As some of you may know, we have been working to address coverage needs at some of our fire stations. Today, in collaboration with Fire Chief Tiffany Green, we are pleased to announce a staffing reallocation plan for the Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department.
Planning for this strategic reallocation began in January 2024, following a review and assessment of last summer’s performance and staff experiences and was driven by detailed data analysis. The plan includes coverage from surrounding stations and the deployment of peak or surge units (ambulances) during known peak call times.
Vacation leave among career fire and EMS personnel peaks annually between the months of May and September. It is anticipated that this will critically strain an already short-staffed system. This staffing plan repositions staff to better account for these realities, supports the health and safety of fire and EMS personnel, and maintains high-quality emergency services for our residents.
The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department continues to face a staffing shortage of 251 career firefighters. This shortage, exacerbated by the challenges of COVID-19, has significantly impacted the Department’s ability to recruit and hire new personnel. The resulting vacancies and anticipated leave this summer are expected to affect the health and safety of employees and cost taxpayers over $30 million annually in overtime expenses. Inaction was not an option.
In addition to the reallocation, we are providing funding to hire 150 new firefighters in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, which is the highest number of positions funded in an annual budget in 20 years. In addition, 32 firefighters will be graduating from training on July 16, and 53 firefighters just recently began their training on June 3.
These new hires are a critical step toward achieving our staffing goal of 1,224 firefighters, alongside our ongoing volunteer recruitment efforts. The Department conducted a thorough assessment of current staffing patterns across all locations in the County, using historical incident data from 2023 and a drive-time analysis from surrounding stations. It identified specific stations from which career personnel can be redeployed with minimal impact on emergency service delivery.
Effective June 30, career staffing from the following Fire/EMS stations will be reassigned to fill vacant positions throughout the County:
-
Fire/EMS Station 814, Berwyn Heights – Currently staffed with six (6) career personnel, Monday through Friday, from 7 A.M. – 3 P.M.
-
Fire/EMS Station 835, Greenbelt – Currently staffed with twenty-four (24) career personnel, with six (6) dedicated to each 24-hour shift.
-
Fire/EMS Station 839, Bowie-Belair – Currently staffed with five (5) career personnel, Monday through Friday, from 7 A.M. – 3 P.M.
-
Fire/EMS Station 855, Bunker Hill – Currently staffed with twenty (20) career personnel, with six (6) dedicated to each 24-hour shift.
The Department will also assign EMS units during peak hours and continuously evaluate response data to redeploy assets as needed to ensure community safety.
This strategic staffing reallocation is vital to combat fatigue and maintain the health and safety of our fire and EMS personnel while ensuring that our residents continue to receive the high level of emergency services they depend on. We are committed to addressing the staffing challenges and supporting our dedicated firefighters and EMS personnel.
