Operations Division The Operations Division is the largest division in the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS).  The Operations Division provides all-hazards emergency response services to residents and visitors in the District of Columbia. The Operations Division is comprised of 33 neighborhood stations and a marine unit located on the waterfront. Neighborhood stations are strategically located throughout the District, ensuring that FEMS resources can get to almost any location in the city within three to fire minutes. FEMS operational resources include 37 EMS transport units, 33 engine companies, 16 ladder trucks, three heavy-rescue squads, one hazardous materials unit, and one fire boat company. All FEMS operational resources provide basic life support (BLS) services and are staffed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) equipped with Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs).  In addition, 17 of the transport units and 19 of the engine companies are staffed by paramedics providing advanced life support (ALS) care. The Operations Division responds to over 150,000 incidents a year, an average of 421 a day.  Employees in the Operations Division work on one of four platoons or shifts. The stations are grouped into six battalions. Each battalion is commanded by a battalion fire chief. The entire division is commanded by four deputy fire chiefs, each assigned to one of four platoons.