STATter 911

sounds like they had 4 people there, just like the career crew being there. Why could you not staff the ambulance? If they want to go to other stations and provide staffing they should know they have to ride the ambulance. Typical volunteers that only care about themselves and not the community.
 

What do you expect from the "unpaid professionals"? You can't make a voluteer run calls that they don't want too. Pretty soon they won't go on AFA's or 9I's either. They are the true firemen of the county and they should only have to go on fires.

The funny thing is that most of these guys don't even want to go into a fire let alone put one out, they just want to play pretend fireman when they get there.

This just goes to show the mentallity of the vols in the county, entitlement and privelage.

This also just further shows how the upper management of the fire dept and county govt care about the citizens of the county.

THEY DON"T GIVE A RAT'S A## ABOUT THE FIRE DEPT OR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.

Dave,

I asked you before to ask the hard questions to the people who make the decisions for the county, any response???
 

There you have it. Vinny Pockets stands for all volunteers. Refusing to provide service just like Alter refuses to porvide ambulance service while HIS FAMILY needs and gets it because they lived in 19's first due. Ask Alter, kid had seizure and they called 911- who showed up?? L1619 members doing their J O B.
No one needs volunteers like them.
 

Maybe now the County Fire chief will see Vince Harrison for what he really is- a backstabbing, lying, conniving piece of garbage.
 

This is a no brainer.All these idiots should be suspended until they understand what providing service means.You do not pick and choose what type of call you will run.
EUGENE STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACT INSTEAD OF "RIDING THE FENCE".
VINNY AND ALTER OUGHT TO BE THROWN OUT WILL SEVERAL OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
 

With that beard, I belive he is in violation of the Resprtiory Protection order? Oh yea, he won't go in, he will let the victims just die in the fire. He did it once......
 

Once again, he is untouchable, he is protected by the chief of staff for jj. Mike Herman is the root of all evil within the fire department. Follow the drugs and you find junkies and pushers, follow the money and you never know where you will end up.
 

Please do not group all volunteers with this motley crew. There are those of us who do volunteer because we still care about the communities we serve. Unfortunately there are less than stellar members (both paid and volunteer) who get all of the press. Most of us have, and will continue to do the best job possible.
 

Dave, And now comes the retaliation. The Duty Major responsible for writing that report has been removed from his duties and placed on daywork. Perhaps you can question the County Fire Chief to confirm this and explain why that has happened?
 

Dave, you want to provide some real entertainment? Find out why Vince Harrison is the "Former" volunteer chief at the Riverdale VFD....
 

Vince is a prime example of the volunteer leadership within the department. He recieves his power through attrtion. Most of the volunteer leadership, with few exceptions, were run out of most firehouses in the 80's and early 90's due to incompetence. Now Vince and others are back, destroying a department instead of a station. Don't believe the war stories and the tales of long ago. Vinny and his group are an infectious boil. Just ask the lady on Emerson Street, oh yeah we can't! Thanks Vince. Thats right some of us still remember!!
 

Vinny Pockets, PGs' version of OJ.
 

The retaliation to the Duty Major has been the way of the Department for years. Anyone who has ever called attention to a problem or stood up for their subordinates has been disciplined like this. Unfortunately, when they made Eugene Jones Acting Fire Chief, they removed his spine and his ability to think independantly and he is unfortunately been sold a bill of goods by Harrison and Alter that will ultimately cost the County big bucks.
 

Ok PGFD is really messing this whole thing up. They should use the career guys on the Ambulances if they have the volunteer staffing for the fire rigs.

I do not blame them for not wanting to staff the trucks after PGFD has not involved them in the staffing plan.

BTW I am a career firefighter.
 

A career firefighter where? In DC?
And a volunteer in PG?
 

Would it not be smarter for the county to place their career staffing on the ambulance now that JJ has started the ambulance billing? The county can keep all of money generated from the taxi rides the fire department provides. Oh wait, 1619 does not want to ride the taxi either, they are too busy praising themselves talking about how much better than the volunteers they are. Then place them on eight hour shifts so we can make better use of their working hours. If they were awake while getting paid by the citizens of the county they could do more training, pre-planning, community events and community education. Oh wait, not again we can’t change their perks, now they won’t be able to have second jobs or place softball around the country.
 

I would like to comment on the issue of refusing to ride an ambulance. What was that individual thinking? I don't care who he is, nor what his rank is. The idea of filling in Stations is exactly what it means. This act or inaction is without question the most outrageous,failure of the PGFD Volunteer Sector. You cannot pick and choose the calls to respond. Placing a first line ambulance out of service just to avoid riding it, is disgusting and a detriment to the well Trained Volunteers who handle the calls as they come. Vince Harrison Co Chairman of the Volunteer Leadership with the Fire aand Rescue Commission to such a statement as the other individual wanted to make sure the Engine would get out if their is a Fire and possibly someone Trapped. The idea of putting a materialistic issue in front of an EMs call possibly an ALS call. ie; Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest, or even a Baby stopped Breathing. These individuals are a disgrace and should be dismissed from any Fire and EMS Station/Involvement. Harrison a former Volunteer Chief knows better than to allow an ignorant immature situation occur. The Volunteer Major did his best to order the ambulance be placed back in service. The individuals involved here make me sick. I hope
neither of these two inexcusable
individuals have any thought of self respect or moral integrity in their mind. It is in their backside they flush it every day.
What would these individuals think if the Public confronted them and asked why would you or anyone in the Public Safety Service, deny expected Professional Customer Service to the Taxpayers of Prince Georges County. I would hope the County Fire Chief takes immediate decisive action to correct this
ignorant juvenile mess. I would hope and believe the Volunteers would look elsewhere to elect their Leadership.
 

A career firefighter??? Where? Scabbing in PG?
 

BTW....You're stupid.
 

Your not a career firefighter in PG county. Probably one of the volunteers involved in this story.
 

