The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department (PGFD) is a combination career/volunteer county-level agency that provides "..fire prevention, fire protection, emergency medical services, and community outreach programs" for residents of Prince George's County, Maryland. The Department is composed of volunteers from 33 different fire companies throughout the county, as well as career firefighters affiliated with The Prince George's County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association, IAFF Local 1619. According to the Firehouse Magazine 2010 Combination Fire Department Run Survey The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department covers a response area of approximately 580 miles, protects approximately 900,000 people, and has an annual operating budget of 132 million dollars. The same survey attributes 29,038 fire calls to the county along with 104,680 EMS calls for a total of 133,718 calls for service in 2010, making the PGFD the busiest combination department to submit statistics.
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History
In 1742, the town of Bladensburg became the first governmental entity to pass a fire prevention ordinance. The simple ordinance stipulated that all residential and commercial buildings had to be equipped with a smoke chimney. In 1886, the town of Hyattsville organized the first volunteer fire company in the county. With a donated budget of $27, the fire company bought a two-wheeled hand truck equipped with a barrel, pump, and hose. Two years later, in 1888, the town of Upper Marlboro organized the Marlboro Fire Association following two major town fires. John C. Wyvill had the first fire station built at a cost of $342.
It wasn't until the 1930s that the County organized its fire services at is known today. The University of Maryland created a Fire Service Extension to train firefighters and is widely regarded as a focal point for fire training for departments located east of the Mississippi River.
In 1966 the county incorporated paid firefighters within its volunteer force based on the Yarger Study which stated:
- At least two "paidmen" at each station.
- All paid firefighters should be county employees.
- A unified command structure should be developed under the direction of a County fire chief.
- Fire communications should be consolidated under the County fire chief.
The Department of Fire Protection was created on June 14, 1968 which consumed all other previous fire organizations under a single command.
In May 2009, the PGFD received local media attention following a massive natural gas explosion at a Forestville stripmall. PGFD Captain Robert Rouse (Engine 823) was one of 8 firefighters and 1 gas worker injured during the event.
List of fire chiefs
Lawrence R. Woltz
Frank Briguglio
M.H. (Jim) Estep
Steven T. Edwards
Lemuel A. Roberts
AD. Bell, Sr.
Ronald J. Siarnicki
Ronald D. Blackwell
Lawrence H. Sedgwick, Jr.
Eugene A. Jones
Marc S. Bashoor
Ben Barksdale (acting)
Organization
The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department is composed of 4 distinct commands, Emergency Operations, Administrative Services, and Support Services, and Volunteer Services. Each of the commands are headed by a Deputy Fire Chief (formerly known as Lt. Colonel) who reports directly to the Fire Chief.
Operations
The Emergency Operations Command (EOC) is the largest and most visible to the public. The EOC includes daily operations and of all emergency services, both Fire and EMS. The EOC incorporates both sworn career and volunteer Fighterfighter/EMT's. The EOC is further split into Northern and Southern Divisions. The dividing line between North and South within the fire department is Pennsylvania Avenue or Maryland Route 4 Within each division there are a set of battalions, Battalions 1,2,4,and 6 are located in the Northern Division and Battalions 3,5,and 7 are located within the Southern Division. "The PGFD's busiest service areas are located within Battalions 1,3,and 5 which includes the area commonly bordered by the District line to the west, Central Avenue to the north, the Capitol Beltway to the east, and Allentown Road to the South. These areas represent better than 60% of the PGFD's total calls for service, as they contain the highest population densities."
Battalions
The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department is organized into seven battalions. A breakdown of the battalions into communities and stations within the county is as follows:
- Battalion 881 serves the communities of Capitol Heights, Landover, Seat Pleasant, and Largo. It includes stations 5, 6, 8, 30, 33, 37, 38, and 46.
- Battalion 882 serves the communities of New Carrollton, Lanham, Bowie,and Glenn Dale. It includes stations 16, 18, 19, 28, 39, 43, and 48.
