Strip mall explosion

[HotelCo]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/07/maryland.gas.blast/index.html

Eight firefighters and a gas employee were injured Thursday when a gas leak at a strip mall exploded in Forestville, Maryland, officials from the Prince Georges County Fire Department said.

 

[mycrofft]

"Seriously injured"

Hmmmm wonder what they were doing at the time?
Been on two nat gas situations (ruptured line to house by the street, and a possibly empty house filled with it). I remember I wished there were fewer, not more, people around me working in those situations.

 

[AJ Hidell]

Isn't PGFD mostly volunteers?

 

[Foxbat]

Isn't PGFD mostly volunteers?

http://www.seatpleasantfire.com/aboutpgfd.html

There are approximately 600 career personnel and 1600 volunteers staffing 47 stations protecting a population of about 800,000 people. The PGFD responds to around 120,000 calls a year, with about 70% of the calls being EMS related. Of all of the 47 stations, only 2 are 100% Career and 2 100% Volunteer, with a majority having paid personnel during the weekdays 0700-1500 and Volunteers staffing the other times, as well as holidays.

What's the difference in this case?

 

[mycrofft]

Health benefits, liability, the little things.

(leave it to a codger to think of those!).

 

[nomofica]

Hope they heal up okay.