I'm curious, does PG county utilize volunteer police officers, bus drivers, sanitation workers, mayors, council persons, etc. OR is volunteerism limited to Fire / EMS?
 

Hey Vince, these people obviously love you so much seeing how last year when Kentland wouldnt take an ambulance it was all about,"You can't force a volunteer to do what he doesnt want to". I love all the hypocrates on this board!!! It makes me laugh, GET ON THE WHATEVER IS DISPATCHED AND DO THE JOB!!!!
 

I follow what's going on in PG County on here and it always makes me feel better about the issues in my department. Man, I feel badly for everyone involved out there. Except the guys refusing to run calls, not them.
 

It's funny...the volunteers are always talking about how they are equal to the career staff, then why do they refuse EMS calls that a career firefighter would normally go on? Don't hand me the bilgewater line about "they get paid to ride the ambulance". Horsecrap. You want to play lumberjack, then I suggest you better learn how to carry your end of the log. the sad part is that there are a few volunteer companies that try to do the right thing and they are often ostracized as being "suckups", weak, or timid. My advice would be to ride the crew including Vince Harrison out of town on a rail and invalidate their return ticket. Until the County Fire Chief uses the tools at his disposal provided through the Charter, then this is going to be the beginning of anarchy and the citizens will continue to suffer because some egomaniacs want to get into a pissing contest.
 

Good for them. I think the volunteers should place every ambo out of service. Maybe then it would open some eyes.
 

well vinnie putting the ambo o.o.s is no new thing to you no crew at 1500 place the ambo out for some bs reason but preach this is are only money maker you are a true fool vince,you only worried about what crap you were into on the computer i hope they throw you out for good for this and you wonder why you are not the chief at 7 you clown
 

You people who comment on here and dont leave a name that is the big joke. Have the balls to state your name after your bold comments.
Kellie Bornman
 

No one has stepped up to the plate yet to answer my question, so I'll repeat it:

As a cost saving measure, does PG county also utilize volunteer police officers, bus drivers, sanitation workers, mayors, council persons, etc. OR does PG County limit volunteerism to provision of Fire / EMS?
 

The career people take ambulance calls because we have to, it sure isn,t because we want to. Fact is nobody wants to ride the ambulance anymore, career or volunteer. Even the diehard EMS people have had enough. Bottom line is its something we have to do, like it or not.
 

How can the county come in at 7am on a weekday and say sorry you dont have any career staffing today until 7am the next morning.Some of us volunteers are not paid firemen we have normal jobs and families so we need more than 5min. of notice so we can get the volunteers around.Yes i am a volunteer and have been for 17 years and love it. But PGFD is makeing it harder and harder to be a volunteer in this county.
 

Should I ever find out that an ambulance was placed oos for staffing...when there was supposed to be staffing...or better yet members refused to provide a service that they are supposed too? man I wonder how much I could win in a lawsuit. Probably more than they are trying to save with furloughs!
 

Well Vince, you have managed to give the volunteer system yet another black eye. And because of peoples personal agendas, managed to drag others down your path. We do what we do for various reasons. Some for a paycheck, some for personal satisfaction, some just because its in the family and we don't know anything else. But we do it becuse that's what the citizens of PG County expect us to do. Whether it be a fire, EMS call, or just a public service call, when they request service, they expect it. They don't care if you are volunteer or career, all they care about is your getting there in their time of need and aleviating their situation.

Almost every station in this county has an ambulance. If you plan on "filling in" I would suggest you get used to proving that service. Or maybe you can just reserve yourself for those stations without an ambulance.

Either way its time to "sh*t or get off the pot". Either get with the system or get out of the system. Apparently your department has already tried to start you on that road.

Have a nice day.
 

First off Vince does not represent the Riverdale fire department. He is not their chief. I am not sure why he is wearing a white shirt. He is a has been. His own department did not want him. But he cant help out there, probably because he doesn't have access to the money any more.

Alter is pretty smart. He as Vinny Pockets as his wing man. If the Commission does well, Alter can take the credit. If Vince starts praying or killing women trapped in house fires or sounding like an IDIOT on TV, Alter can put the blame on him.

Hey Pockets, Enjoy it while it lasts. You ass. Only thing this train wreck was missing was Jerry Engle.
 

I don't understand what the big deal is. Volunteers have been choosing not to provide ambulance service for years. Take Stations 828, 833, and 837 for example. Also I have not heard A838, A826, A817 all day, yet Station 838 had a crew for the engine. It's interesting to see A817, A838, A826, A822, and TK805 dispatched on a Station 805 ambulance local and the fourth due ambulance transporting. Riding the ambulance and helping people is not a bad thing. What becomes tiresome is the abuse of the system by those that do not have a justifiable emergency (i.e. BP check, stubbed toe, stuffy nose, "I think I might not be feeling good."...). This is a nation wide issue with no foreseeable solution. The most frustrating part about riding the ambulance is the multi hour wait with a patient on the ambulance stretcher at the Emergency Room. If someone can solve those two issues, I believe that riding the ambulance and providing a needed service (80% of all calls?), would not be as much an issue.
 

PG County ought to get a contract with a cab company and they drive these people to the hospital. A unit would respond to the call and determine if their services are needed.If not call for transportation. The county would put money on account with the cab company.Then the I have no money doesn't enter into it.
Vinny and Alter could manage the program since they are ems oriented.Better yet they could drive a couple cabs.
 

As I posted on a different thread last week, and was conviently censored, Chief Jones called the Riverdale VFD a few weeks back and threatened to remove ALL career staffing unless Vince Harrison was re-nominated by the department for the fire commission. This new "Chief-Elect" has been suckered in by the "Harrison Sermon". This guy was around back in Vinnie's HAYDAY!!! All of the lying, stealing, and cowardness has NOT changed over the year!!!
 