- Battalion 883 serves the communities of District Heights, Morningside, Hillcrest Heights, Suitland,and Forestville. It includes stations 17, 23, 26, 27, and 29.
- Battalion 884 serves the communities of Langley Park, Chillum, Mount Rainier, College Park, Bladensburg, and Riverdale. It includes stations 1, 7, 9, 12, 13, 34, 44, and 55.
- Battalion 885 serves the communities of Accokeek, Camp Springs,and Oxon Hill. It includes stations 21, 24, 32, 42, 47, and 58.
- Battalion 886 serves the communities Laurel, Greenbelt, Beltsville,and Berwyn Heights. It includes stations 10, 11, 14, 31, 35, 41, and 49.
- Battalion 887 serves the communities Upper Marlboro, Clinton,and Brandywine. It includes stations 20, 25, 36, 40, and 45.
The Administrative Services command includes Human Resources, Logistics and Supply, Fiscal Affairs, Facilities and Resource Planning, and Apparatus Maintenance. The Administrative services command incorporates both sworn career firefighters and career civilian employees.
The Special Operations Command includes The Office of the Fire Marshal, Risk Management and Safety, Professional Standards, The Fire/EMS Training Academy, and Technical Services. Technical Services includes, but is not limited to the department's HazMat Team, Bomb Squad, and specialty rescue companies.
Fire stations and apparatus
Abbreviations:
- E - Engine
- PE - Paramedic Engine
- RE - Rescue Engine
- ET - Engine Tanker
- TK - Truck
- TW - Tower
- RS - Rescue Squad
- M - Medic Unit
- A - Ambulance
- PA - Paramedic Ambulance
- BC - Battalion Chief
- C - Chief
- TR - Technical Rescue
- TS - Technical Support Unit
- F - Foam Unit
- HMU - HazMat Unit
- HMSU - HazMat Support Unit
- B - Boat
- WR - Water Rescue
- U - Utility
- BR - Brush
- MP - Mini Pumper
- MCSU - Mass Casualty Support Unit
- BAU- Breathing Apparatus Unit
Special designations
Co. 15 - Fire Investigators & Bomb Squad
Co. 56/57 - Water Rescue & Recovery Team
Dive Unit, Dive Support Unit, 22' Boston Whaler, (2) 14' Support Boats, 2 Fireboats
Co. 62 - Apparatus Maintenance
Co. 65 - Fire/EMS Training Academy
Consolidated or disbanded fire stations/companies
Co. 2 - Cottage City Volunteer Fire Company
Consolidated into Company 55
Co. 3 - Mount Rainier Volunteer Fire Company
Consolidated into Company 55
Co. 4 - Brentwood Volunteer Fire Company
Consolidated into Company 55
Co. 6 - Hillside Volunteer Fire Department
Disbanded in 1999. This station was located at 1234 Larchmont Avenue in Capitol Heights. When the new station on St. Joseph's Drive in Largo opened it was given 6 as its number designation
Co. 22 - Tuxedo-Cheverly Fire Station
Closed until further notice, all units have moved to Station 6 on St. Joseph's Drive.
Co. 53 - Special Operations Division (Haz Mat/Bomb Squad)
Services relocated to other stations/offices.
Equipment
The PGFD is a progressive agency with a full complement of modern fire training, equipment, and vehicles. PGFD predominately uses county owned apparatus, although volunteer agencies within PGFD often purchase their own apparatus. Ambulance units respond to Basic Life Support calls and are staffed with certified Maryland EMTs. Medic units respond to Advanced Life Support calls such as respiratory problems or cardiac arrest, and are staffed with certified Maryland Paramedics. Engine companies respond to both EMS calls and fire calls. Ladder companies respond to calls involving fires or an odor of gas within a structure. Rescue squads and rescue engines respond to incidents generally described as more life-threatening such as motor vehicle crashes or entrapments. A special service (Truck/Tower/Rescue/Quint) can act as Rapid Intervention Team on a working fire if needed. The Rapid Intervention Team is normally the 4th due engine combined with the special service apparatus dispatched once a working fire is confirmed.
