The Code of Virginia Chapter 37. Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) § 2.2-3700. Policy provides access to citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia to public records and meetings, as defined in the act.  The act provides access to representatives of the media with circulation in the Commonwealth and representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into the Commonwealth. 

FOIA Request

Requests for media, news, and other FOIA should be directed to the Fire and Rescue Department’s (FRD) FOIA Section via email at fire.foia@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The FRD provides access to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Records, EMS Bill, and/or Fire Incident Reports (FIR).

EMS Records and Billing Request 

To request EMS and billing records, you or your representative must complete the forms below.

In cases where the patient is deceased, the HIPAA Complaint Authorization form must be completed and signed by the patient’s legal representative.  The legal representative is required to provide documentation that verifies their authority, such as a Power of Attorney or a Letter of Qualification, as mandated by VA Code § 32.1-127.1:03(E).

Forms

·         FOIA Records Request Form

·         HIPAA Complaint Authorization 

**The FOIA Section provides records and bill statements only; we will not accept or waive any payments** 

EMS Billing Payments 

For specific EMS billing inquiries or to provide insurance or payment information for your transport, you may contact the following:

**The FOIA Section will provide records and bill statements; however, we will not accept or waive any payments under any circumstances.**

Payments can be mailed to:

For billing or insurance questions, you may contact Digitech Computer LLC 

• Phone – 1-800-248-2262, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
• Email – (Fairfaxcountyfrd@payambulance.com).
• Patient Portal –  Digitech Fire and Rescue Department Patient Portal. 

For more information, you may visit the Emergency Medical Services Transport Billing page.

FIR Records  

Reports on incidents such as house or structure fires, vehicle fires, hazardous material (HazMat) events, motor vehicle collisions, water damage, gas leaks, and public service calls can be obtained by submitting a FOIA Record Request Form. 

For any questions or information requests, feel free to reach us via email at Fire.foia@fairfaxcounty.gov or by phone at 703-246-3870.

Office of the Fire Marshal’s Records

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) maintains records for fire and building inspection reports, notices of violation, plans and shop drawings, hazardous materials storage tank records, hazardous materials and environmental assessments, and fire investigation reports.  To submit a records request to the OFM, please visit the Office of the Fire Marshal Records Request.

Payments

Code of Virginia § 2.2-3704(F) and § 2.2-3704(H) allow the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) to charge reasonable fees, which cannot exceed the actual costs incurred for accessing, duplicating, supplying, or searching for the requested records.  The FRD may require payment before processing your request if the estimated costs exceed $200.  Please note that checks returned for insufficient funds may incur a $35.00 fee.

SUBPOENAS

Duces Tecum

Subpoena Duces Tecum requests issued for FRD records must include the following in accordance with Code of Virginia §32.1-127.1:03. Health Records Privacy.  Notice to Health Care Entities, Providers, and Notice to Patient Direct subpoenas to the following service address: 

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department 
Attn: FOIA Section 
12099 Government Center Parkway 
Fairfax VA 22035

Witness Subpoenas

If you are submitting a witness subpoena related to fire and rescue incidents, it must be sent to the Public Safety Headquarters FOIA Section.  We kindly ask that you submit all subpoenas at least 10 business days before the trial whenever possible.  Please note that the department cannot accept any subpoenas submitted with less than 48 hours' notice.  The subpoena must include the employee's full and correct name to ensure it reaches the correct employee on time for the trial.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department 
Attn: FOIA Section 
12099 Government Center Parkway 
Fairfax VA 22035

Interview Request Procedure

Requests for interviews with fire station personnel regarding a specific incident must follow the outlined directions in the Interview Request Procedures.