Click here for video from the fire and our initial coverage of this story
Firefighters from Charles County, Maryland are telling a different story about their actions at a September 20 house fire across the Potomac River in King George County, Virginia. On Thursday there was a town hall meeting covered by Fredericksburg.com where citizens complained and fire officials agreed that the fire was mismanaged and the conduct of the firefighters was “atrocious”. In her original article reporter Cathy Dyson wrote, “some firefighters danced around and played on a rescue stretcher, gave each other high-fives and rode a pink scooter across the lawn.”
Dyson has now talked with firefighters from Charles County. Here are excerpts from her latest story:
“King George did not have adequate staff and manpower to put in the right places like we did,” said Clifton Butler, volunteer assistant chief at Newburg Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department in Charles County. “When we got there, we went to work and did what we were supposed to do.”
Jason Moore, fire chief of LaPlata Volunteer Fire Department, said his unit was dispatched 30 minutes after the first trucks responded. He expected to help with cleanup and was surprised that the fire was still raging.
“That thing should have been well out by then,” he said, adding his ladder truck probably got to the scene 50 minutes after the first units arrived. “It was chaotic, to say it lightly, from the simple matter of who’s in charge, who’s calling the shots.”
Butler said firemen may have slapped a few high-fives when the fire was out, to show they were glad the situation was handled and no one got hurt.
“But there was no horseplay,” he said.
He said no one from King George was doing anything while the Maryland firefighters worked.
“We took a lot of our pieces to come over and protect the citizens of Dahlgren because we know they needed it,” Butler said.
Moore, from LaPlata, was “personally offended” that King George would place blame publicly instead of talking about the issue privately, among the departments involved.
“You don’t put your dirty laundry out on the street,” Moore said. “I’m not gonna spit in your yard, don’t spit in mine.”
Neighbor Don Diehl said he lives nine houses down and went to the fire scene at least half an hour after the first trucks got there. He didn’t go earlier because he was watching Monday night football.
“What I saw was an orchestrated effort to put the fire out,” said Diehl. “That would be my judgement as a layman.”
Also on STATter911 …
- DC & Arlington fill in Charles County, MD firehouse. Fairgrounds fire brings much mutual aid. – April 2, 2013
- Failure to follow rules helps save life. Praise & thanks for Prince George’s County firefighters who transported little girl in fire engine. – December 23, 2011
- Helmet-cam: House fire in Adams Township, PA. – January 8, 2013
- Mayday audio: From Baltimore County, MD fire that critically injured Reisterstown VFC Firefighter Gene Kirchner. – April 24, 2013
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The neighbors witnessed the Charles County units being unprofessional and brought it up to Chief Moody. If you don’t want people to see then don’t dance in the front yard and ride a child’s scooter through the yard.
I think that is hilarious that Charles County would point out inadequate staffing and the fireground not being run well. Didn’t Charles County write the book on that.
Dear Mike, Charles County has a chapter in the book you mention along with the rest of the counties in this area. It is PG County who wrote and published it.
Be glad that PG county did not respond. They would have rode the scooter and then stole it!
How does PG fire play a role in this event? All I see is 2 country bumpkin fire departments TRYING to put out a 5th alarm single family dwelling. Maybe you 2 country bumpkin departments could learn from the URBAN fire companies inside the beltway?? Or just keep watching those really cool YouTube videos on drill night.
Shhhh… I have seen plenty of inside of the beltway fires…when was the last PG put out a garden apartment fire without burning the entire building and displacing 50 occupants…Shhhh!
BRC, Its good to know you that can get this Inter-Net thingy down in Bumpkinville. Now, PG as well as DC, Montgomery, Fairfax do put out garden apartment fires DAILY. So yes, the ones you have seen inside the beltway on your TV set are very dramatic yet not daily events. Come to think of it, I believe the last 5th alarm garden apartment fire in PG was in the 1970′s. Wow… you ghetto salty firemen in Charles Co. do 5th alarm house fires.
How did we get to talking about PG county? The problem is a lack of leadership on the fireground. Someone should have assumed command earlier in the incident. Maybe King George should have some type of duty officer around the clock. At least someone could be held accountable. There appears to be alot of freelancing on the firegroud and companys not preforming their jobs. Was there a need for Laplata’s truck to respond. When they got there it looks like there is not much of the house left. I hope everyone involved learns something they can do better next time.
I thought it was SOP to blame people who aren’t present. That way they can’t defend themselves, the blame is off you and you end up looking good. At least for a minute… damn interweb.
