Bomb Robot, Car Fire & Jaws of Life in Waldorf

Last Saturday, Waldorf residents spent the afternoon climbing on fire trucks and rubbing elbows with firefighters.  The Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services Station 12 opened their enormous bay doors to let the public in rather than to go out on a call. 

Fire Chief Dan Stevens told The Bay Net that Station 12’s Open House was the neighborhood’s chance to see “their firehouse.  To come look at the equipment and get on a fire truck.” 

Waldorf VFD & EMS wanted to make people aware that the local force is primarily volunteer.  A few EMS personnel are “career”; in other words, paid for their work.  Adults strolled around the vehicles, children climbed into the trucks. 

Deputy State Fire Marshall, Matt Stevens was on hand to demonstrate one of the state bomb squad’s remote control robots, designed to disrupt a bomb at a distance and safeguard the lives of the bomb techs.

In addition to the bomb robot demo, Station 12 firefighters cut the doors and roof off a car, then set a second car alight to demonstrate their firefighting and rescuing techniques. 

The station’s auxiliary kept guests fed with hotdogs, cookies and fruit drinks.  Children went home with activity bags full of items they could have fun with while remembering how to stay safe around fire and prevent them.

Waldorf firefighters spent the week leading up to the open house touring local elementary schools to promote fire safety and get out word of the event. 

“We want to prevent fire and injury with everyone, especially the little guys,” Chief Stevens told The Bay Net.