Greenbelt schedules Sept. 12 town hall on county fire staffing after legal steps to obtain data

Mayor Emmett Jordan told the work session the city will hold a town hall at the Greenbelt fire station on Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. to review recent staffing changes by the Prince George's County Fire Department that the city says affect local fire and EMS coverage. The city has invited County Fire Department leadership, volunteer-fire representatives and officials from neighboring municipalities to participate in a panel discussion following an informational presentation.

Background: Greenbelt, with Berwyn Heights and College Park, filed legal action to obtain raw data and rationale for the county's summer staffing plan; councilmembers said the city has received summary averages but has pressed for raw-call data and time-of-travel reports. Staff cited reports they will present at the town hall, including a 2022 Fitch report and internal time-of-travel scenario studies.

Town-hall format and logistics: staff outlined a two-part program—a roughly 30-minute informational session presenting timelines and available reports, followed by a panel Q&A with local officials and county representatives if they attend. The city will record and upload the town hall to YouTube; refreshments will be provided and the city budgeted $800 for auxiliary refreshments.

Next steps: staff will finalize the agenda and materials for public distribution; council urged residents to attend to ask questions and show community concern. City leaders said they will continue legal and collaborative approaches depending on what the county provides.