Early video & radio traffic: Closest 3 fire stations to deadly Maryland fire weren’t staffed
PGFD union highlights staffing issues during Saturday fire where 2 were pulled from burning home
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According to news reports, a spokesman for Maryland’s Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department confirms that volunteer firefighters did not have staffing at the three closest stations to a deadly fire yesterday (Saturday). The staffing concerns were made public by IAFF Local 1619 when the union posted the information on Facebook a little more than three hours after the fire broke out. Two residents of the home were pulled from the basement by firefighters from Truck 809 (Bladensburg VFD). One of those people died. In addition a firefighter was injured.
Firefighters’ union IAFF Local 1619 claims that the fatal fire had a delayed firefighter response due to the fact that the closest three stations are out of service due to no staffing.
A PIO for the fire department says that volunteer fire companies were not staffed on Saturday evening.
The closest fire station to the burning home in the 6400 block of Inlet Street is Station 848 (West Lanham Hills VFD). That firehouse is less than two-miles from the home. PGFD does not dispatch volunteer companies unless its 911 center is informed there’s adequate staffing at the firehouse. In addition to Station 848, Station 813 (Riverdale Heights VFD) and Station 828 (West Lanham Hills VFD’s other station) weren’t dispatched to the house fire. Station 828 is a little more than two-miles from home and Station 813 is about 2.5 miles.
U/D to 6400 block of Inlet St: one of the adult patients rescued from the fire has succumbed to their injuries & been pronounced deceased at the hospital. @PGPDNews is opening an investigation
— Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department (@PGFDNews) January 19, 2020
