Hyattsville VFD News - Thousands Attend Open House

September 27th, 1997

Thousands Attend Open House

More than 3,000 people attended today's Fire Safety Day and Open House at the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George's County..

Among them was U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, who was given the opportunity to look over plans for the department's plans to replace its aging fire station, which has far outgrown the needs of our continually growing volunteer membership and state-of-the-art fire and rescue units. Hoyer was joined by many members of the City of Hyattsville council and other local political figures ..

Prince George's County Fire Chief A.D. Bell presented more than a dozen volunteer firefighters and emergency medical providers from the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department with letters of recognition for a rescue in late August at a house fire in Hyattsville. Sadly, the rescued victim of the house fire later died. But Bell noted, "Your hard work in adverse conditions is in the highest tradition of the countyÕs fire service." Volunteers from the Riverdale Volunteer Fire Department were also involved in the rescue and will be recognized by county and city officials in upcoming ceremonies..

HVFD Chief Donald Moltrup announced a multi year plan sponsored in part by local businesses to check every smoke detector in residences within our primary response area Ñ nearly 7,000 homes in Hyattsville, University Park and University Hills. Our volunteers will begin this program during Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11..

Our "Fire Safety Adventure Course" was overwhelmingly popular. Nearly 1,000 children took part in the course which tested their knowledge of fire safety and prevention and taught the same. In order to receive a red plastic fire helmet or get their picture taken with one of our fire trucks, children had to do three of the following: Dial 9-1-1 using an interactive phone; "stop, drop and roll," go through the "Escape Alive" maze; watch a fire safety video; or visit with Hector the Fire Safety Clown. All of these can directly result in saving lives if a fire breaks out and be especially important in preventing a tragic fire from ever occurring..

Children and adults alike were also the given the opportunity to try their hand at firefighting by squirting water from a fire hoseline into a small house. "Flames" in the windows were knocked over when hit with the water stream..

Helicopters from the Maryland State Police and Washington Hospital Center's MedStar trauma unit were also hits with the crowd. Other demonstrations included a two-car accident extrication; a home sprinkler trailer and local law enforcement. Providence Hospital health specialists were on hand to give free body fat assessments and the American Red Cross featured their Disaster Services unit..

Smokey the Bear, provided courtesy of the Maryland Department of Forestry, and McGruff the Crime Dog from Metro Police also made appearances..

More than a dozen other organizations from the area were on hand to participate. Fire and rescue units from many local fire companies and as far as Pennsylvania also took part. They included: Bladensburg, Riverdale, Hillendale, Bowie, Branchville, Berwyn Heights, Beltsville, Riviera Beach (Anne Arundel County), Waynesboro (Pa), Brentwood, the Collapse Response Team and Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team. For more information on this event or the upcoming Smoke Detector Check program, scheduled for Fire Prevention Week, please contact Sgt. Dave J. Iannone, Fire Marshal and Public Information Officer, at pager (301) 397-8674 or office (301) 474-5784..

We would like to thank all those news organizations that attended todayÕs event and also those who provided publicity prior to the event, helping to make it such a great success.