Can someone here tell me why there is no F.D. in the north end of the county, let’s say in the Pinefield area?

There should be a Fire/EMS station in the north end of the county; in all reality there needs to be about 4-5 new Fire/EMS stations built through-out the county to properly protect the “Tax Paying” citizens of our county.

But it will never happen, because the volunteers could never find enough personnel to man them correctly, most of them have problems getting out in a timely manner with the proper manpower on their apparatus now.

Just a Citizen - 03 June 2010 01:28 PM

Can someone here tell me why there is no F.D. in the north end of the county, let’s say in the Pinefield area?

I believe the word is politics, plus the volunteer system in our county couldn’t properly man, and competently operate another fully staffed volunteer fire station in our county, in my opinion there at the breaking point now.

Plus, I have to agree with the above statement that we truly need several more stations built in our county to properly protect the citizens in our county, but unless change is made, and our county commissioners start locking into how to fund for career firefighters, our present system will continue and will at one point and soon I fear start to rapidly fail to protect us due to the explosion in the population and the upsurge in the emergency call volume.

Not to sound negative, but the volunteer system we have also depends on one other factor people are failing to mention. volunteers.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m so thankful for all those who have so far volunteered their time, and ultimately their lives for our safety. However they do need more county residents involved in the volunteer process.

mr.chew - 04 September 2010 09:56 AM

Not to sound negative, but the volunteer system we have also depends on one other factor people are failing to mention. volunteers.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m so thankful for all those who have so far volunteered their time, and ultimately their lives for our safety. However they do need more county residents involved in the volunteer process.

The all volunteer system is dying a slow death. The administrations of the current volunteer departments, who are btw little independent corporations, will fight to the end to prevent a career staffed fire service in Charles County. They don’t want to give up power, nor come to the understanding that as the county grows and demands are placed on our residents to run and care for their familys, time and money is short, which in turn will affect the volunteer fire stations from tapping in to a volunteer market, just like our bank accounts our volunteer time is stretched thin.

On the other hand, as long as the volunteer stations report to the commissioners that they are doing a wonderful job, why should the commissioners give up paying for something they get for free?

As for protection in the Northern End of the county (Pinefiled area) we have Prince Georges that also responds and they have stations that as close as any station in Waldorf. If a house fire in Waldorf is reported you would have units from Baden, Brandywine and/or Clinton , Accokeek all responding, while at the same time units from Waldorf stations 3 & 12 and as well as from La Plata.

As long as the old guard remains from these volunteer stations, you will not see a full paid crew, and trust me,  you don’t want to see a station with a mixture of paid and volunetter, the only thing that does is cause headaches about who owns the sand box.

Rocky Raccoon - 04 September 2010 03:15 PM

The all volunteer system is dying a slow death. The administrations of the current volunteer departments, who are btw little independent corporations, will fight to the end to prevent a career staffed fire service in Charles County. They don’t want to give up power, nor come to the understanding that as the county grows and demands are placed on our residents to run and care for their familys, time and money is short, which in turn will affect the volunteer fire stations from tapping in to a volunteer market, just like our bank accounts our volunteer time is stretched thin.

On the other hand, as long as the volunteer stations report to the commissioners that they are doing a wonderful job, why should the commissioners give up paying for something they get for free?

As for protection in the Northern End of the county (Pinefiled area) we have Prince Georges that also responds and they have stations that as close as any station in Waldorf. If a house fire in Waldorf is reported you would have units from Baden, Brandywine and/or Clinton , Accokeek all responding, while at the same time units from Waldorf stations 3 & 12 and as well as from La Plata.

As long as the old guard remains from these volunteer stations, you will not see a full paid crew, and trust me,  you don’t want to see a station with a mixture of paid and volunetter, the only thing that does is cause headaches about who owns the sand box.

I know Charles County has a Mutual Aid Agreement with P.G. County, but why should the people in the Pinefield area have to rely on companies from P.G. County to respond, what if the P.G. companies are on calls in their area?

I thought one of the policies of Charles County Government was to provide the best,  and highest quality public safety available to every citizen in Charles County, I also believe the travel time for those Mutual Aid companies you listed is also insufficient.

Can Charles County really afford to build and staff a fire station? Can the area stations afford both in cash and personal build, staff and maintain their primary station and in some cases a secondary station plus a new station in the Northern Waldorf area, and lets say the Dentsville area and the Ironsides areas….

Rocky Raccoon - 09 September 2010 09:54 AM

Can Charles County really afford to build and staff a fire station? Can the area stations afford both in cash and personal build, staff and maintain their primary station and in some cases a secondary station plus a new station in the Northern Waldorf area, and lets say the Dentsville area and the Ironsides areas….

Can Charles County really afford to build a new Fire/EMS Station? Yes they could build it, and several others strategically located through-out the county where needed.

It’s called a “Maturity Bond”, they brag about their “Outstanding” bond rating all the time, let them put it to good use.

Now, can they staff it, that’s the $64,000 dollar question, and I’ll wager they can’t, they can hardly man the existing company’s, and apparatus in the county.

Coyote - 09 September 2010 05:30 PM

Rocky Raccoon - 09 September 2010 09:54 AM

Can Charles County really afford to build and staff a fire station? Can the area stations afford both in cash and personal build, staff and maintain their primary station and in some cases a secondary station plus a new station in the Northern Waldorf area, and lets say the Dentsville area and the Ironsides areas….

Can Charles County really afford to build a new Fire/EMS Station? Yes they could build it, and several others strategically located through-out the county where needed.

It’s called a “Maturity Bond”, they brag about their “Outstanding” bond rating all the time, let them put it to good use.

Now, can they staff it, that’s the $64,000 dollar question, and I’ll wager they can’t, they can hardly man the existing company’s, and apparatus in the county.

I truly don’t see how they could even remotely fully staff any other stations in such away that it would be beneficial and cost effective to the citizens of Charles.