“Although we acknowledge that there were very unfortunate issues related to the response times with regard to a tragic fire in Myersville, Maryland, we believe that some media reports of the incident are misleading and unfair to the career and volunteer firefighters of Frederick County.
“Reports of the findings in the after-action report of the fatal fire on Highland Avenue in Myersville that occurred on January 31, 2013, are leaving an impression that no firefighting units arrived on the scene of the fire for over an hour. Factually, and as stated in the report, the first firefighting unit arrived on the scene eight minutes after being dispatched. The media is giving our citizens the false notion that no units arrived for a long period of time. That is simply not the case and is not truthful.
"The report is an open and honest review of this tragic fire that was self-initiated by our fire and rescue service as part of our ongoing efforts to always improve our services. This report presents full disclosure in keeping with the principles of transparency of this county government. On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, we are pleased with the pro-active effort of our fire and rescue service to learn from the weaknesses that occurred during this tragic event. Any misrepresentation to the contrary is a disservice to the fire and rescue providers that serve our community."
For additional information, the media is invited to contact President Young on his cell phone at 301-748-3218 or Director Tom Owens of the Division of Fire and Rescue Services on his cell phone at 301-606-4429 or via e-mail at towens@FrederickCountyMD.gov.