“The Sackroom”

Application Process:
Applicants to the sackroom must be either enrolled at, or accepted to attend, the University of Maryland. All majors are welcome. Applicants must also be members of the College Park Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. For the purposes of the dormitory application, membership begins upon the completing the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department volunteer application packet. No one will move into the dormitory until their PGFEMS application is approved. Contact the membership committee for the deadlines of when applications must be received for the fall and spring semesters.

The dormitory application has four components:

Remember: Applications are not complete until all four items are received and the PGFEMS application has been submitted.

Selection Process:
Dormitory selection normally occurs twice each year prior to each semester. The fire service dormitory application and selection process is conducted by the department’s Dormitory Advisory Committee (DAC). This group consists of an Executive Committee member, a current student representative, two past dormitory residents, and the Chief. The DAC reviews the completed applications and then conducts interviews as needed. A rank ordered list is created and applicants are offered dormitory spots as space is available. While there are normally several new spots available each semester, the number fluctuates based upon the number of returning and graduating dormitory residents. When the number of qualified applicants exceeds the space available, a wait list is created. Some applicants may be offered temporary housing in the station bunkroom wing.

Admission Criteria:
The only mandatory requirements are attendance at the University of Maryland and acceptance as a PGFEMS volunteer. Each applicant is judged on their own merits. No previous fire or EMS experience is required. The DAC takes numerous factors into consideration when making their decision. Preference may be given to applicants who have completed the CPVFD turn over process, applicants who are already certified as a Firefighter I or EMT-Basic, and applicants studying fire protection engineering, fire science, or a health sciences related field. Those applicants not initially accepted into the dormitory will be considered in future semesters. Whether one is accepted or not into the fire service dormitory has no bearing on their status as a member of the CPVFD. Applicants are strongly encouraged to come visit the station and the University of Maryland. Feel free to contact a member of the membership committee to arrange a tour, overnight stay, or ride along.

Application for Admission to the John L. Bryan Fire Service Dormitory (PDF)