By Dave Statter
STATter911.com
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — For more than 120-years Prince George’s County has been protected by volunteer firefighters. The first volunteer fire company was incorporated in Upper Marlboro in 1887. Over much of that time, the volunteer firehouse has been a political and social center for many communities. Now, leaders of the Prince George’s County Fire & Rescue Association believe the end is near.
Vice-president Bill Smith tells 9NEWS NOW a series of recent moves by Prince George’s County officials has cut off the main sources of revenue that support the volunteer departments. According to Smith, “We are looking at the demise of the volunteer system”.
The most recent problem is the county’s efforts to change how state grant money is given to the volunteers. A state audit prompted the county to correct a number of problems. Previously the money had been disbursed in equal amounts to each company. Now it will be given only when a volunteer corporation can prove a need for the capital expenditure.
Smith is concerned that Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Chief Lawrence Sedgwick Jr. will control the money and leave some stations with the inability to make payments on fire apparatus.
Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady denies that anyone will be left “high and dry”, but confirms there will now be more “county oversight in the way grant money is allocated”. Brady adds, “It is premature to say Chief Sedgwick will be the sole grantor of funds”.
Volunteer organizations own most of the firehouses and fire trucks in Prince George’s County. Since the early 1960s the volunteers have worked alongside paid, career firefighters working out of the volunteer fire stations. While a small number of stations in the county do not have career firefighters, most operate with both paid and volunteer staffing. In the 1970s the county fire chief was given operational authority over fire protection.
Smith claims the grant money is just the latest way county officials have cut off sources of revenue for the volunteers. He points to a recent decision by County Executive Jack Johnson stopping volunteer companies from billing for ambulance service. The money now goes into the county’s general fund.
Since last year some volunteer corporations have been fighting the county over renting fire halls for fund raisers. Despite the halls being used for decades, the county says many of the departments lack proper permits for such activities.
While the volunteers feel they are being squeezed for money, Chief Sedgwick has give them new responsibilities. An order last Thursday directs the volunteers to fill-in shifts to avoid paying overtime money to career firefighters. Sources tell 9NEWS NOW it also expected a similar method will be used to cover for the possible furlough of firefighters.
County officials are reported to be making plans to furlough firefighters and other employees due to a $48 million budget gap.
Bill Smith says, “On the same day the county is taking money from us they are asking us to do more”.