Story and Photos (unless otherwise noted) by Mark E. Brady
The Kenny Chesney/Zac Brown Band summer concert tour took the stage at FedEx Field on Saturday, June 4, 2011. There were about 54,000 people attending the concert that featured four acts. On this tour, titled “Goin’ Coastal,” singers Uncle Kracker and Billy Currington perform early evening warm-ups; and, at stadiums like FedEx, the Zac Brown Band co-headlines with Chesney.
FedEx Field, home to the NFL’s Washington Redskins, is located in Landover, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. The Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department (PGFD) provides public safety services during stadium events on a contracted agreement, and about 60 firefighter/medics and command staff were on-duty for the concert.
The Fire/EMS Department “Special Events” unit plans and coordinates a variety of projects, including stadium events. The unit is under the leadership of Major Adon Snyder, commander of Technical Services, which is a division of the Special Operations Command led by Lt. Colonel Scott K. Hoglander. In addition to the Special Events unit, Technical Services also coordinates the Fire/EMS Department’s Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue Team, and Water Rescue that includes the Lawrence Woltz Fire Boat.
Planning begins weeks before an event occurs and includes several meetings with the operations staff at Fed Ex Field, event producers and other agencies that will work the event. Resources such as transport units (ambulances), specially modified golf carts for EMS services, and required equipment—advanced and basic life support equipment—are stored and maintained by Fire Fighter/Medic Technician Jamison Scarlata. Scarlata also schedules all training and staffing for events. When events occur at FedEx Field, the swell of attendance rises to become the second largest city in the state. Appropriate resources are required to meet the needs of attendees, production crews and talent. Services at FedEx Field were designed and staffed so as not to affect services normally provided to the citizens and residents in nearby communities. Public safety at Fed Ex Field is designed to be self-sufficient.
Personnel who work stadium events are required to take training that familiarizes them with the layout of the stadium “footprint” that includes the parking lots and interior layout. Training also consists of equipment familiarization and how to remove a patient from the upper bowl of the stadium that requires the services of the high-angle team.
Personnel arrive at an off-site location about five hours before an event is scheduled to begin and start the check-in process. This involves signing in, receiving unit assignments, obtaining credentials, and radio and equipment for the assigned units. In addition to personnel providing fire and EMS, there is also staff providing services for hazardous materials, inspections and prevention, logistics, transportation, and incident command.
Members of the Department’s Bomb Squad arrive on-site at earlier times and conduct sweeps of the stadium, with assistance from the County Police and Maryland State Police.
Once Fire/EMS apparatus and equipment are prepped, everyone drives to the stadium and takes appropriate positions inside and outside of the stadium. A meeting of all personnel is held 30 minutes prior to the gates opening. This meeting covers all aspects of the event, including reports from supervisors responsible for fire, EMS, bomb squad, inspections, and incident commanders. Assignments are reviewed and verified. Once the meeting concludes all personnel deploy to their respective areas of responsibility, which are on various levels of the stadium, first-aid rooms, field level, parking lots, and the triage room.
The weather for Saturday, June 4, 2011, was perfect for an outdoor event, mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 80’s and low humidity. The parking lots opened at 12:30 p.m., with tailgate parties commencing as soon as vehicles parked. Stadium gates opened at 3:00 p.m., and the first act, Uncle Kracker, started at 4:30 pm. The event timeline was orchestrated nearly perfectly, with each performer taking the stage at their scheduled time. The second performer, Billy Currington, performed from 5:15 p.m. until just after 6:00 p.m., and Zac Brown Band took the stage at 6:25 p.m. until just before 8:00 p.m. The main event, Kenny Chesney, opened about 8:20 p.m. until curtains at about 11:00 p.m.
A communications center staffed by various public safety agencies dispatch personnel, and FedEx operational staff monitored all activity throughout the stadium. This functional area was referred to as the “command post.” This group handled all radio traffic and dispatch. A Public Safety Command Center was established in a room overlooking the field and staffed by high-ranking officials from the Fire/EMS and Police Departments. Acting Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor, Lt. Colonel Scott Hoglander, and Acting Fire Fighter/Medic Captain Ava Hagood staffed the Command Center. Acting Major Adon Snyder monitored activity from the command post.
Activity level for the Fire/EMS Department started out slow, with some incidence of sick or injured persons in the parking lot prior to the gates opening. The majority of the early afternoon was spent standing-by at assigned locations and monitoring crowds while providing whatever assistance possible to attendees. As the afternoon and evening wore on, the number of incidents increased. By sunset, a slow stream of concertgoers visited first-aid stations with minor ailments, as well as fans in the stadium calling for assistance for various reasons. There were about fifty incidents handled by firefighter/medics, including minor injuries, alcohol related illness, chest pains and head injuries. The brunt of the fire/EMS services was utilized at the conclusion of the long day’s activities, when many people were at the end of a very long day. A small percentage of patients treated were transported to the hospital.