Maybe i missed the report...but, Dave, can you tell me why this story is only running on your Blog and not on the main stream, "prime time" news?
Volunteer firefighters refusing to provide a much needed and vital service to County citizens seems like a pretty News worthy story to me. If i was a citizen or representative of the citizens of Prince George's County, i'd want to know about it, if the Volunteer Firefighters that i was relying on to provide service were refusing to provide the MOST utilized service in the Fire/EMS Department. Especially before i make a vote on whether or not to go ahead with furloughing my Quarenteed staffing of career firefighters in hopes that the Volunteers would fill in, in their absense.
 

EMS and Fire = Oil & Water

Fire only wants EMS to save Fire jobs. Seperate the 2 and have full time paid EMS--then see what happens to the Fire service. Get those paid guys on the ambulances and let the vollies run fires like their supposed to.
Why don't the paid guys do what the Boston guys did--volunteer to keep open houses? Maybe PGFD paid guys don't care about their communities as much as Boston guys do. Maybe the vollies care more about their communities than apaycheck.
 

The citizens could give two poops about these issues. All they care about is a piece of equipment shows up at some point to transport them to the hospital because there legs hurt. If PGFD chooses to allow almost the 4th due ambulance to be the transport unit because the others arent staffed then so be it.

Fact is, no one on Basil Ct has actually sat down to try and figure out how to staff this county safely and appropriately with the available staffing. If they did, companies would be staffed with two people instead of leaving 4 a station for 24 hours. And by that I mean this. Instead of staffing Co. 29 yesterday with 4 people, they would have staffed 29 with 2 and 26 with 2 to provide BLS service out of each station or two fire trucks with two people. Two people has always been acceptable in this county so why not?

First let me prefice these next comments by saying that if you dont wanna ride an ambulance, dont go to a station that has one. If youre at a station with an ambulance then you need to ride it, plain and simple. Now lets think about this. If the Fire Chief is responsible for staffing apparatus and for ensuring apparatus responds. Then how come he doesnt provide 24 BLS staffing by a paid crew and allow the volunteers to staff the fire trucks? Everyone has always said that if the volunteers didnt have to ride the ambulance the staffing numbers would go up. Soooooo that means if the paid folks staff the ambulance, then there would be more volunteers and apparatus would get out the door right? Not that its at all a "fair" plan to the career folks. But who says you have to be "fair" when providing life saving services?

Food for thought folks. I believe it wont make a damn bit of difference because the volunteers left could give two poops about the issue, just like the citizens. It just merely provides people a good reason to moan and complain about something, and further along the volunteer and career hatred and division.
 

"Get those paid guys on the ambulances and let the vollies run fires like their supposed to.
Why don't the paid guys do what the Boston guys did--volunteer to keep open houses? Maybe PGFD paid guys don't care about their communities as much as Boston guys do. Maybe the vollies care more about their communities than apaycheck."

Just out of curiosity, were you one of those volunteers "staffing" 821 last wednesday??

Career, Volunteer...Nobody is completely innocent, BUT The volunteers in this county act like a bunch of whiney, snot nose, little brats, storming around the school yard. If they aren't allowed to ONLY play fireman, then they don't want to play at all. GROW UP!
I'm not going to pretend that every career firefighter cares more about the community they respond in then the people who live there, so don't sit back and tell me that the volunteers care more about the community then the career guys. Especially when you make comments like, "Get those paid guys on the ambulances and let the vollies run fires like their supposed to."
You are a Firefighter/EMT. That means you are SUPPOSED to provide fire protection AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES! This is not the 1960's anymore. If you want to have a tantrum and not provide the most requested service that the Fire AND EMS Department provides, then pack up your fireman costume, take your T-shirts, and go home...or go find another school yard to play in!

P.S. If you could see beyond the smoke, you would realize that the only reason the Boston Jakes are "Volunteering" to fill those firehouses is to get the public on their side in a contract dispute with the city. Wake up and smell the coffee, or have fun drinking the Kool Aid.
 

Come to my station, and you will find out.... the career crew already staffs the engine and ambulance. The volunteers stopped showing up almost 4 months ago.
 

All these comments have have sounded like volunteers are the only ones putting the ambulance out of service so they wouldn't have to run the ambulance.Volunteers and career men have put ambulances out of service for minor maintenance for hours and sometimes days so they don't have to ride it and thats been going on for years. Both career and volunteers have done it nobody's hands are clean here
 

I sat and listened to a call for a sick call yesterday in the Forestville area. It must have been ten minutes trying to get a ambulance to the call. The dispatcher was going down the list calling two ambulnces at a time and telling truck or engine crews to go back and get their ambulance out on the call. They were up to Amb 820 and 822 until one got on the road.
The problem in this county is that fire protection in this county is good. The health of the public is not so good that EMS calls happen more than fires so ambulances run more than fire units. If the public didn't get sick or injure themselves ambulances could sit but that is not going to happen right now.
If volunteer crews are going to fillin at stations find people interested in the ambulance to go with you and don't play stupid games and give us more problems to have to explain to the public.
This is not the time or the place to do it.
 

Whats new ? same old stuff
 

oh god !!!! its just brewing a huge stew of volunteer vs. career all over again in this county. but hey thank you! without prince georges county i wouldnt have anything to laugh about everday. pat from maine.
 

First off nobody will get in trouble for not taking that ambo call. The vollies do what they do. They have a Fire Chief that is about to be confirmed next week who loves them. They are saving him money and making him shine. As a career guy in the county I know I have a County Exec who has turned his back on the citizens of this county and it's employees. I know I have a Fire Chief that flat out does not like his career side. I also know that the volunteers will be able to do anything they want and get away with anythiing they want. It's true. Nothing will happen to the guys at 21. 17 did sorta the same thing and I think the A Chief was suspended for a week. Who cares. My department is a joke. It is nothing like I thought it would be at this point in time. And no I never expected the volunteers to go away. I'll just show up and do my job and go to whichever station and get on whatever piece they tell me to. I guess I do it because I'm a professional.
 