Shhhhh… loves it in the a$$!
So they are high fiving for a job well done? Lets take a simple room & contents and turn it into a foundation. My heart breaks when the little girl starts crying watching her house burn to the ground.
Why would you only allow the above comments to be posted – they are garbage! Come on Dave others have written a lot better comments that you didn’t allow – don’t allow any if this is the best you can do!!!!!!
Can you be more specific about which comments and why they shouldn’t be allowed? What comments haven’t I allowed that are “better”? And what is your definition of “better” as it relates to comments? Please fill me in.
Statter
Well first off I agree it also breaks my heart to see that little girl start crying, I have a daughter and wife and couldn’t imagine that happening to me. As far as the fire ground goes everyone was wrong. What happened to us as firefighters? We are supposed to be a brother hood but all you all do is point the blame and fight about who did what. Then bash each other on a blog, grow up! As far as the neighbors complaints you should be worried about the way the house burnt down and not so much the high fives. It’s sad when 9/11 happened all firefighters and police etc… came together as a brotherhood and the general public thanked us for what we did. Now in 2010 we are not a brotherhood and the public basically hates us. We have nobody to blame but ourselfs. There is fault on all sides not just Charles County firefighters. Here are just a few of the things that went wrong on the scene and all our to blame if you want to point fingers.
1. King George did not have adequate staffing.
2. No incident command structure set up.
3. King George technician not being able to pump.
4. Charles County self dispatching units from Charles.
5. Charles County unit not picking up supply line.
6. Charles County not laying out.
7. King George and Charles County trying to run a command at the same scene.
In my eyes Chief Moody is a coward who was trying to get out of a witch hunt by blaming Charles County.
Above were just a few things that went wrong. Instead of Chief Moody blaming everyone but himself how about all the units that were on scene get together and tlak about what happen and how they ALL can improve.
I am really dismayed and chocked at this whole situation. I am 37 years old and my father who is now 60 and is the proud grandfather of 5, he has over 46 years of firefighting experience, over 20 as a line and administrative officer with Bel Alton Fire Department in Charles County, Md. He has responded to 1000′s of fires, accidents, etc, many of them in the King George and Dahlgren area. Never once complaining, whining or laying blame because that is what he committed to do over 40 years ago, fight fires and save lives and property to the best of his ability.
He was at the fire scene that day is upset by how all of this is being handled. The role of local government is to listen to their residents and to address their concerns as warranted, but to publicly smack a neighboring jurisdiction, who for years has been your back up in emergency situations is not only wrong, its disrespectful. These discussions need to happen in a more appropriate venue, with all the players involved.
My husband, two children and I live just 3 miles north of the Harry Nice Bridge in Maryland, god forbid our house catches on fire, I am not going to question who shows up, or what station/ jurisdiction they came from, but I am going to expect the fire and rescue personal to have the appropriate apparatus and training to get the job done. I have complete faith in all of the Charles County fire and rescue Departments. I witnessed them first hand on several occasions over the years including their response to the F4 tornado that destroyed the town of La Plata, killing 4, destroying over 50 businesses and 100′s of homes. They are capable, hard working men and women that sacrifice a lot to make this area safe. That is what we all need to remember.
In closing, I want to say thank you to my Dad, for dropping everything that day in September to respond to that 5 alarm house fire in King George. You continue to make me proud to be your daughter.
The problem with the state of emergency services in King George County, Va is a direct result of the actions of Chief David Moody. The Chief has lied and created controversy to get rid of anyone who threatened his authority. He has either thrown out or run off a great majority of the volunteers. Most of the running members in the department has very little experience. There are only a handful that has more than 10yrs experience. 5 years ago, there were many members that had 20+ years experience. The Chief is now using this state of affairs to pursue getting more paid personnel. This will cause an extreme jump in the property taxes that the residents will have to pay, many of which are on fixed incomes.
The King George County Board of Supervisors were advised of this situation back in 2008, but did nothing to act upon it. It looks like there will haqve to be a fatality and possible lawsuit against the county before they open their eyes and act.
Finger pointing and name calling doesnt solve a thing! If one truely cares, they learn by there mistake and make a effort to correct them. This situation was out of control. 5 alarm fire, or simply, a request for more man power? Charles County Fire Departmant and the State of Maryland have Strict Standards. Also Training and re-training. The days of good old boys, is over with. Correct and succeed!