STATter 911

STATter 911 has learned the teenager set on fire inside a Prince George's County fire station told officials that the burning was part of an initiation and that he was warned by ranking members of the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department (PGFD Station 7) not to report the incident. STATter 911 has been made of aware of the contents of official documents that chronicle the accusations the 17-year-old boy made to county officials on September 22nd, shortly after the teen reported the incident to members of the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department (PGFD Station 9). Sources familiar with the investigation, but not allowed to speak publicly about the incident, also confirm details of the boy's statements.

According to the documents, the boy claimed two Riverdale volunteers, along with a visiting volunteer firefighter from Calvert County, MD, told him they were going to put an alcohol-based disinfectant on his arm and light it as part of an initiation. The teen said he first told the volunteers no, but then allowed them to do it. According to the boy's statement, he was then told to take off his shirt. That was when the foam was ignited on the boy's back and he received second-degree burns.

The teenager also told county officials, including fire investigators, that his hair was singed, but that he had cut off the burned hair. Bladensburg firefighters saw the scabs on the boy's lower back. The incident occurred 5 to 7 days prior to the teen's arrival at Bladensburg.

When asked why he didn't report the incident, the teen claimed he was warned by the volunteers who set him on fire not to tell anyone. The boy said he was given burn cream for his wounds. He said he was told he couldn't go to the hospital because the hospital would want to know how the burns occurred.

According to the initial statements, volunteer officers at Riverdale soon became aware of the boy's injury. The teenager claims those officers also told him not to tell anyone what had happened. The ranking volunteers then apparently reported the incident to Riverdale VFD Chief Vince Harrison. Chief Harrison told STATter 911 and the Riverdale Park Town Council earlier this month that he immediately suspended the two Riverdale volunteers involved in the incident. Those suspensions were extended to 30 days after Riverdale concluded its internal investigation.


Contacted by phone last Tuesday evening, Chief Harrison said that he has no knowledge of any of his officers covering up the incident. Harrison said if his investigation had determined such a thing happened, those people "would have been dealt with very harshly".

As far as the allegation of the incident being connected to an initiation, Chief Harrison said his department "does not do initiations" and does not allow hazing.

The teenager had come to the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department from Pennsylvania. In a previous interview, Chief Harrison said the boy contacted him about being a live-in member. Harrison said he didn't realize the boy was only 17 until he filled out an application upon his arrival at Riverdale around September 15th. Harrison told STATter 911 he received permission from the teen's grandmother before allowing him to stay at the firehouse and ride-along.

Harrison has since suspended Riverdale's ride-along program. While those between 16 and 18, who have received proper state certification, are allowed to fight fires in Prince George's County, PGFD rules, at the time of the incident, prohibited ride-alongs by those under the age of 18. As STATter 911 reported last week, the entire PGFD ride-along program was suspended on October 15th.

Chief Harrison has also had more recent contact with the boy's grandmother. Harrison said he has told her that Riverdale would take care of the medical expenses. By all accounts, the teenager did not receive treatment for his burns until Prince George's County investigators took him to the hospital.

Asked about the latest information, a PGFD spokesperson would only say that the county's criminal and internal investigations are continuing.

As for the teenager, at last word, he was back in Pennsylvania with his grandmother. The boy had been a member of at least one other Maryland fire department. According to sources, the Water Witch Fire Company expelled the boy for violating its rules governing younger members. On his MySpace.com page, the boy lists that he was a member of Water Witch in 2006.

Sources tell STATter 911 that county investigators have had additional conversations with the teenager and his grandmother. We have not been made aware of the details of those statements.

# posted by Dave Statter @ 11:41 PM