Once again, look how EMS tears apart the Fire service. Let EMS people that want to do EMS do it. The two should not be mixed. Like the post earlier "oil vs. water". Where's Mother, Jugs, and Speedy when you need them. Hire EMS, then when spots become available on the fire side, transfer to the fire side if you wish. Then you never have to ride the ambo again. Or, privatize it!
 

Volunteering to do fire protection of ones community has been a tradition for hundreds of years. That's why people still do it.
 

To TJH who said;"if the paid folks staff the ambulance, then there would be more volunteers and apparatus would get out the door right?"

Can you explain why stations 5,8,13,17,19,20,21,23,26,29,30,32,38,40,41,42,45,46,47, and 55. All have career people who provide 24/7 ambulance coverage and litle to NO volunteer participation.
 

P.S. If you could see beyond the smoke, you would realize that the only reason the Boston Jakes are "Volunteering" to fill those firehouses is to get the public on their side in a contract dispute with the city. Wake up and smell the coffee, or have fun drinking the Kool Aid.


Sounds like you and the rest of your PGFD paid guys could learn a HUGE lesson from the Boston guys.
It was the PGFD that shoved EMS down fire stations throats in so many cases. Thats how so many of you paid guys got your jobs!!! So go get paid doin ems calls!!
Most firemen want to go on fire calls--you paid guys say it all the time on this site.

PS-Smell this---ffrrraaammmmmmmpppp LOL
 

In reading the comments it would seem the majority of the folks are on the same page with the ignorant immature juvenile inactions that occurred at Station 821 with A821.
I would like to say however the referencing the issue at Station 817 with the Chief there, as being the similar situation in this case, is not exactly identical with mitigating factors. The situation at Station 817 was that the Chief wasnot able for whatever reason to put together a recruiting
plan to get more active operational Volunteers. This is not isolated to just Station 817. The fact that the Chief chose to make sure the Engine would get out, even with A817 in service in the Station. This is absolutely acceptable and cannot be Tolerated in any Public Safety Fire and EMS Station. The situation at Station 821 with A821 was different in the fact there was a scheduled crew of Volunteers to fill in and Staff the
Apparatus in Station 821. As as been commented the stupid immature inaction of the co chairman of the Fire and Rescue Commission, ie; The Volunteer leadership did what was/is against everything the the Fire and EMS service stands for.
The only similarities in both these
issues is the fact "Both Stations in Question and both Chief Officers
made a conscious decision to pick and choose their calls to respond.
I would hope the County Fire Chief, and the Volunteer Leadership would step forward with swift and decisive Disciplinary action. The Volunteer faction might also consider seeking someone else to fulfill their Leadership Role. One would think what would Chief Harrison and the others say if the Local VFD in their community whether it be in Prince Georges County or elsewhere
just abruptly decided to place the ambulance out of service, just simply not to have to ride it. The
thought of anything along this mentality is an absolute disgraceful shame. The comments about letting the Volunteers ride the Fire Apparatus and let the Career ride the ambulance is without question an ignorant juvenile statement. When any Volunteer joins a VFD and they know there is an ambulance included among the Apparatus do they immediately speak up and say, "They're going to ride the
ambulance"? Their are EMS members within VFD Factor. That statement
refects the attitude that some individuals are not dedicated to becoming a well Trained Volunteer Firefighter, but moreover a Free Lance Hose Jockey with no respect
for Fire/Fire Spread. Most importantly these attitudes tend to bring about the feelings and beliefs of themselves, and not the overall Fire and EMS Service. It doesnot matter if anyone who speaks, thinks along this mentality
is either Career or Volunteer. The
ACCOUNTABILITY is always the same.
 

no wonder everyone loved me when i said i was EMS only
 

I did not see it in the report,and did not read 49 comments, but may have missed it. But were they EMT's.
 

"They have a Fire Chief that is about to be confirmed next week who loves them. They are saving him money and making him shine."

You can't polish a turd!
 

"Thats how so many of you paid guys got your jobs!!!"

No I got my job because you couldn't pass the test...
 

An open letter to Eugene Jones and the leaders of Prince George's County Maryland-

I am a career employee of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department. I have been active in the fire service in Prince George's County since the mid 80s and have NEVER seen what is transpiring within our department in all my time here. Up until now, I have been proud to be part of this fine department, but the way you are running this department into the ground makes me sick. Yes, we all understand that you did not create this underfunded and understaffed fire department, but you have the power to change it. Instead of being a "yes man", doing whatever your bosses in Upper Marlboro direct you to do, you can stand up for the Fire/EMS department and do what is right. Just because someone tells you to jump off a bridge doesn't mean that you should do it. You HAVE a brain and your own mind and, I am assuming, you KNOW what is right and what is wrong. Sometimes you have to think about yourself and the legacy that you will leave when you leave the Department. Do you want to be known as the "yes man" fire chief that placed the safety and well-being of his fellow fire fighters second or third to his own agenda? Or do you want to become a hero, standing up for what is right and actually caring for your employees, who are trying to make a honest living and providing for our families? Only you have that power.

In closing, let me just say that the money you are saving this already underfunded department by implementing the policies and practices that one can imagine Cheech and Chong coming up with, is coming at a greater cost than you can imagine.

Signed,
a "no man"
 

Out west here for the most part, and in Washington in particular, all Firefighters are required to be EMT's. All of the professional and volunteer Firefighters that I know work just as hard to get out & perform on the medical calls as well as on the fire calls.

Is there abuse of the EMS system? Hell yes, but it is the default health care intervention for a lot of lower income Americans. We are responding code red to things that should be a primary care physician's office visit. There are, however, efforts underway to fix some of these problems- nurse consultation referrals (via the 911 dispatcher), 'cabulance' for non emergent medical issues, physician assistant dispatches as follow up to Fire Company EMS runs (leaving the patient at home), etc.

