Maryland man, local leaders file lawsuit over changes to fire department staffing

By Bill Carey
FireRescue1

BERWYN HEIGHTS, Md. — A Berwyn Heights resident and city leaders are suing Prince George’s County for relocating firefighters from their communities.

Prince George’s County Fire and EMS chief has transferred firefighters from four stations to address staffing shortages elsewhere, NBC Washington reported.

According to NBC Washington, Fire Chief Tiffany Green transferred 24 career firefighters from Station 835 in Greenbelt, five from Station 839 in Bowie, six from Station 814 in Berwyn Heights and 20 from Station 855 in Bunker Hill.

“We’ve reached out to the county,” said Jodie Kulpa-Eddy, a Berwyn Heights resident and former elected official. “We’ve tried to talk to them, but there’s been no movement from them.”

The move began on June 30 and its effects will be reassessed in October.

Local governments in Berwyn Heights, College Park and Greenbelt have gone to court to block the plan.

Green said the reassignment of 55 firefighters is necessary to address shortages and prevent burnout during the peak holiday season, ensuring safety is not compromised. She said firefighters are stressed, and some are leaving the job.

“The 55 employees that we are redeploying are filling existing vacancies throughout the county,” Green said. “That is a goal to make sure they are not called back for mandatory overtime and layoffs, but we are filling existing vacancies and spreading our resources across the county.”

The Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association also opposes the plan, saying it would lengthen response times and put stations out of service during the day.