including Healthcare Provider certification ($75), Heartsaver CPR/AED ($55), Heartsaver First Aid ($55), Heartsaver CPR/AED/First Aid combined ($85), and Healthcare Provider recertification ($55). Classes held at 4600 Livingston Road, SE.
• FEMS Fire Safety Education Community Risk Reduction initiative providing fire safety education through schools, community meetings, faith-based groups, and events. Includes interactive games, hands-on activities, virtual fire station tours, and educational resources for parents, teachers, and children.
• Free Smoke Alarms Program A'sia Sutton Smoke Alarm Giveaway and Installation Program providing free smoke alarms and installation for DC homeowners. Multi-family dwellings excluded per policy.
• AED Incentive Program Rebate program encouraging AED purchase and installation in small businesses, places of worship, and multi-unit buildings. Rebates up to $400 per AED or $750 per address with multiple AEDs.
• Fire Prevention Inspection (Residential) Residential fire safety inspections available by appointment conducted by the Firefighting Division, including an inspection report with suggestions for fire hazard removal.
• Home Fire Safety Inspection Home fire safety inspections by appointment checking for overloaded outlets, working smoke detectors, unobstructed exit routes, and street visibility.
• Business Inspection Service Fire code compliance inspections for DC businesses including retail, restaurants, nightclubs, daycares, and hazardous materials facilities. Issues operational permits for fire code compliance and is required for business license renewal.
• Juvenile Firesetter's Intervention Program Four-week intervention program for children ages 2-17 who have exhibited fire-related behavior, including education for parents and children about fire safety consequences.
• Project Safe Place

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% survival rate among whole blood treated patients (excluding traumatic cardiac arrest)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for whole blood donation and supply. Blood is donated by volunteers through the American Red Cross, screened, tested, filtered to remove white blood cells, and confirmed to have low levels of anti-A and anti-B antibodies. This partnership enables the prehospital whole blood transfusion program that has achieved 93% survival rate among treated patients.
• George Washington University HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Provides blood bank storage facility where blood units are prepared and stored. Distributes units to temperature-controlled, monitored storage devices placed in EMS supervisor units and select firehouses across the District.
• Children's National HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to develop pediatric transfusion guidelines allowing DC Fire and EMS paramedics to transfuse whole blood to children older than one year. Paramedics consult with pediatric emergency specialists before transfusing patients ages 1-15.
• Transportation Resource Associates (TRA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2013Provides subject matter experts and consultants with diverse backgrounds in public transportation, emergency preparedness, operations and maintenance, and safety and quality assurance. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, founded in 1990.
• Sasha Bruce YouthworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Manages the Project Safe Place program in the District of Columbia. When a youth in crisis comes to a DC Fire and EMS firehouse, firefighters contact the Safe Place Hotline and counselors from Sasha Bruce Youthwork provide assistance and transportation to the Sasha Bruce shelter.
• American Medical Response (AMR) / Global Medical Response (GMR)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContracted since February 2016 to perform supplemental pre-hospital medical care and transportation for basic life support calls. Operates 29 private ambulances, using up to 25 units to respond throughout the city during high-call volume periods from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fire Department of New York (FDNY): The largest municipal fire and EMS department in the United States, providing fire suppression, EMS, and rescue services to New York City. Directly comparable as a fire-based EMS system serving a dense urban jurisdiction with cross-trained personnel.
• Chicago Fire Department: Municipal fire and EMS department serving Chicago with a similarly integrated fire-based EMS model, comparable urban response challenges, and city-level tax funding. Closely parallels DC FEMS in scope of services and population served.
• American Medical Response (Global Medical Response): Private ambulance and supplemental EMS provider contracted to DC FEMS since 2016 for BLS coverage. Comparable as an EMS service operator with overlapping ambulance transport, BLS, and 911-response services.
• Miami-Dade Fire Rescue: Large combined fire and EMS department serving Miami-Dade County, providing fire suppression, EMS, rescue, and special operations. Comparable in scope, federal/municipal coordination, and integrated EMS delivery.
• Boston Fire Department: Municipal fire department providing fire suppression and EMS to Boston. Directly comparable in operating model, dual-trained personnel, and urban response environment.
• Philadelphia Fire Department: Municipal fire and EMS department in a major U.S. city with comparable operational structure, urban response challenges, and prehospital medical services. Partner of Transportation Resource Associates (TRA), which also supports DC FEMS State Safety Oversight.
• Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD): Large municipal fire department providing fire and EMS services to Los Angeles, with paramedic-staffed fire engines and advanced life support capability. Comparable in scale, dual-role staffing model, and prehospital medical innovation.
• Houston Fire Department: Major U.S. municipal fire and EMS department with comparable operational scale, response time mandates, and prehospital medical services for a large urban population.
• San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD): Municipal fire and EMS department with a notable fire-based EMS model and advanced prehospital programs. Comparable as a peer urban agency with innovative clinical programs and city-level funding.

Others

• American Red Cross: National blood supplier and core strategic partner for DC FEMS's prehospital whole blood program. Comparable as a critical ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, providing the supply chain that enables DC FEMS's signature clinical program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dcfireems
• Facebookfacebook.com/DCFireAndEMS
• Instagraminstagram.com/dcfireandems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dc-fire-and-ems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department