When you get dispatched to a seizure, is it really the onset of a heart attack (it has happened to me & my crew MANY times over the years)? And guess what, that witnessed seizure/heart attack, with a call to 911, puts that person into the SURVIVABLE category, especially with citizen CPR prior to our arrival (my City & County continue to report the highest bystander CPR percentage in the nation). For every minute in delay to defibrillation, the patient's survival chances drop 10%. What the hell do you mean you don't want to staff the ambulance- that is your voter, your friend's friend, your relative out there. What is wrong with some "Firefighters"?

A few months ago we ended up at a rocking, floor 9 apartment fire- it was first dispatched as a Medic response (Engine & Medic Unit) because the person in the apartment pushed their 'medic alert' necklace and there was no answer on dispatcher call back. Who was first-in to the fire? The Engine dispatched on the medical call.

Yesterday, my buddy was dispatched on "just an Aid call"- 25 yo male/head injury. They called for a CPR response when they arrived- he had been struck by the flange of an I-Beam that flipped over him. He almost made it, they got a pulse back at the entrance to the trauma center, and the trauma team tried to put a stent to save his ruptured liver. He would have had ZERO chance if someone was sitting on their nuts, not wanting to respond to an EMS Aid call.

Lt FD Seattle
 

This happens in frederick county md as well. Paid makes the money for the vollys who set in the stations and collect the ambulance billing money for doing nothing.
 

A few months ago we ended up at a rocking, floor 9 apartment fire- it was first dispatched as a Medic response (Engine & Medic Unit) because the person in the apartment pushed their 'medic alert' necklace and there was no answer on dispatcher call back. Who was first-in to the fire? The Engine dispatched on the medical call.


Not talking Firefighter/EMT's doinga medical assist on an Engine. These paid guys staff an ambulance that runs out of the fire station.
 

I would like to commend the most recent comments. I am especially proud to read that the EMS System is being abused. Some comments from the Seattle Washington Fire and EMS Dept. The Lt from Seattle spoke honestly about how things occur and can happen. When a citizen Dials 911 they are supposedly seeking some Professional reasurance from speaking to a real person. For those that maynot know Seattle as was mentioned was the first Fire and EMS Dept in the Nation to utilize Citizen CPR. It works because like everywhere else EMS calls can/do overwhelm the resources. Does prince Georges County have EMD? This is a good viable working resource. The initial 911 call requires specific relevant questions and responses. If during the 911 call, when asked what is the problem with the patient, once a response of Chest Pains, Trouble Breathing, etc then
the questions are asked about Cardiac History is the Patient on any Meds etc. It may sound like an eternity, however it's basically a quick effort. Most importantly all the information that is definitely
needed is(1) is the patient conscious, (awake) (2) is the patient breathing. There are times when the caller is hysterical and that's the only basic info. I realize the comment that in PG County there are some low income
people. These folks are entitled to the same Professional Customer Service as anyone else. If there is doubt in the ambulance crew's mind about a True Medical Emergency can they/do they have the authority to contact the on duty EMS Supervisor and advise what the situation is? This can/may be of some help to determine if Transportation is needed. If The Duty EMS Supervisor agrees with the ambulance crew and concurs no Transport then that should be all that's needed. With a Medic Unit the Paramedic in charge can consult with Hospital ER Physican. If again the Doctor concurs then nno Transport. Abuse of the EMS System is common all over. It's the same as people abusing 911 when all they need to do is Dial 311 if available. If 311 isnot available there are other resources that may serve the citizen's need other than an Emergency Response. I would also like to commend the individual who commented he is a Career Person and spoke Honestly from a professional Perspective and a Dedicated Employee who respects himself his job and carries out his job with a degree of certainty he's helping people. To "a no man" stop thinking like that, you are not just a no man. You speak with
Honesty and up front Truth. You are a true Dedicated Professional. Never sell yourself short.
 

Bring back Estepp and Ronnie Milor.
 

I am not saying Vince's decision was a good one but hey if the county didnt care to staff the station (Ambulance) stop crying about the Volunteers decision!!! As a Firefighter and a Citizen I would not want an Ambulance to show up at my house with a crew (Paid or Volunteer) that doesn't really want to ride it. I am sure the level of care by those who ride it because they have to is not a great level of care!
 

Vince is not a chief officer. He should not be wearing a white shirt and he is not a COLONEL.

He needs a washed up has been badge.. I mean does he have the classes to be a chief officer? Doubt it
 

Stop offering up services to the county, man your own station as normal, and keep the others OOS until they decide what a F'in joke this is and hire more people.
 

As much as everyone complains about hiring and manning maybe someone should read the Wall Street Journal.Oakland California not known as the most safe area is laying off 20% of its 800 man police force.And California has laid off 2,000 police officers, But the paper basically says that is happening all over the country .If they are laying off 20% of policemen how many firefighters are being laid off around the country so my suggestion is instead of griping and complaining realize these are difficult times and experts are saying it will get worse.So try to work with the system in place because the next time the layoffs could be you
 

Anonymous said...
"To TJH who said;"if the paid folks staff the ambulance, then there would be more volunteers and apparatus would get out the door right?"

Can you explain why stations 5,8,13,17,19,20,21,23,26,29,30,32,38,40,41,42,45,46,47, and 55. All have career people who provide 24/7 ambulance coverage and litle to NO volunteer participation.

July 11, 2009 12:06 PM"

Just to clear up a few things with this comment, Station 817 does NOT have a Career Crew 24/7 they only have staffing when the county wants them to have staffing during the week some days between the hours of 0700-1500. Last week they only had Career staffing 2 out of the 5 days, all the other days the Volunteers that could be there were there and they road the Ambo if they had 2 EMTs that could ride it. They just recruited some more Volunteers also and on the road back to getting there staffing levels up so they can ask for the Ladder Truck (The New Soul Train) back, from what I've been hearing. I know the Chief and some of the members over there and he seems to be working hard at getting his Company back on top like they used to be back in the day. 817 used to be strong but seems to have fallen off somewhere. The Leadership there is doing there best and has asked the County for help in keeping staffing at the station to serve the citizens but turned around and saw an oppertunity to see another Volunteer Company fall and did just the opposite and pulled the Career staffing out instead of putting more in, like they asked. Chief 817 and all the other Leadership at 817 keep your heads up and keep working like ya'll doing to get back the way you used to be!

