Busy Weekend for PGFD Firefighter/Medics

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

MEBrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

Prince George’s County Firefighter/Medics experienced several significant incidents throughout the day Saturday and into Sunday morning.  Here is a brief recap of each incident.

Please note that no additional information is available about these incidents other then what is noted here.  Incidents that involve a motor vehicle crash are investigated by law enforcement and they are responsible for any additional information. 

At around 4:15 am, Saturday, an engine from the Forestville Fire/EMS Station 823 was on location of a personal injury crash on the Capital Beltway near Allentown Road.  The engine was providing “barrier protection” for the personnel operating on the scene.  A passenger vehicle struck the stationary engine causing significant damage to each vehicle.  Four firefighters on board the engine were transported to an area hospital for an evaluation.  They were all treated and released later that morning.  The two occupants of the passenger vehicle also sustained injuries and were transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

At around 10:00 am, Saturday, firefighters battled a fire in a vacant 2-story Cape Cod house.  Firefighters arrived in the 9100 block of Fowler Lane in Lanham to find fire on both floors of the structure.  One firefighter sustained minor burn injuries and was treated and released from the Burn Unit.  Fire Investigators have listed the fire as under investigation and estimate fire loss at $25,000.

At around 3:45 pm, firefighter from Prince George’s and Montgomery County responded to a commercial building in the 8100 block of 15^th Ave in Langley Park for a report of smoke in the building.  A fire was located in a basement level exterior window well and was quickly extinguished.  Smoke entered the building interior by way of an air vent.  The building was ventilated of all residual smoke.  Witnesses reported that a young child set the fire.  The child was located and refereed to a Juvenile Fire Setter Program.  There were no injuries and no fire loss.

At about 9:30 pm, firefighters arrived at a 3-story single family home in the 4700 block of Oliver Street in Riverdale to find fire throughout the structure.  Firefighters initially battled the fire from the safety of exterior positions and once the bulk of the fire was extinguished entered the structure to ensure the fire was out.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation and fire loss is estimated at $100,000.

At 9:54 pm District Heights Firefighter/Medics arrived on the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving several patients.  This crash occurred at Marlboro Pike and County Road.  Two children were transported to trauma center for children with non-life threatening injuries.  Two adults were also transported with less serious injuries to a local hospital.

At 1030 pm Fire/EMS units were alerted to a single vehicle crash with two occupants trapped in the 4800 block of Lawrence Street in Bladensburg.  One person was extricated and transported to a Trauma Center with life threatening injuries.  The second patient was declared deceased on the scene.

An hour later at 11:30 pm, Firefighter/Medics arrived on the scene in the 1200 block of Addison Road in Seat Pleasant to find a motor vehicle crash.  One vehicle occupant was declared deceased on scene.  A second patient was transported to a Trauma Center with non-life threatening injuries.

At around 7:30 am, Sunday, Firefighter/Medics from the Bladensburg area were alerted to a house fire with reported occupant trapped inside.  Fire/EMS units arrived at a single family home in the 5200 block of Decatur Street with smoke showing.  A basement fire was located and extinguished in the basement.  An adult male was also found in the basement.  He was removed by firefighters and treated by medics.  He was found to be suffering from burn injuries and transported to a Burn Unit in critical condition.  The cause of the fire is under investigation and fire loss is estimated at $10,000.

At around 9:00 am, Firefighters from the Brandywine area responded to a Prince George’s County School Bus lot in the 8100 block of Short Cut Road.  Four school buses were found to be on fire.  The fire was extinguished without incident.  It appears the fire originated in one of the buses and spread to the others.  Four buses were damaged with fire loss estimated at $250,000.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.  There were no injuries.

These 9 incidents were in addition to the 400 other incidents responded to during the same time period in Prince George’s County.  Firefighters also had gone door-to-door in communities checking on and installing smoke alarms as well as reminding everyone that when they changes their clock to Daylight Saving Time to also change the battery in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.