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Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department furlough plan for ALS units and supervisors. Double click to enlarge.

We have been asking Prince George's County officials for a list of furloughs showing dates, times and areas of the county where there would be reduced services. A spokesman for County Executive Jack Johnson told us last week that since firehouses would remain staffed there is no need to provide that information.

Under orders from Public Safety Director Vernon Herron, Prince George's County Fire/EMS Chief Lawrence Sedgwick Jr. modified his original plan that called for furloughing entire shifts from county firehouses. The new plan, underway since Sunday, keeps at least two firefighters on duty at any fire station where career crews are currently assigned.

While the firehouses will still be staffed with two, the schedule above and the one below, show there are emergency units that will not be operating at all because of furloughs. These schedules were not officially released and were obtained from county sources who do not want to be identified.

The schedule at the top is for PGFD's 12 medic units. It shows a minimum of two medic unit crews given eight hours off during each furlough day. That equates to at least 15 percent of the ALS ambulances off the streets.

We were reminded by a spokesman that paramedic supervisors in chase cars would help cover areas impacted by furloughs. There is also a plan to, when possible, use office staff to keep medic units on the street.

Medic 829 (Silver Hill) and Medic 812 (College Park) have been furloughed for eight hours each shift since Sunday. It is unclear what impact there has been to the public. It is clear there have been calls where ALS units would normally have been assigned, but were unavailable.

According the 2007 annual report, Medic 829 was the busiest in the county with 6,450 runs. Medic 812 was the fourth busiest with 4,865 runs.

In the email below, outlining the firefighting furloughs, you will notice the entire three member crew will be missing when Station 858 is furloughed. Station 858 is the new fire boat at the National Harbor Complex on the Potomac River.

Last Thursday night Station 858 provided the first responders to a 51-year-old man with chest pains at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. That man went into cardiac arrest in front of the fire boat crew and arriving medics. According to PGFD officials, the man was again talking with medics by the time they arrived with the patient at a local hospital.

From: Hess, Steven L.

Sent: Tue 9/30/2008 2:58 PM

To: Wells, Tyrone N.; Battalion 1; Battalion 2; Battalion 3; Battalion 4; Battalion 5; Battalion 6; Battalion 7

Cc: Forby, Tyrone C.; Joy, Lawrence E.; Andrecs, Kevin S.; Fletcher, John E.; Lamoria, Jerome F.; Thomas, Rudolph; Wood, Dennis C.; Ferreira, Victor N.; Wrenn, Miriam J.

Subject: Furlough Schedule for Cycle 1

This email is being sent on behalf of Lieutenant Colonel Wells. In accordance with All Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel Memo #08-22, the following schedule is being distributed to provide as much advanced notice as possible for notification for the respective units and volunteer leadership. All furloughs will commence at 2300 hours and last until 0700 hours. Furloughs at these units will continue for four continuous days. The Emergency Operations Command will review any issues or concerns on a case-by-case basis. Please continue to monitor any operational needs. If the schedule creates a glaring hole for service based on out of service units that were not anticipated, please advise as soon as possible. Bureau Chief 803 Wood will send out the furlough schedule for AEMS units for informational purposes later today. Additionally, please ensure adequate driver coverage at the stations. Stations that have five shift personnel assigned may furlough three personnel this cycle and two the next on the respective shift or vice versa but all five will have had to be furloughed eight hours after two cycles are completed. Thank you for your continued diligence as we work through these issues.

October 2, 2008 to October 5, 2008

Station 855
Station 829
Station 843
Station 830
Battalion Chief 802

October 6, 2008 to October 9, 2008

Station 808
Station 832
Station 844
Station 839
Station 858 **** Station 858 should furlough all three personnel
Battalion Chief 803

October 10, 2008 to October 13, 2008

Station 841
Station 822
Station 842
Station 840
Battalion Chief 804

October 14, 2008 to October 17, 2008

Station 847
Station 826
Station 845
Station 846
Battalion Chief 805

Stations 805, 819, 821 and Battalion Chief 801 will complete their first cycle on October 1, 2008.

Steven L. Hess, Acting Major
Fire Prevention Command

# posted by Dave Statter @ 12:21 AM