[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 38 (Thursday, March 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              HONORING PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DONNA F. EDWARDS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2012

  Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Prince 
George's County Fire and EMS Department and to firefighters across this 
country who are committed every day to keep our communities safe by 
putting their own lives at risk during times of our greatest need. They 
each have made the ultimate contribution to our communities--the 
contribution of personal sacrifice to ensure our safety and well-being.
  On February 24, 2012, a house fire in Riverdale Heights, MD, took an 
unexpected turn for the worse. The Prince George's County firefighters 
advanced into the home searching for victims. High winds that Friday 
night are believed to have caused a sudden rush of fresh air into the 
home, creating a ``fireball'' that engulfed the firefighters on the 
first floor and forced the crews to evacuate the structure.
  Unfortunately, seven firefighters from three Maryland Volunteer Fire 
Departments were injured, transported, and treated at MedStar 
Washington Hospital Center. Six of those injured have been released, 
with one still remaining at Washington Hospital Center's burn unit. On 
behalf of the citizens of the Fourth Congressional District, I want to 
send my appreciation to these individual firefighters and all their 
colleagues for their relentless dedication to public service. I would 
also like to recognize the paramedics and the doctors and nurses at the 
Washington Hospital Center for their compassionate care and treatment 
these firefighters received.
  I would like to discuss briefly each of these brave men:
  Firefighter Kevin O'Toole, 22 years old, a member of the Bladensburg 
Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad remains hospitalized in 
stable but critical condition with burns over 50% of his body;
  Firefighter Ethan Sorrell, 21, of the Bladensburg Fire Department 
sustained burn injuries to his airway and was released last week;
  Firefighter Michael McClary, 19, a member of the Riverdale Volunteer 
Fire Department suffered injuries to his ribs and burns to both hands 
and was hospitalized overnight before being released;
  Firefighter Michael Olszewski, 22, of the Riverdale Fire Department 
sustained burns to the side of the face and was treated and released 
that same evening;
  Firefighter Roberto Ramirez, 21, of the Riverdale Fire Department 
suffered ear burns and was treated and released that same evening;
  Firefighter Michael Naples, 24, of the Riverdale Fire Department 
sustained ear and face burns and was treated and released that same 
evening; and
  Assistant Chief Ari Schloss, 36 years of age, of the College Park 
Volunteer Fire Department suffered burns to the hands and was treated 
and released that same evening.
  I have seen firsthand how difficult a job our local firefighters 
have. They are tasked with the tremendous responsibility of meeting the 
increasingly diverse needs of growing populations with diminishing 
resources. Today, our first responders are being asked to be the first 
line of defense in our war on terror, in addition to carrying out 
traditional fire and public safety work.
  I want to thank them for their commitment to the citizens and 
families of this great State. They are Maryland's heroes, and they have 
my utmost respect and support.