Dave Statter
STATter911.com
LARGO, Md. — A little more than a decade ago there were three operating firehouses in the approximately two-mile stretch between Boulevard Heights and Capitol Heights in Prince George’s County, Maryland. During the weekday, daylight hours, those stations were staffed by 12 of the approximately 800 or so career firefighters employed by the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.
Today, the number of career firefighters in the county is hovering around the 700 mark and the two remaining firehouses in the area (Hillside fire station at 1234 Larchmont Avenue closed after the volunteer corporation went bankrupt) are staffed with a career crew of six. Of that six, only four firefighters, and at times just two, will be available to respond aboard a fire truck. After 3:00 PM today, that career staffing is scheduled to go down to only two, and both of them are assigned exclusively to handle calls aboard a paramedic ambulance.
A spokesman for PGFD confirmed this morning that this is the new reality the department is forced to live with after overtime spending was cut by more than 75-percent. Previously the department had been paying approximately $250,000 in overtime each two-week pay period. The current budget is around $60,000.
Acting Chief Eugene Jones and his bosses in Upper Marlboro have mandated that the department live within its budget.
Major Derrick Lea said starting today, and through July 1, there will be a rotating removal of career staffing from fire stations throughout the county.
Today’s shuffling of firefighters closes the fireboat operation at National Harbor and leaves the potential for firehouses in Riverdale, Bowie and Capitol Heights unable to respond to emergencies. Major Lea confirms the ability to answer emergency calls will depend on what volunteer staffing is available.
Sources confirm that many of the notifications to volunteer chiefs their station would not be staffed came as late as 11:30 PM last night. A previous overtime reduction plan provided a schedule with a long lead time to allow volunteers time to muster staffing for dates where career firefighters would not be available.
West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Alter, who is chairman of the Prince George’s County Fire Commission, said Wednesday morning, “I understand the financial pressure the department is under, but would like to see them provide more notice to volunteer managers so we can arrange for coverage.”
Major Lea says the department is paying close attention to staffing levels and deployment of firefighters in an effort to make sure the citizens of the county are adequately protected. He points out that neighboring fire stations will cover where staffing has been removed.
When asked about the delays this will cause in an emergency situation, where officials have long told the public every second counts, Major Lea responded that the department is “being forced to do more with less,” but that “serving the citizens is still the priority.”
Major Lea also confirms that a new staffing plan is about to be released for the fiscal year starting July 1. While details have not been made public, Lea says it will involve the removal of career firefighters from a number of stations around the county. Those firefighters will be moved to other stations where staffing will be beefed up.
Chief Alter said he wants to see an equitable staffing plan that does not leave large holes in coverage.
There are also potential contract issues with IAFF Local 1619 that requires minimum station staffing of four during the hour of 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday to Friday. At the moment Stations 805 (Capitol Hieghts) and 819 (Bowie) are left with just two firefighters who will be assigned only to the ambulance.
Major Lea confirmed the following moves in place for today (reported earlier on STATter911.com):
1. Fireboat 858 (National Harbor) not staffed (this has been a regular cutback in recent days).
2. All four career firefighters from Station 807 (Riverdale) removed (7:00 AM -3:00 PM).
3. Two firefighters removed from Station 805 (Capitol Heights) leaving just two to run the paramedic ambulance only.
4. Two firefighters removed from Station 819 (Bowie) with orders for the remaining two to run the ambulance only during the day.
5. Station 838 (Chapel Oaks) already had career staffing removed after 7:00 PM as part of a scheduled overtime reduction plan where volunteers would make up staffing.
6. Station 817 (Boulevard Heights) has four career firefighters during the day, but has already had career firefighters removed permanently on nights and weekends. The volunteers are also restricted to the first due area because of PGFD’s concerns about the station’s inability to respond to emergency calls.