Tony Rose, acting director of the department of emergency services, speaks about the importance of having a new emergency medical services station in Waldorf at the groundbreaking for the Pinefield EMS station on May 12.
County staff breaks ground for the Pinefield Emergency Medical Services Station in Waldorf on May 12. The site is located on Old Washington Road where the old state police barrack was located.
Tony Rose, acting director of the department of emergency services, speaks about the importance of having a new emergency medical services station in Waldorf at the groundbreaking for the Pinefield EMS station on May 12.
The Maryland State Police barrack on Old Washington Road was constructed in the 1950s and lived through Waldorf’s gambling days when the town was referred to as “Little Vegas.”
But nearly 70 years later, green vines climb behind the vacant building as county staff and construction crews in hard hats broke ground for a new building — the Pinefield Emergency Medical Services Station.
The demand for emergency services continues to increase as the community continues to grow, Tony Rose, acting director of the department of emergency services, said. The EMS station will improve response times and balance call volumes.
“This site represents more than just a building,” Rose said. “It represents our commitment to answering the call and saving lives.”
The Charles commissioners allocated more money in next year’s fiscal budget to increase funding for the department of emergency services, Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II (D) said. The investment supports new positions, better radio communications and critical capital improvement funding.
“This project is about being prepared,” Rose said. “Not just for day-to-day. For the future of this county.”
The station will be the county’s first owned and managed career EMS station for paid responders, Rose said. It will include decontamination areas, living areas, 911 emergency response, advanced life support, mobile integrated healthcare and disaster response.
The county government needs a presence in the northern part of Waldorf, Commissioner Amanda Stewart (D) said.
“Think about the response time that [residents] will receive,” she said. “They get to us very quickly, but three minutes, or five minutes or seven minutes may even seem like 30 minutes or an hour.”
The county worked with the state to get the property, Deborah Hall, acting county administrator, told Southern Maryland News. When the site became surplus property that was no longer needed for public use, the county “knocked on the door very hard.”
The location will include parking for public transit and a government convenience center to make them more accessible, she said, adding that it is located within the county’s development district.
“It really is a perfect site,” Hall said. “The stars aligned.”
The EMS station is expected to open in early summer 2027.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
