UPDATE to STATter911.com exclusive: PGFD restores volunteer physicals. Work underway to put front-line units back on the street.
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Read and watch STATter911.com’s previous coverage on this story
Read entire statement from PGFD
On Monday, STATter911.com reported that end of the fiscal year money issues were impacting the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department’s emergency operations. That was the same day Lt. Col. Victor Stagnaro issued a memo to the department’s leadership saying,”Over the next six weeks and perhaps in to the next fiscal year it will become increasingly difficult to maintain apparatus”.
A holiday weekend press release indicates, after further analysis, modifications are being made in an effort to repair fire trucks and ambulances. Many rigs had been lined up at maintenance shops unable to be fixed due to lack of funds. PGFD Chief Spokesman Mark Brady wrote:
Repairs to apparatus will be evaluated on a case by case basis and criteria for which apparatus will be repaired will still be under extreme financial scrutiny and oversight, however, repairs have been started to put front line units back on the street.
In a statement Monday Brady confirmed there were gaps in coverage due to ladder trucks and squads being out of service. About one-third of the truck companies in the county were not operating. Brady said then the department had no choice but to live within its budget, explaining that it was not business as usual.
Despite serious budget problems resulting in furloughs and a drastic cut in overtime, PGFD also found that it was unable to bring in new free labor in the form of volunteer firefighters. A total of 43 people have been waiting to take physicals that had been put on hold because PGFD was unable to pay for the examinations. Brady reports money has now been found and those on the list are being contacted to schedule an appointment.
Here is more from Brady’s press release on the changes:
Fire Chief Jones and his fiscal affairs office have been working diligently to find ways to re-institute programs after having had a chance to review and prioritize them. Fire Chief Jones stated, “Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our firefighters, EMT’s, paramedics and civilian employees while we continue to provide the very best in fire and emergency medical services possible to our citizens, residents and visitors.”
By these programs being funded does by in no way indicate that everything is back to normal. Oversight and tight control over expenditures in all aspects of our agency will become a way of life for the foreseeable future.
