Sunday, July 12, 2009
Former chief provides details of PGFD volunteer fill-in crew refusing to ride ambulance. Ex-chief also believes PGFD is placing public in jeopardy.
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Read written comment from Eddie Hancock, former Oxon Hill VFD chief
Read our original coverage of this story
On Friday we reported on an incident that occurred last Wednesday as a volunteer crew from the north side of Prince George's County filled in at Station 821 (Oxon Hill) on the south side. A Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department spokesman confirmed that appropriate action is being taken at the highest levels of PGFD after Ambulance 821 was placed out of service because the volunteer crew did not want to respond on ambulance runs. The allegations were made in an internal department document obtained by STATter911.com.
We now have an update on the story after a conversation this afternoon with the former volunteer chief at Oxon Hill, Eddie Hancock, who witnessed many of the events.
Let's recap. Career firefighters are being removed from county stations on a rotating basis in an effort to drastically cut back on overtime costs. Since July 1, as many as seven stations at a time are being targeted. Acting County Fire Chief Eugene Jones' plan relies on volunteer crews to fill in at stations where the career firefighters have been removed.
As we have been reporting, while some stations are able to provide volunteer staffing, many are unable to muster a crew. This effectively leaves that station closed. That has been the case at Station 821 where volunteer participation is low.
On the big details, Eddie Hancock's version of events is very similar to the log we received that had been written by the career major in charge of operations on July 8. Hancock confirms the ambulance was placed out of service by someone at the station. That it twice had been ordered back in service by Volunteer Major James McClelland. When the ambulance went back in service the volunteer crew left the ambulance in the station and took the tower for a long visit to the other Oxon Hill station in Glassmanor (Station 842).
Where Hancock differs is his role in the events. Eddie Hancock said he had been asked by Oxon Hill VFD Chief Vincent Washington to come to the station during the 6:00 PM hour to go over the operation of Tower 821 with Vince Harrison. Harrison is the former chief of the Riverdale VFD (Station 807) and current co-chairman of the Prince George's County Fire Commission. Harrison was scheduled to drive the fire equipment as part of a three-person crew that included two members of Bladensburg (Station 809).
According to Hancock, he got to the firehouse just before the arrival of Harrison. Hancock believes someone from the visiting crew placed the ambulance out of service. The first call from McClelland came to Hancock who said he was only there to provide some instructions on the tower and would soon be leaving, heading off to his regular job as a grocery store truck driver working the overnight shift.
Hancock also confirms that after the unit was not placed back in service a second call from McClelland went directly to Harrison. According to Hancock, it was only then that the ambulance was placed back in service. Hancock says a short-time later the three visiting firefighters took Tower 821 to Station 842. With just three people on board, the unit would be considered understaffed under PGFD rules.
Looking at the overall staffing issue, Eddie Hancock, who has been a volunteer at Oxon Hill since the early 1970s, is quite critical of the actions taken by PGFD to cut costs. Hancock said, "The public is being placed in jeopardy by this game of 'Russian roulette' ".
Hancock says he is one of only about three volunteers who regularly ride at Station 821 and that the number of volunteers at Station 842 has also been decreasing.
Hancock provided a written explanation, along with his opinions of the events, for our comments section.
Also in our comments section, one writer made reference to an EMS call where a woman died that also occurred in the 6:00 PM hour on July 8 in Station 821's first-due area. The implication was that this call was impacted by the actions of the fill-in crew at Station 821.
STATter911.com has been aware of that incident since Thursday and has been looking into it with the help of 9NEWS NOW reporter Scott Broom. The first 911 call for the emergency in the 7400 block of Oxon Hill Road was at 6:35 PM. Hancock believes that call happened prior to his and Vince Harrison's arrival at Station 821.
The information we have been given provides no indication that Ambulance 821 was out of service when that run was dispatched. In fact, Engine 821 and Ambulance 821 were sent on the initial call along with an Engine from Station 832 (Allentown Road) and the medic and ambulance from Station 847 (Silesia).
Both units from Station 821 failed to respond. The best information we have is that the woman was dead on the scene and was not transported. Dispatch records show Engine 832 was the first unit on the scene, coming from about three times the distance as Station 821.
While it is clear the units available for that response was impacted by the removal of career staff at Station 821, so far, no one has provided evidence that shows any actions by the fill-in crew delayed the response.
STATter911.com has been trying since last Thursday to contact Vince Harrison and has also made calls to volunteer leadership in the county for comments about this situation.
: July 12, 2009 10:26 PM : July 12, 2009 11:13 PM : July 12, 2009 11:24 PM So Hancock says there is only three active riding members who ride at Station 21. When does a volunteer corporation with such a small active membership finally realize that they are not really providing any true service? It is situations like this that are the norm in many southside firehouses. Unfortunately, since the citizens don't care, and JJ and the politicians don't care, and most certainly the new fire chief doesn't care, nothing will change.
: July 12, 2009 11:27 PM : July 12, 2009 11:52 PM The word is GRAMMAR not grammer. But that is typical of 1619 lackeys.
: July 13, 2009 12:35 AM Why can't the volunteers and 1619 work together to make sure Eugene is not confirmed.He doesn't have a clue.
