Furlough update: Notifications are starting, with final approval possible today.

Chief Lawrence Sedgwick Jr. and other public safety officials are scheduled to meet with Prince George’s County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety / Director of Homeland Security Vernon Herron today. The number one item on the agenda is the approval of furlough plans.

According to sources familiar with the process within the fire department, Chief Sedgwick’s staff has been moving ahead this week getting things ready to start the furlough process at 0700 on Sunday. Even though the department’s plan has not received final approval and could be modified by Herron, the notification process is underway for the first group of career firefighters to be given 8-hours off without pay.

According to our sources firefighters from these stations are being told they could have some free time on Sunday: 805 (Capitol Heights), 813 (Riverdale Heights), 819 (Bowie), 821 (Oxon Hill), 823 (Forestville), and 825 (Clinton). Battalion Chief 801 is also on this schedule.

It is expected the same crews will be furloughed every 20 days.

Medic units are also in the furlough rotation plan.

As part of the furlough plan career crews going off-duty are being told not to respond to calls if they are still in the firehouse after the start of a furloughed shift.

It is unclear how specialized units such as hazmat and technical rescue will be staffed when furloughs hit the fire stations where those units are housed.

Again, all of this could change after today’s meeting. The final plan is supposed to be ready on Friday.

The department expects to use firefighters and officers assigned to office work and volunteer firefighters to cover some of the staffing shortages.

Bill Smith, a vice-president with the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association contacted STATter 911 on Wednesday to say the association has been unable to get a meeting with Chief Sedgwick or his staff to coordinate volunteer coverage. Smith believes some volunteer stations have enough firefighters to provide additional crews to cover some of the furloughs at stations where volunteer participation is low on non-existent.