VA Task Force 1 Training Center Fire Causes $1M Damage; Suspects Sought
A fire caused more than $1 million damage to the training facility of Virginia Task Force 1 over the weekend.
Fairfax County Police are looking for the six young people caught on video getting into a building where a semi-tractor-trailer and other transportation equipment were stored.
The destruction of valuable equipment came while the Urban Search and Rescue team is on deployment in earthquake-ravaged Venezuela, WJLA reported.
"This is a heavy heartbreak for me. These tools are what's used on a daily basis for our special ops here in Fairfax County. The members here that come here to train on a regular basis dedicate their time free, willingly, because it's an extra. And all of the loss that's behind is going to take a significant amount of time to repair and get back on the road to get our guys and gals on the streets to serve others," ," said Battalion Chief Rob Schoenberger told reporters at the site Monday afternoon.
He added: "I'll be honest, I'm pretty devastated. To be blunt, not necessarily for me, but the guys that are out there crushing it. Deployments like Venezuela don't happen all the time. There's folks on the team that's probably spent 10-plus years training for something like this."
Fairfax County Police Capt. Chris Cosgriff said: "We do have additional increased patrols in this area to identify any suspicious persons or activity on this siteThis is a secure site, and anyone caught trespassing this facility will be charged with trespassing."
The battalion chief added: "Nothing sets my team back."
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.