PGFD issues every Firefighter/EMT a Cairns Metro 660C helmet, but firefighters can purchase their own Cairns Sam Houston Model N6A1, Cairns Classic 1000 and 1010, Cairns 1044, and the Morning Pride Ben 2 Plus Fire Helmet if they choose. Every Firefighter/EMT is also issued a coat, Nomex hood, pants, gloves, rubber boots, and face piece. PGFD uses Scott Safety 4.5 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus for their breathing apparatus, and the Scott AV-3000 for their individual firefighter face piece.
Blue Helmet - EMS provider only
Red Helmet - A Firefighter that does not have a Firefighter I certification from MFRI yet; they can do anything except go inside structure fires.
Yellow/Black Helmet - Firefighter/EMT
White helmet w. regular coat - Company officer (Captain, Lieutenant, etc.)
White helmet w. white coat - Chief officer (Chief, Deputy Chief, etc.)
Basic response guidelines
- Local Alarm
- Local Alarm (Respond/Proceed): 1 Engine
- Rescue Local: 1 Engine, 1 Rescue Squad/Rescue Engine, 1 Ambulance
- Rescue Local with Entrapment (Upgrade): 1 Engine, 1 Rescue Squad/Rescue Engine, 1 Medic Unit,1 BLS Ambulance, 1 EMS Supervisor, 1 Battalion Chief
- Ambulance Local: 1 Ambulance
- Medical Local: 1 Engine or 1 Ambulance, 1 Medic Unit
- Medical Local (Shooting/Stabbing): 1 Engine, 1 Ambulance, 1 Medic Unit
- Working Code (CPR in progress): 1 Engine, 1 Ambulance, 1 Medic Unit, 1 EMS Supervisor
- Haz-Mat Local: 1 Engine, 1 Haz-Mat Unit
- Street Assignment: 2 Engines, 1 Truck/Tower, 1 Special Service (Tower, Truck, Quint, Rescue Engine or Rescue Squad), 1 Battalion Chief
- Street Assignment (In Non-Hydrated Areas): 2 Engines, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad), 1 Tanker, 1 Battalion Chief
- Haz-Mat Street Assignment: 2 Engines, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad), 1 Haz-Mat Unit, 1 Ambulance, 1 Medic Unit, 1 EMS Supervisor, 1 Battalion Chief
- Box Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad), 1 Ambulance, 2 Battalion Chiefs
- Box Alarm (In Non-Hydrated Areas): 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad), 3 Tankers, 1 Water Supply Unit, 1 Ambulance, 2 Battalion Chiefs
- Haz-Mat Box Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Special Services (Truck or Rescue Squad), 1 Haz-Mat Unit, 1 Ambulance, 1 Medic Unit, 1 EMS Supervisor, 1 Haz-Mat Coordinator, 2 Battalion Chiefs
- Working Fire(Upgrade): 1 Medic Unit, 1 Safety Officer, 1 EMS Supervisor
- Task Force Alarm(Optional Upgrade): 2 Engines, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad)
- 2nd Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad)
- 3rd Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad)
- 4th Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad)
- 5th Alarm: 4 Engines, 2 Trucks, 1 Special Service (Truck or Rescue Squad)
- Airplane/Train Crash: 2 Engines, 1 Rescue Squad, 1 Haz-Mat Unit, 1 Foam Unit, 1 Brush Unit, 1 Ambulance, 1 Medic Unit, 1 EMS Supervisor, 2 Battalion Chiefs
A Street Assignment is an odor of natural gas inside of structure, investigation of something burning inside of structure, electrical socket sparking, chimney fire, and other similar things.
A Box Alarm is the report of smoke or fire in ANY structure, such as a house, building, apartment, condo, townhouse, or school.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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