At 12:30 a.m. Feb. 13, Prince Georges firefighters and paramedics were alerted to a house fire in the 6900 block of Standish Drive in Landover Hills. Landover Hills units arrived to find a one story single family home with heavy fire showing from one side of the house.

While making an interior attack on the fire floor, firefighters John O’Brien and Matthew Yarish along with volunteer fire fighters from the Bladensburg and West Lanham stations found themselves fighting more than just a house fire. They found themselves fending off an alleged attack by firefighters from Kentland Volunteer Fire Station 33, reports Vice President Andrew Pantelis.

O’Brien and Yarish claim that members from the Kentland station deliberately shut off their air tanks and ripped off some of their protective gear while they were attempting to extinguish the blaze.

Both men sustained second degree burns and respiratory complications as a result of the altercation. Volunteer Fire Fighters from Bladensburg and Lanham allegedly encountered a similar assault from members of Kentland during the same fire.

O’Brien wrote: “In all my years in the fire service, I have never seen so much “on the scene” violence in the workplace, unprofessionalism and disobedience from other firefighters. How can we do our jobs when we have to look over our shoulders and worry about someone shutting off our air supply, ripping off our face pieces and helmets, and other unsafe acts?”

Prince George’s County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady says an internal investigation is underway.

Brady confirms that one of three firefighters involved in a related fight outside the burning home is on operational suspension.

The Prince George’s County Professional Firefighters & Paramedics Association is extremely concerned with the events that have occurred and is conducting its own internal investigation. President James Brinkley and the administration are confidant that the Fire & EMS Department will conduct a thorough investigation and take the appropriate action.

This is a serious incident and expect the action taken will be just as serious. If that is not the case, the local will respond accordingly.

Kentland Volunteer firefighters responded to the alleged incident on their website: The following is the text of the response.

There are two separate incidents being brought out from this fire-

Incident 1: This incident revolves around a Lieutenant from Kentland VFD, and a Deputy Chief and Captain from Bladensburg VFD.  The incident stems from a Bladensburg truck parking on top of a Kentland attack hose line which was operating inside the house. The ensuing actions to remove the truck from the hose are the center of this portion of the investigation.

As of this time the investigation has been completed and disciplinary actions are pending.

Incident 2: This incident revolves around allegations that while inside the fire building members from Kentland shut off air cylinders and ripped off protective equipment of firefighters fighting the fire.

The Kentland VFD denies these false allegations 100%, and we anxiously await the conclusion of this investigation to clear the names of both the Kentland VFD and its members. We feel confident that will be cleared of any wrong doing.

Also, please be aware that the information that is out right now is one sided. We at Kentland VFD are assisting and coo