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MD Chief Struggles With Lack of Drivers
STATter911.com
Reprinted with Permission
View STATter911.com's FFN Page
ALLENTOWN - When Nick Finamore retired from PGFD as a deputy chief more than 20-years-ago there were a little than 800 career firefighters in the department. Now there are less than 700.
Since his retirement, Finamore has been chief of the Allentown Road VFD (Stations 832 and 847). While his companies were not on the initial schedule to lose career staffing on a rotating basis, Finamore has now been told Station 832 has been added starting this Thursday. He's not happy.
In a letter to Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department Acting Chief Eugene Jones, Chief Finamore points out he has few volunteers and none qualified to drive the apparatus. Finamore writes, " ... neither I, nor the Allentown Road Volunteer Fire Department will be responsible for the ramifications resulting from the failure to staff Station 832."
We have put in a request for comment from PGFD.
There have been some modifications made to the initial staffing plan we have shared with you. These include removing Bowie VFD from the rotating removal of career staff in exchange for dropping from four firefighters to two firefighters on shift work at Stations 839 and 843.
There is also a modification made for Brandywine (Station 840) that means the fire station will only lose career staffing on weekends.
Also, some overtime money has been allocated to partially staff four stations with career firefighters from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.
On Friday, CNN's Jeanne Meserve did the reporting on a story about the impact of budget cuts on fire departments across the country. It focused on Flint, Atlanta, Alameda and Prince George's County.
Reading the transcript it says they interviewed Jim Davis in Atlanta. I assume that is actually Lt. Jim Daws, president of IAFF Local 134.
In Prince George's County it says they interviewed Mark Brady and an unidentified male. STATter911.com is here to unmask that man. It was Doug Bartholomew, president of IAFF Local 1619, standing in front of the Boulevard Heights firehouse (Station 817) saying "Nobody is home. Turn out the lights."
Reprinted with Permission
View STATter911.com's FFN Page
ALLENTOWN - When Nick Finamore retired from PGFD as a deputy chief more than 20-years-ago there were a little than 800 career firefighters in the department. Now there are less than 700.
Since his retirement, Finamore has been chief of the Allentown Road VFD (Stations 832 and 847). While his companies were not on the initial schedule to lose career staffing on a rotating basis, Finamore has now been told Station 832 has been added starting this Thursday. He's not happy.
In a letter to Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department Acting Chief Eugene Jones, Chief Finamore points out he has few volunteers and none qualified to drive the apparatus. Finamore writes, " ... neither I, nor the Allentown Road Volunteer Fire Department will be responsible for the ramifications resulting from the failure to staff Station 832."
We have put in a request for comment from PGFD.
There have been some modifications made to the initial staffing plan we have shared with you. These include removing Bowie VFD from the rotating removal of career staff in exchange for dropping from four firefighters to two firefighters on shift work at Stations 839 and 843.
There is also a modification made for Brandywine (Station 840) that means the fire station will only lose career staffing on weekends.
Also, some overtime money has been allocated to partially staff four stations with career firefighters from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.
On Friday, CNN's Jeanne Meserve did the reporting on a story about the impact of budget cuts on fire departments across the country. It focused on Flint, Atlanta, Alameda and Prince George's County.
Reading the transcript it says they interviewed Jim Davis in Atlanta. I assume that is actually Lt. Jim Daws, president of IAFF Local 134.
In Prince George's County it says they interviewed Mark Brady and an unidentified male. STATter911.com is here to unmask that man. It was Doug Bartholomew, president of IAFF Local 1619, standing in front of the Boulevard Heights firehouse (Station 817) saying "Nobody is home. Turn out the lights."
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dewayne and Diana Bean on
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Sad
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Permalink Reply by Mike Ward on
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From Firegeezer.com
As the Fiscal Year 2010 reductions hit, more organizational cracks appear and existing dysfunctions become more noticable.
Dave Statter has been following one of the high-profile examples, the moving of career staff out of volunteer Prince George’s County (Maryland) fire stations. Since last Wednesday’s blog (HERE) the situation has become more troubling.
NO QUALIFIED DRIVERS
Last night Statter reported on a volunteer chief’s complaint to the acting county fire chief. (reposted on this site)
A station not on the original plan will lose career staff next Thursday. In his letter to the acting county fire chief, with copies to local political leaders, Volunteer Fire Chief Nicholas Finamore states:
While I am aware of the budgetary constraints placed upon the department, the Allentown Road Volunteer Fire Department is currently unavailable to backfill the station with volunteer participation. Furthermore, we have no volunteer members currently turned over to operate the station apparatus.
As discussed in previous communications, if career staffing were not a necessity, I would have not requested it.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A VFD IN A COMBINATION SYSTEM?
Chief Finamore’s memo makes me wonder … if you have no qualified apparatus drivers, what is the the purpose of a volunteer fire department?
Engine 832, Truck 832 and Ambulance 832 were purchased by the county. The non-profit VFD corporation owns the fire station/land and some support vehicles.
Since the outlawing of casino nights last decade, the ability of many PG volunteer corporations to purchase fire apparatus appears to have evaporated.
WHAT IS THE VFD CHIEF’S RESPONSIBILITY?
Chief Finamore is a life member of Allentown Road VFD, meaning that he has been active for more than 20 years. He is known as an excellent fireground commander.
He also had a career with the county fire and rescue department, retiring as a PGFD deputy fire chief.
Is it the volunteer chief’s responsibility to assure that enough volunteers are trained to provide basic services? Or is it acceptable not to sweat the training of volunteer apparatus operators when you have county employees as drivers every hour of every day?
Mike “Fossilmedic” Ward
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Permalink Reply by Palmyra Chief Donaghey on
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As a Chief of a 100% VFD I think some rapid recruitment and TRAINING is necessary. Put the responsibility on your vols, they can surprise you ! Take advantage of this setback to push for some fresh faces at the station. There was even grant money available to develop recruitment and retention programs. Sad to say but it is a sign of the times.......I hope the community steps up to the plate there and anywhere a dept. is struggling.
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