Oh, and the Chief did get Suspended for about a week for an Ambulnce call (that he wasn't even at the station for), but was later found innocent of what the County was trying to accuse him of and put back to full active status. County officials (a Major) tried to lie on him but the facts came out in a meeting with the Colonal. Dang they had to stoop that low, LoL!
 

Heres my thoughts: First, the county pulled the staffing there which indicates to me that ANY apparatus from that station would not be needed that day. Listen to all the Brady reports citing how service would not be interrupted by shifting staffing around. Now, since none of the apparatus there is vital because everything is alredy covered, all the fill in crew was doing was supplementing the alredy adequate service. So what is the big deal if they just take an engine? EMS service is alredy adequate according to the county. It's the county's game, play it their way.

Second: When was the last time an engine was transfered to another station and took the new stations ambulance on a call? Doesn't happen. Why not? Because they aren't there to staff the ambulance, they are there for the engine. What is the difference here? The career side should have been thankful for ANY help that was offered, but as usual that is not the case. Like I said, it is the county's game, we are just playing.

Lastly I think it would be beneficial, as others have stated, for the county to go ahead and staff all ambulances requested by the vol houses IF the vol houses can staff the suppression units. That way the career side can't complain about the vol's taking their jobs. And of course look at 5 on 2 off, 8 hour perm shifts to ensure they have secure jobs.
 

Heres my thoughts: First, the county pulled the staffing there which indicates to me that ANY apparatus from that station would not be needed that day. Listen to all the Brady reports citing how service would not be interrupted by shifting staffing around. Now, since none of the apparatus there is vital because everything is alredy covered, all the fill in crew was doing was supplementing the alredy adequate service. So what is the big deal if they just take an engine? EMS service is alredy adequate according to the county. It's the county's game, play it their way.

Second: When was the last time an engine was transfered to another station and took the new stations ambulance on a call? Doesn't happen. Why not? Because they aren't there to staff the ambulance, they are there for the engine. What is the difference here? The career side should have been thankful for ANY help that was offered, but as usual that is not the case. Like I said, it is the county's game, we are just playing.

Lastly I think it would be beneficial, as others have stated, for the county to go ahead and staff all ambulances requested by the vol houses IF the vol houses can staff the suppression units. That way the career side can't complain about the vol's taking their jobs. And of course look at 5 on 2 off, 8 hour perm shifts to ensure they have secure jobs.
 

OK it`s time for the truth about one of the members involved. I have read all the B.S. posted and some are true HOWEVER, it said that I left the station but, did not say why. Well here is the scoop. For starters, I am Eddie Hancock in the report. I am not afraid to say that I could not take ANY calls because I had to be at work at 2000hrs. I have been a volly for 38 yrs, and have been trying for two days to get intouch with Statter. The crap that is being said about the truck going to another station is no differant than when the 1619 paid person does it EVERYDAY. I have times and names. 1619 does not want to go anywere with me. I did not put the ambo oos and did not put it back in. I went to work. The others that came over to ride, I thank, and could have been told to go back for the ambo. THEY MISSED NO CALLS that I know of. The person that did the squaking is a 1619 shop steward, I am told, who stirs more s#@% than helps. YOUR UNION CAN`T HELP YOU. GET OVER IT. If you don`t like the vollys GET OUT. We were here before you got here, and will be here when your gone.
We, the vollys, and 1619 have been going back and forth scince the 60s, it`s like a merithon that never ends and never will. But the fires go out, and the sick get help. To say we don`t care about the community, well lets not forget, feed the homeless feed the needy and community day at some of the station. (open house) We ALL do it. And lastly for the no name that said we won`t go into fires, give me chief 29 26A and myself, and many others and will make some look like a first week kids. I am sure that there are some that won`t like a thing I said, GET OVER IT.
 

Wow, the only thing more pathetic than what these idiots did/failed to do, is that there are idiots on here defending their actions. Especially the post from "Eddie." Fine example of a Chief Officer. Quote: "We were here before you got here, and will be here when your gone." In case you missed it, you ARE already all but gone! That is why they ARE THERE! You probably believe the Titanic could have been saved with a little J-B Weld, huh?
 

This has been going on ever since the union started. I have been with the county volunteers since 1960 and watched it go down hill since the charter and the union started. Their are volunteers that have more advanced training then the paid officers they are under used and treated poorly by the so called professionals. You fight a fire in PG county you will be working with some of the best firefighters in the world. These men and women are the best and your life is in their hands and you can count on them whether they are PAID or VOLUNTEER. If the council and the union would stay out of it and do their jobs the fire service seems to work.
The county would get more volunteers the paid service would do what it was designed for and taxes would not go up for fire and EMS service.
Paid people were put in fire house to make sure equipment would get out as drivers. At that time most stations had an age limit for drivers at 18 you could ride as Aid and 16 could go as shotgun and a paid driver the other driver stayed at the station to get the engine out with a volunteer crew.
There are so many people in the county that think the government owes them everything and do not pay taxes they miss use everything in the county. If they were caring citizens like the rest of us the fire service would not be in this shape.
I love the fire service and do not like EMS but when I was able to run calls I was in the top runners in fire and EMS. I learn from both paid and volleys and prided to ride with both.

GET RID OF THE POULTICES.
 

The only problem here is that the "hard core volunteers" think it's still 1970. Times have changed. GET OVER IT. There aren't volunteers breaking down the doors to join. It's different than when you joined years ago. Most of the volunteers leave their own communities to ride here at the big PG. Hopefully there's someone home to protect their own neighborhoods.

