On Monday, November 7, 2005, at 0208 hours, units from the Kentland Volunteer Fire Station 33 were alerted to a house fire, with a report of children trapped, at Fairwood Road and Cooper Lane in Landover Hills. Fire Fighter Walter Brown was assigned to the bar position on Tower Ladder 33, the first arriving truck company on the scene. Upon arrival, crews observed heavy fire coming from the front of the house. A burned citizen was found on the front lawn of the house, and bystanders advised that one child was still trapped inside. Fire Fighter Brown saw heavy fire coming from each of the front windows and the front door. Without regard for his own safety, he quickly advanced ahead of the hose line. Under extreme heat conditions, he crawled past the main body of fire and located a bedroom in the rear of the house. Aggressively searching the bedroom, Fire Fighter Brown located an unconscious child who was not breathing. Unfortunately, the advancing fire had now cut off the path Fire Fighter Brown had used to gain entry. Unable to exit the same way he had entered, he gathered the child in his arms and began searching for an alternate means of egress. Realizing that firefighters were now placing a ladder at the rear of the house, Fire Fighter Brown made his way to a window and carried the child down the ladder to safety. Once outside, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was perform on the child who was immediately transported to the hospital. While en route to the hospital, the young patient regained a pulse and spontaneous respiration. Thankfully, he has since recovered fully. For great personal risk and judgment, Volunteer Fire Fighter Walter J. Brown is hereby awarded the Silver Medal of Valor.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2004, Volunteer lieutenant Dan Syme responded Engine 331 from the Kentland Volunteer Fire Station 33 to Sterling Street for a reported house fire with persons trapped inside. Upon arrival he encountered a two story house with fire showing from a rear bedroom and heavy smoke enveloping the entire house. A female who had escaped the fire was standing on the porch of the home. Volunteer Lieutenant Syme quickly obtained enough information from the woman to ascertain that an adult male was trapped in the house near the bedroom that was on fire. Despite not having the protection of a hoseline, he advanced ahead of the crews to the burning section of the house. As he proceeded down the hallway, fire came out of the bedroom door toward him. The male was trapped in the bathroom across from the room of the fire's orgin. Volunteer Lieutenant Syme opened the bathroom door, where he located the unconscious victim and carried him to the front of the house. He brought the Patient to the front yard and placed him in the care of the EMS crew. He then returned to assist the crews in attacking the fire. His quick thinking and immediate response undoubtedly saved the victim's life, and his actions on the scene of this incident are worthy of recognition. Therefore, on behalf of the members of Prince George's county Fire/Ems Department and the citizens and residents we serve, Volunteer Lieutenant Dan Syme is hereby presented and Emergency Services Award.

On the evening of Saturday, July 13, 2002, Volunteer Fire Fighter James J. Carpenter and Volunteer Fire Fighter Bryan M. Teague were returning to quarters at Kentland Fire Station 33, when they noticed a house fire at 7110 East Lombard Street. Upon arrival, Volunteer Fire Fighter Carpenter and Volunteer Fire Fighter Teague encountered a 2 1/2-story duplex with heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the house. The homeowner, who was standing in the front yard, advised Volunteer Fire Fighter Carpenter and Volunteer Fire Fighter Teague that no one else was in the home.

