Stars Set Up PG Firefighters for National Recognition of Rescue of St. Mary's Firefighter

A whirlwind 24 hours featured two Prince George’s County Firefighters being recognized for their heroic actions that brought John Travolta and Oprah Winfrey to tears. On Monday, Fire Lieutenant Kenneth Ward and Emergency Response Technician {ERT} Philip Bird were asked to join the Departments Spokesperson, Mark Brady, on a "recruitment trip" that would require an overnight stay. After having obtained approval from Acting Fire Chief Darrell C. Odom, the trio departed Baltimore Washington International Airport on Monday at 2:30 PM on a flight to Detroit, Michigan. Not fully believing their involvement in a "recruitment trip", the two firefighters were told by Brady they were also going to participate in filming a documentary on training involving "Rapid Intervention", {a team of firefighters that are prepared and ready to be deployed should a situation deteriorate and immediate, rapid intervention is required at the scene of fires and other incidents}. The three members of the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department arrived at Detroit Engine Company 5-Rescue Squad 2 at Alexandrine and Cass Street at about 5:00 PM and were greeted by the Detroit Firefighters that were curious as to all the activity, as was Lt. Ward and ERT Bird. A film production crew was at the fire station disguised with the task of interviewing firefighters about "Rapid Intervention". In reality, the film crew was part of The Oprah Winfrey Show preparing a segment on firefighting heroes to be televised with a promo for the soon to be released "Ladder 49" movie. This entire event had been set up over the past several days and had been kept quiet, at the request of The Oprah Winfrey Show, with the exception of Brady, Acting Fire Chief Odom and The Oprah Winfrey Show production team. The Oprah Winfrey Show goes to great extremes to keep their storyline under wraps and surprise guests with their "wildest dreams coming true".

While filming an interview with Lt Ward and ERT Bird, a loud voice was heard throughout the fire station, "Does anyone here know Ken Ward and Phil Bird?" The two firefighters turned to see who was asking and ended up face to face with John Travolta. John Travolta, Joaquin Phoenix, Jacinda Barrett, Robert Patrick and other crewmembers from "Ladder 49" surprised the two Prince George’s Firefighters with their impromptu entrance. John Travolta informed the two PGFD members that they would be making an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show the next morning in Chicago, IL and that he, John Travolta, would fly them on-board his private Boeing 707 aircraft. After about 45 minutes of the actors greeting firefighters, paramedics and police officers, the contingent left Detroit Engine Company 5-Rescue Squad 2 and departed for Metro Airport for their flight to Chicago. The two firefighters were wined and dined on-board and were given the opportunity to explore all the unique features on the custom built aircraft including John Travoltas private bedroom, bathrooms and dining areas.

After having arrived in Chicago on Monday evening, the PGFD crew was taken to the Oprah Winfrey Show that is filmed at Harpo Studios early the following morning. Another surprise awaited them; their wives joined the firefighters; Robin Ward and Kristen Bird, after having been flown into Chicago by the Oprah Winfrey Show staff that morning.

The taping of the show started promptly at 9:00 AM and lasted just over an hour. In addition to Oprah Winfrey, the PGFD crew was joined by John Travolta, the crew from "Ladder 49" and PGFD Fire Lieutenant "Dino" Mahaffey for a special presentation that was quite simply "overwhelming and emotional". The segment is scheduled to air on Monday, September 20, 2004, at 4:00 PM.

Fire Lieutenant Kenneth Ward had an opportunity to comment on the rescue of his friend and colleague and stated, "ERT Bird and myself were part of a team of firefighters and paramedics that came to the aid of Lieutenant Mahaffey the evening he was injured, we accept this gratitude on behalf of all those involved."

In Prince George’s County, Acting Fire Chief Darrell C. Odom added, "The incident in which Fire Lieutenant Mahaffey was critically injured is currently being reviewed and under consideration for recognition at the Public Safety Valor Awards for all the individuals that were involved." He continued by saying, "Having such notable and prominent individuals as John Travolta and Oprah Winfrey recognize the efforts of firefighters is gratifying and appreciated, and not just in Prince George’s County, it is appreciated by firefighters everywhere."

The Prince George’s contingent departed Chicago at 2:30 PM for a return to Prince George’s County, twenty-four hours after they started this amazing journey.