Yes the EMS system is overworked. It's that way everywhere not just here. It must be great to be able to pick and chose what you want to do and what calls you want to go on. Please advise the public of that when you cash their donation checks. Please tell them to only call for fires, and that you won't be there if they are having a medical emergency. Tell the truth to your supporters!
 

Stop passing blame you pathetic clowns. Do the job. If this guy Vinny is a chief I am the Borough Commander of the Bronx. I thought these retards diappeared years ago.
 

Lets change the subject.....
how about 17's crash on Southern Ave this afternoon???????
 

"The crap that is being said about the truck going to another station is no differant than when the 1619 paid person does it EVERYDAY. I have times and names."

Eddie, your claims (and grammar) are laughable at best. There is a difference between what the career staff at 21/42 do on a daily basis and what your merry band of criminals do on a daily basis. The difference is ACCOUNTABILITY. The career staff is held accountible for their actions, which is why when the career staff leaves the station to stop at a neighboring station for whatever reason, THEY BRING THE AMBULANCE WITH THEM!

"The person that did the squaking is a 1619 shop steward, I am told, who stirs more s#@% than helps."

So by "stirs $h!t" do you mean that this person you suspect of "squaking" is bringing the negative actions of your members to light, causing negative repercussions? In other words, he is making certain volunteers be held ACCOUNTABLE for their actions. Because my definition of "stirs $h!t" would be a volunteer captain from 42 putting locks on all the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator, turning off the ice maker on the refrigerator, removing the racks from the dishwasher so the career staff can't use it, turning off the cable and taking the cards out of the cable boxes, taking the office away from the career staff at 21, taking home station cleaning supplies because he doesn’t want the career staff using them, and the list goes on. But those are the types of petty games that the career staff at 21/42 have been putting up with for years. The career staff gets told to "Get over it," your members however pack up their toys, throw a tantrum and go home.

"If you don`t like the vollys GET OUT. We were here before you got here, and will be here when your gone."

Laughable again, The last time i was up at 21 and 42 your members were no where to be found...a rather common occurrence.

"To say we don`t care about the community, well lets not forget, feed the homeless feed the needy and community day at some of the station. (open house) We ALL do it."

Thats odd, i thought it was the career staff at station 42 who were befriending the neighborhood kids and sometimes feeding them dinner, but they don't come around much anymore. I wonder why...oh, thats right. The volunteers told the kids to go away and they don't want them hanging out at the firehouse anymore. They also told the career staff not to let them into the firehouse. If you ask me, That is real good community service right there.

"And lastly for the no name that said we won`t go into fires, give me chief 29 26A and myself, and many others and will make some look like a first week kids."

You are correct. There are some dedicated volunteers in the 5th battalion who aren’t afraid to go into a fire…or get on the ambulance. Chief 29 and Chief 26A could probably run circles around others when it comes to fighting a fire, or taking command of an emergency...however you would fall into the group they would be running the circles around.

I'm going to go "GET OVER IT" now, and continue showing up to work at my station doing the daily tasks that some feel are beneath them...like cleaning, community service, building/apartment inspections, oh and I almost forgot, responding on the ambulance to EMS calls.
 

The only Colonel rank Harrison holds is Colonel of the Urinal.He does a good job of buffaloing the volunteers into believing he has their best interests in mind. Truth be told, all he is trying to do is relive his former days of glory when he was a legend in his own mind.
 

1619 does not want to go anywere with me.

I can see why.

We, the vollys, and 1619 have been going back and forth scince the 60s, it`s like a merithon that never ends and never will.

I read this one so many times and laugh every single time. What's a merithon

Honestly, Can YOU use spell check or have someone read what you are typing?
 

For the sake of everyone involved, you guys have got to stop trashing one another on here. Look around...Does anyone see a building on fire ??? NO, because when the time comes we all do the job despite our differences. Your Chief and your EOC Colonel are doing what they can with the hand that they've been dealt. If the Chief tells JJ to pound sand then tomorrows headline will be "PG Appoints New Fire Chief". Who do you think it will be??? It won't be someone with a checkbook to make all of the problems go away
The bottom line is that this and the watchdesk are read nationwide and this is the impression they have of us (PG). We are better than this. We are prouder than this. If Statter took away the "anonymous" tag, none of these posts, career or volunteer, would be on here. This is our department and this is our burden to bear. Problems ?? Yeah, we got plenty, but they're our problems and our business and if you want to bitch about them do it amoung yourselves in the house. There are people reading this who have no idea of what or where 85th Ave, Alice Ave, Southview Dr. Contee Rd, or Walls Lane are. They don't have the right to sit there and laugh at us because they haven't earned it. Yet you allow them that priveledge, to be a part of us, by putting our trash out in the open for everyone to see. I spent a long time in this system and have good friends on both sides and I'll tell you this about both of the top guys...they may not appear to be snot bubbling firemen but I've been on the line with each of them and neither one of them ever turned and ran. Enough already. STOP POSTING !!!!!!
 

I have been saying for years that you do not have to do anything to the volunteers to accelerate their demise. At 821 and this current staffing plan my thoughts are correct again. They just do it to themselves for years.

Where do I start: Vinny Pockets gets elected to the Association, be patient and watch how is shoots his foot. It took less than a year and for all those who voted him in you got what was comming to you. Acting Chief Jones may have set Vinny up. Alter is the smart one here playing the politcal game but his Station does not provide ambulance service and is not sharing the burden that everyone in the department is providing.

Back to Vinny. He destroyed the work that the Volunteer Chief at Station 7 created when the Career staff was placed there 24/7.

You wanna know why they call him the "baby killer"? A reported house fire with people trapped on Emerson St. Station 9's first due. The engine crew was fully staffed with a charged 2 inch hose line at the front door and the engine has their own hydrant. The crew was ready to enter and Vinny pockets orders them not to enter then he realizes there is someone trapped via communcations reminds him several times. Vinny calls for a "strike team" The crews eventually enter and find the victims and removes the pregnant mother right at Vinnys feet. Vinny yells "I told you not to bring them out" he is out of his mind at this point. Bureau Chief 4 takes command and the fire is extingiushed and two other victims are found.

