Maryland Firefighter Talks About His Role In Controversial Videos

July 15, 2008
The video shows numerous firefighters shooting fireworks inside the fire station on Landover Road.

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BLADENSBURG, Md. (WUSA) -- Jerry Engle spent more than half his life at the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department. One of the most active firefighters in the company's history, Engle wrote a book on his experience called Probie Days.

Engle may have to add a few new chapters after the recent release to the news media of controversial videos involving Kentland's firefighters.

Engle, now a member of the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department, is seen on one of the videos using his bare backside as a launching pad for a bottle rocket. The video shows numerous firefighters shooting fireworks inside the fire station on Landover Road. The video was shot more than four-years-ago.

Engle tells 9NEWS NOW he was not involved in the hazing incident seen on the tape and thought that incident was "extreme".

According to sources, the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department has already suspended its chief and others in the videos. Officially, Kentland calls what's on the videos inexcusable and will only confirm that disciplinary action has been taken.

Jerry Engle expects that Prince George's County Fire Chief Lawrence Sedgwick will also take action against him and others seen on the videos.

Engle says, "We deserve some type of punishment."

For more on this and other stories, go to STATter911 Blog

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