Hurricane Earl is downgraded to a Category 2
Sustained Winds:  110ph     Wind Gusts: 130mph

Moving NW at 18 mph

Earl is moving toward the north at 18 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast with an increase in speed is expected Friday.


On the forecast track, Hurricane Earl will pass near the North Carolina Outer Banks tonight, and approach southeastern New England on Friday night.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 110 mph, with higher gusts. EARL is now a Category 2 hurricane. Additional weakening is expected tonight and Friday, but Earl is expected to remain a large and strong hurricane as it passes the Outer Banks.

Impact to the Queen Anne's County is expected to be minimal at this time.

When inspecting your SCBA, inspect it like your life depends on it.  Because it just might.

"Have the Courage to be SAFE"...   "Everyone Goes Home"

Kent Island VFD Cadet Members visited the Maryland Fire-Rescue Institutes North East Regional Training Center on Tuesday, August 24th.

Thanks to Mr. Fran Jester who met with the Cadets and provided them an overview of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Training Facilities.  The group then toured the facility learning about things like the burn building, SCBA maze, Auto Extrication pad and many other features of the facility which the Cadets will be using as they begin their fire service careers.  Following the tour, Mr. Jester presented a lecture to the group which identified the critical need for training and how training relates directly to firefighter safety.

The group was under the direction of Cadet Group Coordinator, FF/Paramedic Francis Mowbray and Cadet Advisor, FF/1st Resp. Dave Reid.

Just after 2300 hrs. a box assignment was alerted for a reported explosion at Shore Stop North (Valero). Chief 1 (P. Schlotterbeck) and Chief 10 (B. Thomas) arrived to find a passenger car fully involved at the fuel pumps. E-14 arrived and made a quick knock on the fire. Command held station 1 units on the scene. Witnesses reported that the fire may have been intentionally started as the result of a domestic dispute. Two people sustained non-life threatening burn injuries as a result of this fire. The cause of this fire is under investigation by the Maryland State Police and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION OR WHO MAY HAVE WITNESSED THIS INCIDENT ARE URGED TO CALL THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE AT 410-758-1101.

Just before 1700 hrs. Station 1 and Paramedic 100 were alerted to respond mutual aid to Anne Arundel County  for a MVC involving a tractor trailer and a passenger car. AA Co. E-191 (Cape St. Claire) arrived to find a Corvette crushed between a tractor trailer and the guard rail with the driver still in the Corvette. Station 1 units and Paramedic 100 navigated through the heavy traffic on the bridge to reach the scene. Station 1 personnel quickly went to work extricating the driver fromt he vehicle. The driver was flown to the Shock Trauma Center via MSP Trooper 1.

Just before 2200 hrs. station 1 and Paramedic 100 were alerted for a single vehicle MVC. Chief 1 (P.Schlotterbeck) arrived to find a single vehicle had struck a trailer mounted variable message sign board. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. Crews secured the electrical system on the sign board and cleared the scene.

KUDOs and THANKS to the following members for taking the initiative to cleanup the Fire Station yesterday...  Capt. Bobby Finck, FF "Pops" Gellert, FF Terry Pinder, EMT/FF Ryan Gardner, FF "Shaggy" McCartney and Cadet Brodie Bennett.  Paid EMS Crew EMT Gray Maggard and Medic Adam Mickey.  This group completely cleaned the Communications Room, including stripping and waxing the floor, Scrubbing down the cabinets, etc.  Also cleaned up the station floor. 

The Fire Station looks great.  Thanks Guys...

exceprted from The Kent Island Bay Times Excessive speed' cited by police By JACK SHAUM Staff Writer Published: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 9:30 AM CDT
STEVENSVILLE Maryland State Police are continuing their investigation of a Sunday morning traffic accident on Route 8 that left two Annapolis men dead and two other people hospitalized.

A second accident several hours later on Route 50 near Kent Narrows involved three vehicles and sent three people to area hospitals.

The Route 8 collision happened at about 8:16 a.m. just south of Great Neck Road in Stevensville. Police said the driver of a 1988 BMW traveling north on Route 8 lost control of the vehicle and it crossed the center line striking a southbound 2008 Ford Mustang.
The Mustang tried to move onto the shoulder to get out of the way, but was hit by the BMW, and both vehicles spun off the southbound lane, police said.

Two men riding in the BMW were killed in the accident. Police said Reginald Lydell Dean, 35, was ejected from the front passenger seat, and Teshawn Demond Parker, 33, was partially ejected from the rear seat. Both were dead at the scene.

The driver of the BMW, Victor Alehondro Smith, 41, of Annapolis, was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore where he was listed in serious but stable condition Monday. The driver of the Mustang, Agnes Christine Phelps, 46, of Stevensville, was also flown to Shock Trauma and was also listed in serious but stable condition Monday.

Police said the occupants of the BMW were not wearing seat belts.

"Excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor to the collision," police said in a statement. "Smith had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath/person."

Traffic was backed up on Route 8 in both directions for several hours while authorities investigated and cleared the accident scene.

Investigators are seeking any witnesses to the accident, particularly the driver of a black minivan that stopped at the scene immediately after the accident. As of Monday they had not heard from that driver, police said.

Dan Richardson lives just north of the accident scene on Route 8 and said speeding has long been an issue on that stretch of the road.

"They just race up and down this section of Route 8 like it was Indianapolis. I've lived here five years and long-time neighbors say it's always been that way," Richardson said. "People ride bikes, there are schools here, and there's the potential to have lots of kids."

Richardson said the speed limit is 40 miles an hour between Route 50 and the entrance to Matapeake Park, but that many cars often go much faster than that.

Tower 1 is for sale. We have ordered a replacement tower with delivery expected in December. The new tower will be a Pierce 100' aerial platform. The existing tower formerly served the Volunteer Fire Department of Halfway in Washington County, Maryland. The tower is being sold fully equipped. Please see the attached ad for further details.