DAVE STATTER
STATter911.com

Just after 2:00 this morning smoke filled the Boulevard Heights firehouse (Station 817) in Prince George's County, Maryland. The PGFD-owned 2001 Seagrave the station was using caught fire after returning from an emergency run.

According to Boulevard Heights Assistant Chief Antwan Jordan, the firefighters attempted to put out the blaze with two dry chemical fire extinguisher, but the fire continued to grow. Unable to pull the rig out of the firehouse, and watching smoke start to fill the station, Jordan called for assistance. The station's automatic sprinkler system also activated.

The next closest firehouse is Station 805 (Capitol Heights). Located a little more than two-miles away, Station 805 had no firefighters available and did not respond on the call.

On Sunday, PGFD began a new staffing plan that has permanently removed career firefighters from Station 805 and three other stations in the county. The 16 volunteer members at Capitol Heights VFD are not enough to continuously staff the station.

Knowing that Station 805 did not have a crew, the dispatch center simultaneously sent an engine from Station 826 (District Heights).

After the initial dispatch Chief Jordan asked for the full box alarm, sending four engines and three special services. PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady says dispatch records indicate the first help arrived at 2:12 AM, eight minutes after Chief Jordan asked for assistance.

Chief Jordan tells STATter911.com, he believes Station 805, if it had been staffed, would have arrived about two minutes earlier.

Spokesman Brady believes in this case the lack of staffing at Station 805 had no impact on the call.

Google Maps shows that Station 826 and Station 805 are about equal distance from Station 817. Station 826 also has a better running route, over major roads rather than neighborhood streets.

Sunday afternoon, Station 805 failed to respond to more than a half-dozen fire and ambulance calls due to lack of staffing. At the same time Station 817 missed as many calls. In April, PGFD removed career staffing from Station 817 on nights and weekends.

Chief Jordan told STATter911.com on Sunday the station is missing a lot of ambulance calls because many of their volunteers only recently joined and are not yet certified as emergency medical technicians. The lack of staffing also prompted PGFD to remove Station 817's ladder truck and place it at Station 829 (Silver Hill).

PGFD Chief Eugene Jones says the new staffing plan is necessary due to budget cuts. Chief Jones has made the case in recent weeks that the county has too many stations, too close together.

Brady says the pumper that burned suffered damage to the engine and electrical wiring. The damage is estimated at $75,000. The engine is normally assigned to the Chapel Oaks firehouse (Station 838) and was being used at Station 817 while its fire engines were being repaired.