GREENBELT, MD — The City of Greenbelt expressed concerns regarding Prince George’s County’s decision to reassign career firefighters from the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department, Station 835, effective June 30, 2024. This move, part of the County’s effort to address critical staffing shortages, will significantly impact the response time and services to the Greenbelt Community.
Recent Update: In response to concerns about the potential service gap during peak hours, Prince George's County has committed to providing one ambulance staffed by career personnel at Station 835 from 11 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week throughout the summer. This initiative aims to ensure continuous emergency medical coverage during the hours of highest demand.
Background: Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany Green announced the reassignment of career firefighters as part of the summer plan to manage staffing shortages and reduce excessive mandatory overtime, which has cost taxpayers over $30 million, and reduce the burden on firefighters during the summer months. The plan impacts 55 personnel across four stations:
• Station 835 (Greenbelt): 24 shiftwork personnel
• Station 839 (Bowie – Belair): 5 daywork personnel
• Station 814 (Berwyn Heights): 6 daywork personnel
• Station 855 (Bunker Hill): 20 shiftwork personnel
Community Impact and Response: The City of Greenbelt is actively engaging with Chief Administrative Officer Tara Jackson and County Fire Chief Tiffany Green to address our concerns. Mayor Emmett V. Jordan emphasized, “We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents through collaboration and transparent communication. We are taken aback by the sudden announcement of the summer staffing plan.”
While the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) plays a critical role in our community, providing essential services and support to the County, it does not have enough volunteers to take over a 24-hour operation gap that will be left behind by the reassignment of the 24 career personnel from the Greenbelt Fire Station.
We appreciate the Prince George’s County response to our concerns and their commitment to staff an ambulance at the Greenbelt Fire Station during the summer program. We remain committed to our partnership with the County in working collaboratively to maintain an Emergency Medical Services presence at the Greenbelt Fire Station for the safety and well-being of our residents and surrounding area.
We remain dedicated to keeping our community informed and will provide updates as more information becomes available. Our goal is to work collaboratively with county officials to find viable solutions that do not compromise the safety or emergency services vital to our residents while supporting our firefighters and Medical Personnel.