All of the crews involved are ordered to go to 9 for a crisis debriefing Vinny States "if he was in that situation again he would do the same thing" Guess what happens. Vinny is told to get out of town for a while while the Career Major is being blamed for the actions that occurred on that four person fatal house fire. Its been a long time since that emergency incident but those are the memories I have from that fire they are 99% accurate. Vinny was heard on the radio calling for Car 630 on a vehicle accident with injured pedestrians. He is out of his mind folks you all set him up for faliure and it worked like a charm. He is a bafoon and you voted him in.

He chose a battle he thought he would win and it back fired. Sorry to Riverdale you are guilty by association. Is vinny still on your roles? If so he is still a member sorry again.

Yes this fire department is a disgrace. JJ is inaccessable Dave Statter or any reporter can not get an interview and get to the bottom of the finacial situation in PG County.

The situation At 821 was premeditated they planned on not providing ambulance service. They will be disciplined with a short suspension but who cares. But Vinny is Jone's boy it might be a slap on the wrist.

The Volunteer and Career factions should have a Vote of No Confidence in Acting Chief Eugene Jones at his Confirmation Hearing.

Signed Truevet.
 

I guess no-one really cares about the career major whose job was jeoprardized beacuse he did his job and reported the truth. I guess Chief Jones wants to fill the public with lies as to shutting down stations without public knowledge. Is this the kind of leader you want in your community? Ask why the large number of career people are retiring instead of taking the crap shelled out by incompetent leadership.
 

What has happened to the PGFD volunteer department? I volunteered at 7 back when Vince was a LT. did my 10 and left to persue my career in another state. What has happened to him did he loose his mind? We take an oath to protect and serve even as volunteers does that mean anything anymore? Im saddened by this took some of my pride away.
Capt J. Barcenas Seattle Fire
 

THE WHOLE P.G. County FIRE service is a huge disaster. The man Jack Johnson has no $$$ to start NEW classes so he's happy with what he has. As long as he has that Redskins skybox, no worries from him. Also why did Jack Johnson make a trip to Africa? Recruitment?
 

TJH, 17 has been just a day work station in the last 2 months. What about all of the years before that? Also, what about the other stations I mentioned? The volunteers want to blame the amulance for their lack of numbers. That is pure B.S. 17 was the busiest truck in the county and they still couldn't staff it with volunteers who didn't have to ride the ambulance. So to all of thosae who say that the volunteers should provide fire protection while the career people provide ambulance coverage. 17 is the perfect example of the volunteers only wanting to present an image of being "firemen". The horseshoe that P.G. has been holding on to tightly with their butt cheeks will soon fall out, and when it does this department will finally turn the corner in the right direction.
 

Vince in my book is a idiot. It is up to others to figure out their own opinion about the man. I believe the photo of him in a white shirt is from when he was the Chief at 7 after an incident at the station.

LtFD Seattle stay in Seattle. I don't know nor do I care what a shunt is. If you are bleeding I will give you a bandage, trouble breathing - oxygen, and if your heart stops beating some good old cpr.

To the local 1619 you have been handed a problem,,,deal with it.

To the volunteers you have been handed a problem,,,deal with it.

Chief Jones was handed a problem,,,he is dealing with it.

Everybody wants to blame the problems on JJ and this and that. I do think JJ and his cronies are idiots, but read on. The fact is most of these problems were created at a much higher level of government. Yes I am talking about Congressmen, Senators, even President himself is involved.

You see the problem stems from greedy investors and investment companies looking to make a buck. They created the ARM (adjustable rate mortgage) and sold homes to people who had no business owning homes. The investors got their profit from the banks, home prices plummetted, interest rates shot up, and people suddenly couldn't afford their homes. Homes were foreclosed on, families kicked out, now the banks own a whole lot of homes and aren't getting any income from them. Or the people who haven't been foreclosed on and are still in their house aren't spending any money on anything but their mortgage in order to keep their house. So then you have other people losing their jobs because people aren't spending.

But don't worry the democrats, whom the IAFF endorses, will fix everything and hand out some money. Therefore lowering the value of the US dollar and owe by the way we have to raise your taxes to pay for all the money we just gave out.

It is a vicious, vicious cycle, that started at the top.

For discussion on another day McMansions. Why build them when people can't afford them,,,remember you have to pay a mortgage, insurance, taxes, and to heat and cool that big house.
 

I hear thru the grapevine that career Major Andrex, a former gold medal recipient, is being held accountable for this latest flap. I hear that the higher-ups think that he leaked the particulars to STATter 911.
I heard that he has been relieved from his command in the 4th and told that the Chief will find something else for him to do.
Did this really happen yesterday or is my source just stirring the pot?
 

Dave,

Where is the comments left by the former Chief and someone that was as we are being told was there and has 1st hand knowlege. It seems this is tanited again. I dont have any reason to belive this is nothing more then the union bashing
 

Quote: "It seems this is tanited again. I dont have any reason to belive this is nothing more then the union bashing"

I do not recall seeing any statement from the union about this. And they apparently admit to it...what part do you not understand???
 

Here are the comments left by the former chief, Eddie Hancock: http://www.wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/2009/07/former-chief-provides-details-of-pgfd.html

And if you scroll up a bit you will find them under "Eddie said". The link above takes you to my interview with Hancock.

What part is "tainted"? Do you think I was interviewing someone who was pretending to be Hancock and is instead a 1619 member?

Sure fooled me considering I have known the guy for 35-years. But if you know better give me some details or proof.

Statter
 

And where did you go to school?
 

A little more info about the call in the 7400 block of Oxon Hill Road. It was upgraded on channel 7 because there was smoke in the house. Working code and smoke in the house was the upgraded dispatch.
 

Would you really want an EMT, that didn't want to be an EMT? I sure as hell wouldn't. They probably did the community a favor, staying at the station, playing with their hoses.