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Brentwood volunteer fire president warns of staffing and equipment shortfalls, urges town support
Summary
The Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department president told Colmar Manor council the department is stretched thin, faces recruitment and equipment-cost pressures, and asked neighboring towns for financial and recruitment support; the mayor said she will sign a support letter and the town plans a station tour.
The president of the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department told the Colmar Manor town council that volunteer ranks have thinned and the department needs more support from nearby towns to sustain emergency response.
"That fire truck cost us $1,000,000," the volunteer chief said, describing high capital costs and continuing expenses for equipment and maintenance. He said volunteers often work full-time jobs and put in long shifts to cover calls, and that the county has pulled career firefighters from some stations, straining response capacity. He told the council that overtime and staffing shortfalls in Prince George's County are creating heavier call loads and that the county faces a deficit of roughly 250 firefighters while budgeting to hire far fewer.
Council members and the mayor heard calls for town-level help to recruit volunteers, support fundraising, and make targeted contributions for equipment and training. The mayor said she will sign a letter supporting local stations and asked staff to schedule a station tour so council members can see operations firsthand. "I'll take any questions if there's time," the chief said, and invited the council to visit the firehouse.
Council member TJ Jenkins urged the town to focus on preventable fire risks and suggested starting with enforcement of unauthorized rentals and county inspections to ensure wiring and safety compliance. The volunteer chief said measures that reduce risky home conditions would directly help emergency responders.
There was no formal vote on funding at the meeting. The mayor instructed town staff to contact the Brentwood chief to arrange a tour and said the council would follow up after that visit.
Why it matters: Volunteer and career staffing decisions affect response times and public-safety coverage in Colmar Manor and neighboring towns. Council attention to recruitment, inspections, and targeted funding could affect the availability of local fire and emergency services.
