Photo by Nancy Royden. Capt. Amber Reamy and firefighter Matt Thompson of the Volunteer Fire Department of Brandywine.

Published on: Wednesday, August 19, 2009

By Nancy Royden

Last Saturday, firefighters of the Volunteer Fire Department of Brandywine, Company 40, political leaders, the county fire chief and citizens of the town met in the firehouse to talk about the future of the current station and a two-acre parcel of land less than two miles away at 13809 Brandywine Rd. The parcel was purchased by Richard A. Beaver and others in 2005 for $200,000 to Brandywine Dev Traid LLC in April 2009 for $442,106, according to a real property search of records from the Prince George’s County division of the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.

According to the fire department’s Web site, the new location will have a tremendous impact on the rural tier it serves.

“While we do oppose the move of the station, the officers and members of the volunteer fire department of Brandywine want to make it very clear that this project started well before the arrival of (then) Acting Fire Chief Eugene Jones, and that Chief Jones has met with us and continues to work with us on the new station and the issues of concern that we have,” according to the Web site.

On March 26, the department received a letter from Jones informing personnel at the station a representative should be selected for an April 14 meeting at an architect’s office so the department could help plan the new station.

“No discussion about land acquisition. No appealing the location. No input from the volunteers and no consideration of remodeling the current station had been afforded the volunteers,” the Web site states. According to an Aug. 7 construction estimate from W.M. Davis, Inc., general contractors from Leonardtown, it will cost $1.7 million to renovate and expand the existing station.

John E. Erzen II, press information officer for the Office of County Executive Jack B. Johnson, said the new station will cost approximately $4 million. He said land was acquired under the normal procurement process.

The new station will have several new features, including separate sleeping and showering quarters for men and women – something the older station does not have. It will also meet all Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Erzen said the new station will have sky lights to use natural light and a new alerting system that is different from the older, louder bells and whistles to alert staff to calls with a voice system. A grid that lights up based on the type of equipment needed on scene will be included.

Chief Heath Bowman said the department provides primary advanced life support for the area and its personnel work in a large service area.

Maj. Derrick Lea, spokesman for the PGCFD said the new property near Gwynn Park High School is a better site for the station than its current locale. He cited the future growth of the growing community is a major consideration.

“When we’re running a county, we do studies before we place a station. It’s more than just one participating community,” he said.

Personnel of the department are adamant a move is not justified.

“The Volunteer Fire Department of Brandywine has found that the move of the fire station is based on the time from 911 call to the time of arrival of the first engine company, basic ambulance and paramedic unit. Now we have found that these times to base the move on are not for Brandywine’s response time but the response times of Charles County, Clinton, Marlboro, Baden and whoever else may run the intersections presented,” according to the department’s Web site.

Jeff Beavers, president of the VFD of Brandywine, said during Saturday’s meeting some county officials have left the fire-fighting and emergency personnel with a lack of information about the situation.

“It’s not a decision that was made with due consideration to all,” he said. Many of the questions about the move have remained unanswered.”

Beavers said the department handles calls for assistance mainly in Brandywine, part of Baden and Aquasco. The personnel also provide mutual aid to Charles County.

In his address to the fire/emergency personnel and guests, including Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., Beavers said spending a large sum of money to build a new station should not be taken lightly, and he would rather have renovation of the current building than move to a new station.

Beavers said if the department’s personnel move to the new station, many response times could increase in length.

“Our primary concerns over the presented station move was with, that to date, the membership and leadership of the Volunteer Fire Department of Brandywine have signed no MOU (memorandum of understanding) or paperwork in reference to a station move, and have asked for consideration of a station rehab,” states a department-issued letter to Jones, Maj. Angela Peden and Maj. Rich Lambden, all leaders of the county fire department.

“Our second concern was with the lack of time for proper consideration of a move and to have a one-person representative to speak for the membership as a whole in all meetings. Other contributing factors are the cost of rehab over a move and the recognition of the 301 and Route 5 area by the State Highway Administration,” the letter states.

The department’s personnel came up with different ideas for the current station to remain in use and presented their ideas in the letter to the county fire officials.

Removal of the hall portion to that end of the station was broached to them.

“This was the largest suggestion offered and would allow for a total rehab of the entire station and expansion of the bay size and increased storage areas in the existing bay areas, to start at the walls for the social hall and remove the existing station and bays,” according to the letter.

This would result in a total rebuild and reconfiguration of the station while still allowing a hall for use by the members and the community.

Gutting the interior of the building, remodeling the station and full rehabilitation of the existing downstairs area was another idea brought up by the station’s personnel.

“This allows for the reconfiguration of the entire interior without having to rebuild an exterior building but does not allow for expansion of the size of the existing bays,” the letter continued.

This possibility would also include removal of existing offices, bunkrooms, bathrooms and storage areas so they could be reconfigured and updated to maximize use of the area.

Opinions vary concerning the home of the firefighters in Brandywine, but there’s one thing all sides may find agreeable – it’s an important issue.

“Spending this time and money is something that should not be taken lightly,” Beavers said.