Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

06/16/2026

Hope to see you there 🍕

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

This evening one of our members spotted a vehicle in the water off of Route 234,in the area of Allen’s Fresh. He immediately called communications to report it and units were dispatched. Squad 10 arrived and quickly accessed the vehicle, which was found to be unoccupied. Chief 14 had command of the incident.

06/09/2026

🚨 PUBLIC SAFETY CAN’T AFFORD DELAYS 🚨

The La Plata Volunteer Fire Department is speaking out regarding the Maryland State Highway Administration’s proposed Route 6 (Charles Street) redesign project.

For months, we have raised serious concerns about how the current design could negatively impact emergency response operations within our community. Narrower lanes, raised medians, and reduced access points may delay fire trucks and ambulances from getting where they are needed most — when seconds matter.

Since meeting with elected officials on April 23, 2026, and formally presenting our operational concerns, we have not received any meaningful response or indication that these public safety issues are being addressed.

This is not about politics.
This is about response times.
This is about access.
This is about protecting our community.

Every day, our members respond to emergencies throughout the Town of La Plata and surrounding areas. Our apparatus require safe, reliable access to homes, businesses, and neighborhoods to effectively protect lives and property.

Because of the lack of communication and progress surrounding these concerns, the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department will begin a public awareness campaign to ensure our community understands the potential impact this project may have on emergency services.

We are asking for your support. Contact the Town Mayor or Councilmembers.

✅ Public safety must remain the priority
✅ Emergency vehicle access cannot be compromised
✅ Our community deserves a roadway design that works for everyone — including first responders

🚨 STAY INFORMED. GET INVOLVED. 🚨

Follow the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department page for:
• Project updates
• Public safety information
• Ways to support safe emergency access in our community

We remain willing to work collaboratively with all parties involved and continue to hope for meaningful engagement and resolution.

Together, we can protect our community and ensure that public safety always comes first.

06/04/2026

The Charles County Department of Health is reminding our residents and businesses that the Maryland Department of the Environment open burning prohibition is in effect annually between June 1 and August 31. The prohibition does not affect backyard barbeque grilling or open fires for recreational purposes, such as small campfires. Click the following link for more information:

https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/26.11.07.03.aspx

04/25/2026

04/14/2026

The Storm Prediction Center has issued an elevated fire risk for Tuesday, April 14th.

Very dry conditions combined with gusty winds will make it easy for fires to start and spread quickly.

Please do not burn.

03/27/2026

See you Friday!!!

03/16/2026

🏠 Know Where to Go: Sheltering at Home 🌪️

Imagine you’re relaxing at home... when all of a sudden, a Tornado Warning flashes on your phone or your NOAA Weather Radio blares. Would you know exactly where to go?

Seconds count when a storm is hitting. Don't wait until the sirens go off to find your spot:
📍 BEST: A basement or designated storm cellar.
📍 GOOD: An interior room on the lowest floor (like a closet or bathroom) away from windows.
📍 AVOID: Upper floors, rooms with windows, or large open spaces like garages.

When the alarms sound, grab your family, your pets, and a pair of shoes—and get to your safe place immediately.

Learn more about staying safe: 👉 weather.gov/safety/tornado

03/15/2026

🚨 RARE LEVEL 4 SEVERE WEATHER RISK ISSUED FOR MONDAY
"Share" the word! The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded our region to a Level 4 “Significant Risk” for severe weather on Monday. This level of severe risk is very rare in the Mid-Atlantic, typically occurring only once or twice per decade.

A strong cold front will approach the region Monday afternoon. Forecast guidance now suggests the front may arrive a little slower than originally expected, which could allow the atmosphere to destabilize more during the afternoon after morning showers move out. If that happens, temperatures and humidity will increase, creating more atmospheric energy for storms to develop and strengthen.

⏰ Timing to Watch Monday
• After 12 PM: Scattered storms may begin developing ahead of the main line
• 3–6 PM: Main line of severe storms moves through the region

If storms form ahead of the main line, a few could rotate and attempt to become tornadic. The main line of storms will likely bring the greatest widespread threat, with damaging wind gusts up to 75 mph possible within stronger storms. There will be a lot of wind energy in the atmosphere, which storms could tap into quickly.

⚠️ What Could Reduce the Threat
There are still ways this setup could weaken:
• If the cold front moves faster than expected
• If morning rain and clouds linger, preventing the atmosphere from destabilizing
• Increased dry air gets mixed into the middle levels of the atmosphere.

In the Mid-Atlantic, we are notorious for these scenarios happening, which can sometimes limit severe weather outbreaks. However, this is the potential setup we are currently looking at.

I’m not sharing this to scare anyone, but to make sure our community stays prepared and informed. Now is a good time to make sure you have a severe weather plan, including where you would go if warnings are issued and how you will receive alerts Monday afternoon.

Stay with JB Weather throughout today and tomorrow for live, local coverage you can count on to stay ahead of the storm. I will have more information out throughout the day!

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