Volunteer Fire Fighter Carpenter and Volunteer Fire Fighter Teague entered the burning structure and encountered extreme fire conditions that had extended from the basement into the first and second floors. Volunteer Fire Fighter Carpenter and Volunteer Fire Fighter Teague, despite being informed that everyone was out of the house, quickly proceeded to the second floor and aggressively began to search and check for fire extension. As Volunteer Fire Fighter Carpenter and Volunteer Fire Fighter Teague reached the top of the stairs, visibility was zero and fire could be detected in the attic and a rear bedroom. Volunteer Fire Fighter Teague remained at the top of the stairs to ensure a quick exit while Fire Fighter Carpenter swiftly moved to the bedroom, where the muffled screams of a small child could be heard. Volunteer Fire Fighter Carpenter conducted a rapid search of the room and a young boy was located. Volunteer Fire Fighter Carpenter and Volunteer Fire Fighter Teague carried the victim outside to safety, where he was rushed to an awaiting emergency medical services unit.
The 10-year-old male was transported to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. He has since fully recovered from his injuries.
For extreme personal risk, courage, judgment, zeal and the highest degree of professionalism, Volunteer Fire Fighter James J. Carpenter is hereby awarded the Gold Medal of Valor.
For great personal risk, judgment, zeal or ingenuity, Volunteer Fire Fighter Bryan M. Teague is hereby awarded the Silver Medal of Valor.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 12, 2002, a crew from Kentland Fire Station 33 was dispatched to 7727 Riverdale Road for a reported apartment building on fire. Upon arrival on the scene, crewmembers encountered a four-story apartment building with heavy fire on the second floor extending to the upper floors. It was also reported that people were trapped inside.

At the direction of Volunteer Captain Mark E. McKenzie, the crew positioned themselves in the rear of the building. However, due to the location of the building and the surrounding landscape, they were unable to utilize their aerial apparatus. Volunteer Captain McKenzie directed his crew to place ground ladders to the rear of the structure. As a 24' extension ladder was being raised, an occupant trapped on the fourth floor presented himself on his balcony. The victim was unable to escape down the interior stairs due to the untenable conditions in the stairwell. Volunteer Captain McKenzie, realizing that the 24' ladder would only reach the third floor balcony, quickly directed his crew to retrieve a longer ladder with which to facilitate the victim's rescue.
By now the man appeared to be very anxious and excited as the smoke and fire conditions grew worse in the neighboring apartment. Volunteer Captain McKenzie determined that the rescue needed to happen quickly, before the fire could spread and cut off his only escape. Immediately and without hesitation Volunteer Captain McKenzie grabbed a smaller 14' roof ladder that was nearby, and with it balanced on his shoulder, climbed the 24' ladder to the third floor balcony. While still on the ladder three stories up, Volunteer Captain McKenzie hoisted the 14' ladder over his head and hooked it on to the fourth floor balcony railing. Volunteer Captain McKenzie then climbed this ladder at a 90-degree angle, to the fourth floor balcony, assisted the citizen over the railing and onto the ladder. Volunteer Captain McKenzie secured the civilian between himself and the ladder and guided him to safety.
For great personal risk, judgment, zeal or ingenuity, Volunteer Captain Mark E. McKenzie is hereby awarded the Silver Medal of Valor.
 

On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 25,2001, during rush hour traffic, a dump truck lost control on the outer loop of I-95 over Suitland Rd. and crashed into the barrier of wall in the Northbound lane. The truck came to rest on its side, balanced on the edge of the jersey wall bridge. The back of the truck was on the beltway with the cab, which had separated from the frame, hanging out over Suitland Parkway. Tower 33 from Kentland was positioned on Suitland Parkway to extricate the driver from the cab. After ensuring the cab and the truck were secure the ERT from station 29 was placed in the bucket of Tower 33 to communicate with the driver and evaluate the victim's condition while Captain Mike Mattison completed the extrication.

Monday, May 21,2001, units were dispatched to 1401 Elkwood Lane for a reported apartment fire. Upon arrival firefighters encountered a three-story apartment building with heavy fire coming from the upper floors. Crews located and began treatment on a 54-year-old female, in cardiac arrest, and a 31-year-old pregnant female, with pain in both ankles. Both had jumped from the third floor. Citizens directed Firefighter Rych Pullen to the rear of a building where a child had been seen in the window. Pullen threw a ground ladder to the third floor and ascended to rescue a child. Unable to see into the room due to heavy smoke, he reached through the window and found the child, but was unable to lift the child out. With the help of two other firefighters, firefighter Pullen was able to rescue the 12-year-old who was in respiratory arrest.