Photo by Brian Hooks. From right: Bowie At-large Councilwoman Geraldine Valentino-Smith, Fire Chief Eugene A. Jones, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety Vernon Herron, County Councilman Samuel Dean, Bowie Mayor Pro Tem Todd Turner, State Senator Doug Peters and PGFD staff cut the red ribbon on Northview fire/EMS Station 816.

Published on: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

By Brian Hooks

Officials from Prince George’s County and the City of Bowie gathered Thursday morning at the new Northview fire/EMS station 816 in Bowie, to cut the red ribbon in front of more than 100 citizens and firefighters. A $4.7 million project, the station is the first brand new facility to be installed in the county in 35 years.

“We have been forced to make very difficult choices, but I want all of you to be rest assured that as long as [Jack] Johnson is the county executive, one of our top priorities will remain to be public safety,” said Vernon Herron, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety. Herron spoke on behalf of County Executive Jack B. Johnson, who was not in attendance.

Fire Chief Eugene A. Jones thanked citizens, full-time and volunteer staff, and legislators who initiated the project. “It’s easy to be the fire chief when you have a staff that’s dedicated,” said Jones, to a round of applause.

Bowie Councilwoman Diane Polangin praised the county EMS services, “Sixteen years ago, my husband had a heart attack and the EMS was at the house in six minutes.” Polangin credited them with saving her husband’s life.

Located on Health Center Drive, the facility becomes the forty-fifth station in the county, and it will cover a primary response area of 8.4 square miles. Northview staff are expected to respond to about 2,200 calls a year, according to a press release by Press Information Officer Mark Brady.

The station will be staffed 24 hours a day by two firefighters assigned to the engine, two firefighter/medics assigned to the ambulance and one additional officer.

Included in the 12,500 square-foot structure is a day room with 10 recliners and a 54-inch television, a gym area, a kitchen and living quarters for up to 42 people. Three drive-through bays will house the vehicles, with 4,500 square feet of space, and a training tower.