After everyone had departed the stadium parking lots and all incidents were handled, firefighter/medics completed paperwork and EMS reports and returned equipment and apparatus to the off-site facility well into early Sunday morning. This brought to an end to a long day of providing the very best in fire protection and emergency medical services possible to the citizens, residents and visitors “Goin’ Coastal” in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
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| Personnel arrive at an off-site location about five hours before an event is scheduled to begin and start the check-in process. |
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| Personnel arrive at an off-site location about five hours before an event is scheduled to begin and start the check-in process. This involves signing in, receiving unit assignments, obtaining credentials, and radio and equipment for the assigned units. |
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| Equipment is stored at an off-site location and each transport unit must be completely stocked prior to teach event. Once Fire/EMS apparatus and equipment are prepped, everyone drives to the stadium and takes appropriate positions inside and outside of the stadium. |
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| Personnel arrive at an off-site location about five hours before an event is scheduled to begin and start the check-in process. This involves signing in, receiving unit assignments, obtaining credentials, and radio and equipment for the assigned units. |
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| Transport ambulances and Medic Units line-up at the off-site location and await equipment and supplies before deploying to Fed Ex Field. |
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| Any vehicle that will park near the stadium must pass through a vehicle check point. |
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| Members of the Department’s Bomb Squad arrive on-site at earlier times and conduct sweeps of the stadium, with assistance from the County Police and Maryland State Police. |
 |
| A communications center staffed by various public safety agencies dispatch personnel, and FedEx operational staff monitored all activity throughout the stadium. |
 |
| This functional area was referred to as the “command post.” This group handled all radio traffic and dispatch. |
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| A portion of the crew before stadium gates open. Uncle Kracker band warming up in the background. (photo taken by Billy McNeel) |
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| The field level and stage prior to stadium gates opening. |
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A female employee overcome by heat is carried down the stadium steps
to the parking lot and awaiting ambulance. |
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| A meeting of all personnel is held 30 minutes prior to the gates opening. This meeting covers all aspects of the event, including reports from supervisors responsible for fire, EMS, bomb squad, inspections, and incident commanders. |
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| A meeting of all personnel is held 30 minutes prior to the gates opening. This meeting covers all aspects of the event, including reports from supervisors responsible for fire, EMS, bomb squad, inspections, and incident commanders. |
 |
| A meeting of all personnel is held 30 minutes prior to the gates opening. This meeting covers all aspects of the event, including reports from supervisors responsible for fire, EMS, bomb squad, inspections, and incident commanders. |
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| A meeting of all personnel is held 30 minutes prior to the gates opening. This meeting covers all aspects of the event, including reports from supervisors responsible for fire, EMS, bomb squad, inspections, and incident commanders. |
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| A meeting of all personnel is held 30 minutes prior to the gates opening. This meeting covers all aspects of the event, including reports from supervisors responsible for fire, EMS, bomb squad, inspections, and incident commanders. |
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| Field level crews pre-plan the stage set-up and discuss a procedure to remove patients from the area. |
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| Field level triage area. |
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| Paramedic Ambulance staged inside near north tunnel entrance. |
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| Public Safety agencies often work side-by-side during stadium events. |
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| The second performer, Billy Currington, performed from 5:15 p.m. until just after 6:00 p.m |
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| In addition to personnel providing fire and EMS, there is also staff providing services for hazardous materials, inspections and prevention, logistics, transportation, and incident command. |
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| Prince George's County Homeland Security Director Brian Moe (on the right) surveys the crowd. |
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| Zac Brown Band took the stage at 6:25 p.m. until just before 8:00 p.m. |
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| Just before Kenny Chesney arrived on stage. |
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| A Public Safety Command Center was established in a room overlooking the field and staffed by high-ranking officials from the Fire/EMS and Police Departments. Acting Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor, Lt. Colonel Scott Hoglander, and Acting Fire Fighter/Medic Captain Ava Hagood staffed the Command Center. Acting Major Adon Snyder monitored activity from the command post. |
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| A Public Safety Command Center was established in a room overlooking the field and staffed by high-ranking officials from the Fire/EMS and Police Departments. Acting Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor, Lt. Colonel Scott Hoglander, and Acting Fire Fighter/Medic Captain Ava Hagood staffed the Command Center. Acting Major Adon Snyder monitored activity from the command post. |
 |
| A Public Safety Command Center was established in a room overlooking the field and staffed by high-ranking officials from the Fire/EMS and Police Departments. |
 |
| The main event, Kenny Chesney, opened about 8:20 p.m. until curtains at about 11:00 p.m. |
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| There were about fifty incidents handled by firefighter/medics, including minor injuries, alcohol related illness, chest pains and head injuries. The brunt of the fire/EMS services was utilized at the conclusion of the long day’s activities, when many people were at the end of a very long day. A small percentage of patients treated were transported to the hospital. |
 |
| There were about fifty incidents handled by firefighter/medics, including minor injuries, alcohol related illness, chest pains and head injuries. The brunt of the fire/EMS services was utilized at the conclusion of the long day’s activities, when many people were at the end of a very long day. A small percentage of patients treated were transported to the hospital. |
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