SageVigiles

Not everyone in MD, just Prince George's and Baltimore City... Haha The majority of PG County is a low income area, especially after all the military families moved out and DC started being gentrified. Our Battalion borders Southeast DC, which is somewhere between Dodge City and Baghdad in terms of violence. Plenty of gang and drug activity in the county, I beleive during the 90's PG had one of the highest murder rates in America. Also lots of garden apartment buildings with no sprinkler systems, and just generally crappy building construction all over the place. It's not a nice place to live (with the exception of a few towns) but it's a helluva place to be a Fireman. Not too many other places where volunteers can get the fire experience you can get down here. (Or up here, in your case.)

I know I'm not in the greater NYC area anymore, so just to be safe Jon, I'll officially take us out of the running for that trophy you're giving out... Morningside Volunteer Fire Department Prince George's County, MD Station 827 Engine 827: 1,056 Rescue-Engine 827: 977 Rescue Squad 827: 1,853 Ambulance 827: 2,824 Total: 6,709* That's with minimum staffing of 3 interior on the Engine, 4 on the Rescue Squad, and 3 or 4 on the Rescue Engine depending on if its responding as an Engine Company or a Special Service. Ambulance is with 2 EMTs minimum, obviously. Though most of the time we run heavier than the minimum. As I've mentioned before we're staffed 24/7 with volunteers. *Note: Some of those responses are incidents in which 2 or 3 pieces responded to the same call. I don't have the ability to break down how many unique incident numbers we went on, that kind of thing has to come from Communications, these are the numbers from our logbook. Some of those calls that suppression pieces went on are to assist EMS, but again I can't separate that data.

Congratulations and good luck!

Great video, and the guys at 33 are top notch Firemen. I love the point they're making. Having a skilled, confident team can prevent a lot of people from getting hurt.

Today Morningside VFD located in "Gorgeous Prince George's" County, Maryland, celebrated its 1 year anniversary of providing 100% volunteer coverage 24/7 to our community. One of our live-in Firefighters has some experience in video editing, and put this quick clip together from a collection of incidents over the past year. We should have another video coming out in the next few weeks as well that's solely based on incidents from the last few weeks of "fire season" down here in PG County. Enjoy: MVFD 27 - One Year, 100% Volunteer

Not for nothing, I'm a member of a 100% volunteer station that (as of December 16th at 1400 hours), has responded to 6,435 alarms in 2014. December 29th will mark 1 year of 100% volunteer service. Minimum Staffing for the Engine Company: 3 Minimum Staffing for the Rescue Squad: 4 We're averaging around 50 people providing staffing each month, some EMS only but most are Fire/EMS. If you have non Pro-Board FF1 you must attend a bridge class to meet the minimum training requirements. W do NOT miss calls for service. If your department is progressive and proactive in approaching your manpower issues, you can solve the problem. Its not easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. But if your department is using the same staffing plan you used in 1950 (with the same training qualifications) then you're going to have some troubles.

Important incident to remember given everything going on today. I had the honor of meeting the Kaczowka family at the 2013 National Fallen Firefighters' Memorial Weekend. Great people.

Care to give that another shot in English?

3rd alarm transmitted.

Rest Easy, Sister.

Baltimore City also lost 2.

Private citizens are in no way obligated to protect patient information. Welcome to the digital age of nosy neighbors. I never understood putting the last name of the residence in a transmission. But the rest of that information is mission critical, is it not? I'm no lawyer, but it would be hard to argue privacy violations there. If someone really has a problem with that information being put over the air, then I suggest they call a taxi to take them to the hospital...

Not really. As I have found running down in PG County, when everyone meets the same basic standards there's only one way to judge the caliber of firefighters: based on the merits of your abilities and whether you can keep the rigs staffed, not on whether you're paid or vollie. Go experience how other places do it, and you'll pound your head against the wall when you return to the antiquated ways of the northeast. Not to say that PGFD is the be-all, end-all, we have plenty of problems too. But we get rigs on the road with certified Firefighters and Fire Officers, and fires go out. And other than the patch on our arm there's no way you can tell the difference between career and volunteer.

Units responding to multiple reports of shots fired, looting, and rocks being thrown at MOS throughout Ferguson. Tactical units en route from staging to assist field force teams. 1 Journalist injured after being hit by a brick At least 1 STL County Police car has been destroyed

San Francisco last night was a borderline-riot situation. A group of about 200 attempted to march to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. When they were stopped by police, they decided to break windows and march halfway across the city. Next step was to attempt to block the freeways, but CHP and SFPD didn't let them anywhere near those. They ended up breaking windows at several businesses, looting a radio shack, setting fire to a news van, and assaulting several Police Officers. Approximately 75 total arrests.

While I think that physical requirements are important, has NYS begun to require that all (yes, all) Firefighters receive training and certification that is compliant with NFPA 1001?

Is this part of the ProBoard program, or the NY programs that don't really apply anywhere else?

Mobile Response Team. The vehicle is a Lenco Bearcat.

A protester also sprayed NYPD Commissioner Bratton and MOS assigned to his detail with a bag of fake blood. https://twitter.com/jeffrae/status/537092260266250240/photo/1

National Guard now being deployed to the street. Fire department retreating from one of the scenes due to shots fired.

Also known as "Amberlamps"

At least 4 working fires, Molotov cocktails being thrown as well.

National Guard is operating in the area in a logistical and support capacity.

You probably won't find much, Wallingford is lacking in internet accessibility because the Mayor is perpetually stuck in 1970. However, if you have your medic this is a GREAT job, since everyone on the line is a Paramedic, you won't be stuck riding a boo-boo bus for the next 20 years because you have that license. You'll actually get to ride suppression pieces, unlike most "Firefighter"/Paramedic jobs in the state of Connecticut. I used to volunteer there so if anyone wants any info on the department feel free to PM me.

Departments sharing resources? Crazy idea.