: July 13, 2009 7:28 AM : July 13, 2009 8:46 AM : July 13, 2009 10:25 AM : July 13, 2009 11:57 AM in service Training? In Service Training is a must for all Firefighters. Career and Volunteer. Have you not during your tenure as Chief been involved
with in service Training? The comments by Ex Chief Hancock and the smart mouth comments from a Career Firefighter in IAFF Local 1619 against the Volunteers is an absolute disgraceful shame. Yes it's commendable for the Volunteers to have community service like feeding the homeless and the like. It is also commendable for the Career Staff to feed the neighborhood children who are probably low income and don't have the basic necessities in Life. The idea of a Volunteer Officer I think it was commented locking up Station supplies is something that cannot be tolerated. As an experienced Chief officer Chief Hancock how can you as a veteran Volunteer member condone or look the other way. What the comments from both factions is nothing more than immature juvenile words of vile bias of no significance to anyone.
What seems to be the isue here is both factions are using their own self serving thoughts and words in venting. Just like two adolesent
children without any real Professional Direction. STOP IT NOW. the 1960's Mentality "US AND THEM/WE AND THEY" is done over with. Pack it away. Wake up Career Staff Local 1619 and Volunteer Leadership smell the Coffee. This is the 21st Century Fire and EMS Service. There was a previous comment asking if the fill in crew were EMT-B Status? One would tend to believe yes, simply because it's a requirement by the PGFD to be an operational Responder. What is wrong with you people? It doesn't matter waht any excuse was/is EMS is an integral part of the Fire and EMS Delivery Service of today. What happened at Station 821 is inexcusable and cannot/mustnot be tolerated. Chief Hancock one would tend to believe you really believe what is right and what is wrong. Stop your silly comments self serving about how good a Firefighter you are.
Thank You
: July 13, 2009 12:16 PM : July 13, 2009 1:55 PM But it's ok if they are up all night long on a 2 alarm fire or running up and down the road on a fire truck? With the exception of Stations 10 and 27, up until a few years ago, all stations that have had ambulances have had them for longer than Local 1619 has been around. As someone else pointed out, any volunteer station that has career personnel on shift work have "dedicated" career staffing for the ambulances. It is theoretical that any of these stations should have a large volunteer force to ride the fire trucks because the career staff must respond with the ambulance when it gets a call. The fact of the matter is the number of people volunteering is DRASTICALLY down.
The system in PGFD is broke almost beyond repair. Local 1619 and the volunteers Must work together to formulate a plan that will provide an adequate solution. How many volunteer corporations are just paper shells? They may own the station and apparatus, but the station and apparatus are maintained and staffed by career personnel. Three active volunteers cannot provide adequate service. Especially if those three members are in their late 40's and 50's. Good luck to all, hopefully someone won't be killed in all of this mess.
: July 13, 2009 2:37 PM Sounds like you haven't been active for a long time. Major fires don't happen all night every night. EMS calls do. The point made about realistic volunteer manning of 24-hour EMS services was valid in the context of the level of service demanded throughout the county in 2009.
: July 13, 2009 3:12 PM You are right, major fires don't happen every night. But when the ambo is out, the engine is up and down the road taking the ems calls that happen every night. It may not be as much as the ambo, but they are busy enough.
I know this will come across as taking a shot, but it is realistic.......When the volunteers from 33 were out all night on EMS calls (before there was an ambo there), they didn't mind running calls all night and then going to work at whatever fire department they worked for. Like I said, I am just being realistic.
And I have been around long enough to remember how good things were when Estepp was the Chief, the only two full shift houses were 22 and 44, and 28 still had an ambo. I also remember when stations would double/triple pull and still have an ambo crew.
But the tradition is gone, the Vegas money is gone, and the "ME generation is dragging the volunteer fire service down with it. When I started as a volunteer, I saw an ambo in the station and never thought twice about it. It was part of the package when I joined. In my mind, the only stations that have room to complain about ambos are, 10, 27, 33, and 37. When people joined those stations, there was no ambo there, so there should have been no expectation of it. I must say I am pleasantly surprised that the volunteers from 10 and 27 have stepped up to the plate to handle their ambos. I think that has a lot to say about their leadership.
: July 13, 2009 4:08 PM : July 13, 2009 4:08 PM Being a professional is an attitude not a pay check.
: July 13, 2009 4:48 PM How many fill ins have you been on where there was a crew for every piece. He got 2 from 9, and was still UNDERSTAFFED on the tower. How many other stations don't have staffing during the VSU days like 39, 19, 13, etc? Come on Vinny pockets, if you are going to step up, then do it.
: July 13, 2009 5:22 PM : July 13, 2009 7:13 PM Bladensbury, in the not so distant past was a well respected department, all volunteer doing the right thing, serving the community with suppression and EMS alike. The only thing their Chief is interested in now is his Majors position and supporting Pockets on everything he does.
Pockets will be the new Volunteer Deputy Chief, just wait till after the confirmation and you'll see, why do you think the volunteer division chiefs were removed.
Bladensburg, save yourselves and dump your Chief, he will pull the whole department down. For the rest, look out, Riverdale beware because once Pockets becomes the VDFC look out for retaliation time.
I'm no longer proud to admit being a volunteer in this system.
: July 13, 2009 8:28 PM or you can ask the lady in Edmonston. Opps. You cant.
: July 13, 2009 9:33 PM : July 13, 2009 10:52 PM : July 14, 2009 11:13 AM : July 14, 2009 6:29 PM : July 14, 2009 7:51 PM If the people only reelized what we do. I drive a trck for Safeway evrynight. I go in there and try to do my best. There is one guy at 42 that cazes problems. He is a 1619 lozer. I would run crilces around him. If he wants to mess with me, I will meat him anywhere.
\-Hancock
: July 15, 2009 12:03 AM "You never go full ReTard." Oh well PG County did it.
: July 15, 2009 12:20 AM Did you get a PG education or any at all? I would be embarrassed.
: July 15, 2009 6:19 AM : July 15, 2009 9:44 PM Links to this post:
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