STATter 911: Teenager Set on Fire Inside MD Firehouse. Two Volunteer Firefighters Suspended. Criminal and Internal Investigations are Underway.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Teenager Set on Fire Inside MD Firehouse. Two Volunteer Firefighters Suspended. Criminal and Internal Investigations are Underway.

Watch story on the investigation from 9News Now at 6:00 p.m.

STATter 911 has learned investigations are underway into how a teenager was burned inside a Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department station.

According to numerous sources, an alcohol-based foam, normally used as a disinfectant, was sprayed on the teenager and then ignited. He suffered a small burn to his back after his clothing caught fire. The sources are all familiar with the investigations, but are not authorized to speak publicly about the incident.

The teenager is believed to be a 17-year-old from Pennsylvania and, according to the sources, had hoped to become a volunteer with the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department (PGFD Station 7). He was being allowed to ride-along in anticipation of the membership. The incident occurred inside the firehouse on Queensbury Road two weekends ago.

Sources at Riverdale describe the incident as rough-housing between the teen and two Riverdale volunteers. Other sources say it is also being investigated as a possible hazing incident. Two volunteer firefighters have been suspended.

Riverdale's Volunteer Chief Vince Harrison told STATter 911, "We are conducting a thorough investigation and we consider any allegations like this very serious."

Chief Harrison said he could not make further comment on the advice of Riverdale's attorney.

Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department spokesman Mark Brady confirmed both internal and criminal investigations are underway, but also could not comment further.

Prince George's County Public Safety Director Vernon Herron said it is still unclear what was behind the incident.

Herron said, "Hazing is not a part of our membership procedure or training." Herron said if it turns out this was a hazing incident it will be "dealt with severely".

According to sources, county officials became aware of the incident when the teenager visited another fire station.

Sources at Riverdale say volunteers there befriended the teenager after he arrived with little clothing and money.

The sources say the teenager's grandmother had given permission for him to join the Riverdale Department. The boy claims to have been a volunteer in Pennsylvania. He has now returned to Pennsylvania.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 6:09 PM

Comments:

What a bunch of morons. Nothing else would be expected out of a volunteer firehouse in PG. I hope the family sues and takes it all.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 27, 2007 6:31 AM

Vince, I'd like you to meet Mike

# posted by

Anonymous : September 27, 2007 10:15 AM

Those kids from Pennsylvania have been comming to PG hoping to catch fire for years. One finally succeeded.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 27, 2007 4:05 PM

What's next? Lighting their farts in the day room?

# posted by

Anonymous : September 27, 2007 6:39 PM

Do your homework on this person. He has been thrown out of several departments in Md and Pa already.He also likes to assault his grandparents on a regular basis. He is a walking time bomb.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 28, 2007 11:57 AM

What a bunch of morons. Nothing else would be expected out of a volunteer firehouse in PG. I hope the family sues and takes it all.

Well I take it you are like many others who hide thier names, But call us what you want I know you are PERFECT in everyway!! But to wish what you have shows me you are nothing more then a work of art and I hope you sleep well. But to others Tune in the town meeting this Monday and I will be there ready to answer any and all ?'s about this incident.

Thanks Dave for Reporting what I said correctly and as promised when ALL the facts are in I will let you know

Thanks
Vince Harrison
Chief Riverdale FD

# posted by

Anonymous : September 28, 2007 12:54 PM

I don't believe these comments.It was roughhousing or playtime gone a bit far by accident.
Do you REALLY think it was intentionel for his clothes to catch on fire?? Was it a "Proper" thing to do? Not really!
But think back on some stuff YOU did back in the day.....Doesn't appear THAT BAD now,does it??
Hypocrites,Inc. want you'll as members!

# posted by

fd141 : September 29, 2007 1:51 PM

To the perso who wrote in talking about stability and more on the injury. If you will write me at dstatter@wusa9.com I will explain why I had to reject your post. I would also like to ask you a question.

Statter

# posted by

Dave Statter : September 29, 2007 3:59 PM

It's so amusing to read this blog and the watchdesk. I get to see so called professional people doing dumb things on a regular basis. But this time it went past stupid to straight up an illegal act. Whether this guy was a "trouble maker from Pa. or not, this typre of behavior should not be tolerated. Hey Vince have you called PGFD Fire Investigators yet to "assist" you in your investigations? Something tells me no...I hope all personnel involved are suspended/terminated. Thanks...

# posted by

Anonymous : September 29, 2007 6:00 PM

My question is to the earlier post that alluded to the fact the kid was "a bad seed". If he was as bad as the post alluded to, why did they even let this kid hang around? Sounds to me like a prank gone bad and the perpetators are looking to cover their asses since this was exposed to the public and not swept under the rug like 99% of the things that occur on a daily basis in the local firehouses.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 29, 2007 10:45 PM

Part of the problem is the proper screening of applicants. This isn't only a volunteer issue.

Doing stupid things in the firehouse isn't only a volunteer issue.

Having substandard people in the firehouse isn't only a volunteer issue.

If you think it is, you aren't being honest with yourself.

For the Chief, I hope you attach enough importance to this unsafe act. Rough housing, hazing, hateful prank jokes have no place in the fire service today. It should not and cannot be tolerated by leaders. Please take a honest look into this and make the right if not hard decisions to ensure such activities aren't repeated in your station. If we as volunteers wish to be treated and considered as "professionals", we need to act like it to deserve it.

As far as the career folks go, you must also act professional in order to deserve the title.

Otherwise, you are nothing more than pay check collector and in the same boat as the volunteer tick. Neither deserve the title of professional.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 29, 2007 11:15 PM

Lets be real, he can't ask for help investigating his own people on something this serious. If he did he would be as much a sellout as Chief 9 is.

This is about hanging your hat on the excuse that it was "just horseplay by volunteers" I mean be honest Volunteers in PG County being professional and doing the right things to serve the public.

Maybe they should have never dropped the kid off at a sell out station, but do you really think this kid was going to let them get away with this.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 29, 2007 11:35 PM

Calling an Investigator or Fire Marshal is not that far fetched. Those clowns should be charged with aggrevated assault, attempted homicide and arson.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 29, 2007 11:59 PM

To the Volunteer Chief, if you truly are a leader.....ACT LIKE IT!!Spouting off on a blog is not a sign of a leader.

# posted by

Anonymous : September 30, 2007 10:00 AM

It is easy to see that folks on here do not exercise. They get too much excercise jumping to conclusions. There is not one firefighter on here that has not played a prank on someone at the firehouse and had it go to far! So just save me from the self rightous bit!!!

# posted by

Anonymous : September 30, 2007 8:38 PM

1) Lighting an applicant on fire
2)Running a working fire and not picking up the line OR laying your own
3)Trying to be another 33-PRICELESS

# posted by

Anonymous : October 1, 2007 12:07 AM

Prince George's County Public Safety Director Vernon Herron said it is still unclear what was behind the incident.

Herron said, "Hazing is not a part of our membership procedure or training." Herron said if it turns out this was a hazing incident it will be "dealt with severely".

Does the Fire Chief from Prince George’s County have anything to say or is the County’s Public Safety Director running the show?

# posted by

Anonymous : October 1, 2007 5:57 PM

After listening to this so called chief on tv, I see that he and his crew are an embarrassment to the fire department. Time for some new leadership.

# posted by

Anonymous : October 2, 2007 6:18 AM