CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. -- Fire Department staffing concerns have some in Prince George's County worried they might not necessarily get emergency help when they need it.
Union leaders sounded the alarm over staffing shortages and budget cuts affecting fire services in the county.
"We're right at the point where we're just basically getting by," said Andrew Pantelis, vice president of the county firefighters and paramedics union.
In some cases, firefighters and paramedics are taking longer to respond to emergencies, according to the union.
"Minutes and even seconds count when it comes to an emergency or a fire environment," Pantelis said. "We're not aware of any serious injury or loss of life directly related to the incidents. It's always a gamble you take."
Firefighters took 11 minutes to respond to a recent house fire in Bowie, according to the union. The two firefighters assigned to the nearest station were on an ambulance call when the fire was reported, so units stationed further away had to respond.
"That is not acceptable," Pantelis said. "General national standards for the NFPA state that the first arriving engine company should arrive within four minutes of an incident."
The decision to pull career firefighters from some stations, including Capitol Heights, is hurting public safety, warns community activist Shirley Pratt.
"This might not be Mitchellsville or Bowie or Largo or Fort Washington, there are still human beings that live in Capitol Heights.
Since the county rearranged staffing of career firefighters on Aug. 1, the Capitol Heights station, which relies solely on volunteers, now, has failed to respond to more than 500 emergency calls, according to the union.
