J. Gordon Routley
When I recently posted details of a blood drive sponsored by Kentland VFD, I joked how there was the possibility my mention of Kentland could spark another endless thread on thewatchdesk.com. Well, it wasn’t the blood drive. It’s the videos.
By Sunday evening the new thread in the Prince George’s County, MD forum had almost 8000 views and 79 replies.
On Firehouse.com’s Firefighters Forum, under the heading, “Our favorite department”, another thread dissects this latest chapter.
There are another 40 or so comments on STATter 911 and I have received plenty of emails on the topic. Most of the emails are from people who don’t want me to publish their names and most of the comments on all of the forums are anonymous.
One person who contacted me last week, willing to go on the record about the controversies at Kentland, is no stranger to Prince George’s County and is a familiar name to firefighters. J. Gordon Routley, who led the panel investigating the Sofa Super Store fire in Charleston and has authored many other important reports for the fire service, publicly expresses a point of view that has surfaced in the various forums.
Here is what Chief Routley sent to STATter 911:
One again our “brothers” from Kentland have demonstrated their immaturity and their ability to publicly embarrass the fire service. If we cannot convince them to change, let’s at least stop treating them like harmless class clowns.
We have witnessed this type of activity for years and made allowances because they are such dedicated and invincible firefighters and because they assert their 100% volunteer independence from any external authority. They continue to promote anarchy and provide the worst form of role models for young and impressionable members of the fire service because we continue to tolerate their irresponsible stupidity, in the firehouse, on the streets and on the fireground.
Maybe there is an uninhabited desert island somewhere that would provide a suitable environment for the KVFD to practice their particular form of dedicated service, beyond the sight of the news media and safely removed from any serious fire service organization that provides adult supervision.
As always, we encourage other responsible parties willing to go on the record with opposing views to contact STATter 911 at dstatter@wusa9.com. STATter 911 also extended this offer to Kentland VFD President Don Aker.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you former Safety Officer of the Prince George's County Fire Department and descendant of Chief Al "Hawaiian Shirt Day" Bruniccini (Great demise of the traditional fire service). Now there is no way this guy would have a biased opinion about a fire company in Prince George's County, Maryland.
Man, Chief Routley you're right on the money. We should send those dedicated, thousands of hours giving, aggressively minded, aggressively trained, members of that department you dealt with 15 to 20 years ago to a secluded island!
But, the only problem is…… we would have to send 90 percent of the United States fire service with them. Reason being that the same things go on in almost every firehouse nationwide. Yes, these guys had the spot light brought on them because of this video (and most likely by the labor union and others in the same capacity), but that gives us no reason to cast stones in our glass (fire) houses. Everyone reading this, whether they will openly admit it or not, has, will and is doing these kind of activities. Whether we condone them or not. It has happened for decades. These guys aren't animals. There just always looked at with a telescope. If they look wrong, someone complains about it. Case and point, all of the media attention they get for any and everything. Good or bad.
By the way……. you state that they are doing stupid things on the fireground as well. My question is, when was the last time you ran a call with these guys? When was the last time you even got you're hands dirty running a call period. No disrespect, just keeping things in perspective. Its easy to remember things the way you saw them years ago. How can you blast what they do on a day-to-day basis, just by hear say from the pissed off P.G. career folks that respond on these forums. Remember, these political agenda's go back to the days of you're time in the County. You're aware of all this. I just would expect that you would have more of an open mind to the REAL truth behind the REAL shenanigans (and you know what I'm speaking about) in P.G. County, MD. You are a nationally recognized fire service icon and even you are spending time to put these fellows under the microscope. Think about it…..
You are insulting clowns. Send them to York, Pa they would fit right in.
Taking shots at Routley and dismissing his significant accomplishments is not the proper way to get your point across. I think Chief Routley's point is valid: How many more episodes will Kentland be involved in before someone (either the county or KVFD)reigns them in.
The actions on the video probably have happened in most firehouses at one time or another but its the endless parade of Kentland did this, kentland did that,etc,etc that are the cause for concern. When does this pattern constitute a problem and how much culpability can be excused with the 100% volunteer defense.
Finally, you need to think about it. Routely is a fire service icon. If he's concerned enough to publically comment on the issue to Statter, what message is the FS trying to send to 33
Wow! is that a Prince George's County Fire and EMS Official or PG Police Officer in the back ground (look closely)? I guess they are just as guilty if at all! Let ‘s see PGFD explain this. If you ever have been at Kentland you would know the police are always hanging around. They obviously didn't have a problem with what happen. Just everyone who is a arm chair firefighter wannabe. Live by the sword die by the sword
Chief Routley should keep his opinion to himself on this. This is not about an operational practice in which he is presupposedly well-versed. The media has everyone worked up into a frenzy over an incident that happened a long time ago.
Way to put the Fire Chief on the spot when we was not an even an officer. Congratulations, Fox!
This too shall pass.
The idea that Gordon Routley is a fire service icon is a matter of opinion. Little doubt that Mr. Routley has been and continues to be a dedicated member of the fire service. However, Mr. Routley shared his opinion publicly and perhaps he did little more than take a cheap shot at an organization that he has a dislike for.
The real shame of this situation is not the contents of the video, but the manner in which the video is being used for petty politics.
These things happen (or have happened) in every firehouse in the nation. It's horse play. Yep someone was dumb enough to video it and to let the video leak out.
Hey I wish someone had video of the last day PGFD payroll was distributed. I would love to see how much money is being wasted on the batallion chiefs, division chiefs, majors and Fire Lieutenants and Captains who are working overtime. That is the crime, not some horseplay.
The issue is that there was no discipline in that department when the event occurred. Also is there any discipline in that department at all or will it take the actions of someone doing something stupid to do get someone hurt to get discipline in that station or are the firefighters just to supposed to do what they want like a bunch of animals.
"Hey I wish someone had video of the last day PGFD payroll was distributed. I would love to see how much money is being wasted on the batallion chiefs, division chiefs, majors and Fire Lieutenants and Captains who are working overtime. That is the crime, not some horseplay." I am still trying to figure out what this has to do with Chief Routley making an ACCURATE statement. PGFD did not release this video nor, have they responded with any disciplinary action (yet.) You might as well say, "We committed a crime BUT, those horrible career guys got paid for doing their JOB." The above statement is yet another example of the volunteer fire service not taking responsibility for their actions. Bottom line, the younger generation in today's failing fire service needs to learn the meaning of "Conduct Unbecoming." And if, as someone stated earlier, there was a police officer watching in the background, maybe his/her supervisors need to act since they failed to. Just an observation as a citizen.
Great, not only is this story on the local news, ,now Fox News has it and its going worldwide. You guys are an embarassment to the fire service. Don't come on and tell us what great firefighters you are, your not doing anything thousands of great honorable firefighters do wordlwide every day. Chief Sedgwick, shut down this out of control unit and replace them with real firefighters with common sense and some morals. Its so funny how everytime someone criticizes Kentland, they always say we dont understand, we dont have fires like they do, we are not as dedicated as they are. I have never met a bunch of guys so full of BS/Lets hope they get what they deserve, a lock on the door!