June 17, the Prince George's County Fire Department pulled two career firefighters from a Bowie firehouse and if not for four volunteer firefighters taking the day off from their jobs, the Old Bowie area would have been without fire protection for eight hours.

The two firefighters pulled from Station 19 (Old Bowie) were part of an overtime reduction plan. The Prince George's County Fire Department has been paying approximately $250,000 in overtime each two-week pay period. The current budget is approximately $60,000 each pay period.

The two firefighters pulled were sent to another station to make up staffing there,...