BOONSBORO, MD - Residents were on fire as they took the stand concerning the suspended fire company in Fairplay.  One couple from town says a blaze destroyed their home last year and Fairplay was the last to respond.

"Sharpsburg responded to the house fire, Williamsport, Maugansville. I mean there were fire trucks everywhere and Fairplay couldn't even get down the road by the time they got there."

Because of incidents like this one, Fairplay's activity has been halted for about a month now.  Thirteen are on the Task Force working to rebuild the broken fire company.

One Task Force Member, Steve Pifer, says, "Their by-laws need to be changed and if you go by what the citizens say, management needs to change."

Feverish comments came from all angles at the third public Task Force meeting.  One former volunteer left Fairplay because he felt many were wrongfully dismissed, leaving the crew short handed.

He says, "When they kicked everybody out they... I'm sorry when they didn't pay their dues they were the ones that showed us respect, the ones that helped us get better.  So I resigned, I left."

The hottest topic though was accountability and safety.

"Whatever they want to do behind closed doors is fine, but damn it when the public needs them they need to be there," says one concerned resident.

Pifer says, "Some citizens didn't speak what they wanted to but made comments instead. I think a lot will be weighed on what the citizens have to say."

The task force plans on meeting once a week before their October deadline.