Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services

Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services
Operational area
Country  United States
State  Maryland
County Howard
Agency overview[1]
Employees ~900
Staffing Career & Volunteer
Fire chief John Butler
EMS level ALS
IAFF 2000
Facilities and equipment[2]
Battalions 2
Stations 12
Engines 25
Trucks 3
Platforms 4
Squads 3
Ambulances 19
Tenders 5
HAZMAT 1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services provides fire protection and emergency medical services to Howard County, Maryland.[1]

History

On July 10, 1888, Ellicott City citizens formed The Volunteer Fire Company of Ellicott City No. 1. On August 24, 1888, authorization was granted to purchase a hand-drawn ladder wagon from the Charles T. Holloway Company, Baltimore, Maryland. The wagon arrived on October 5, 1888 and was based in the old foundry. The first firehouse built in Ellicott City was constructed in 1896 with a cupola to house a firebell donated by the B&O railroad to summon firemen.[3]

In 1924, the Howard County Volunteer Fireman's Association was formed operating out of a new combination firehouse and transit terminal on Main street in Ellicott City with an $10,500 600 gallon American LaFrance triple combination engine.[4] Insurance agent Benjamin Mellor became the first fire chief serving until 1934.[5] In April 1940, a new fire station was dedicated in Ellicott City.[6]

On 18 April 1959, the Central Alarm went into operation in an office above the Ellicott City Jail.[7]

In 1991, the department implemented a customer service program, more commonly found in the commercial industry.[8] In 1996, Fire Chief Joseph Herr is replaced by Bill Goddard.[9] In 2014 the criteria for contingent firefighters that supplement volunteer stations without benefits changed to require the same qualifications as career staff, promoting the departure of 33 of 34 contingent staff primarily from Lisbon and West Friendship.[10]

Stations & Apparatus

Truck 6
Engine 111
Station 3 West Friendship VFD 12535 Old Frederick Road
Station 6 Savage Volunteer Fire Company 8521 Corridor Road
Station 7 5815 Banneker Road Columbia, Maryland
Bethany Station 8 9601 Old Frederick Road

There are a total of 12 stations under the umbrella of the department, 5 of which are run by the county. The remaining 7 are volunteer stations staffed by county employees and supplemented by corporate volunteers.[1] The volunteer departments, which are marked below with a V are as follows:

City Engine Truck EMS Wildland Command Special
1V Elkridge Engine 11, Engine 13 Medic 15
Medic 16		 Brush 18Chief 1 Squad 1, Utility 1[11]
2V Ellicott City Engine 21, Engine 22 Tower 2 Medic 25
Medic 26		 Brush 27 Chief 2 Rescue Squad 2, Utility 2[12]
3V West FriendshipEngine 31, Engine 32 Tower 3 Medic 35
Medic 36		Chief 3 Utility 3, Utility 31
Tanker 3, Tanker 34		[13]
4V Lisbon Engine 41, Engine 42
Engine 43, Engine 44		 Medic 45 Brush 47
Brush 48		 Utility 4[14]
5V Clarksville Engine 51, Engine 52
Engine 54		 Medic 55
Medic 56		 Brush 58 Tanker 5, Squad 5
Utility 5, Dive 5, Boat 5		[15]
6V SavageEngine 61, Engine 62
Rescue Engine 6		Truck 6Medic 65
Medic 66		 Brush 68 Chief 6 Utility 6, Canteen 6[16]
7 Columbia Engine 71, Engine 72Truck 7 Medic 75 Brush 77 [2]
8V Ellicott City Engine 81, Engine 82,

Engine 83

 Medic 85
Medic 86

EMS

2

 Brush 87 Chief 2 Air Unit 17, Utility 8[12]
9 Long Reach Engine 91, Engine 92 Medic 95
Medic 96		 [2]
10 Rivers Park Engine 101 Tower 10 Medic 105 Special Operations 10 [2]
11 Scaggsville Engine 111 Medic 115 Tanker 11, Boat 11 [2]
13 Glenwood Engine 131 Medic 135 Brush 137 Tanker 13 [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About Us". Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Fire and Rescue Services". Howard County Fire. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Marsha Wight Wise. Ellicott City. p. 92.
  4. ↑ Marsha Wight Wise. Ellicott City. p. 94.
  5. ↑ "Ellicott City Covered County Many Years". The Times (Ellicott City). 31 March 1965.
  6. ↑ Louise Vest (7 April 2015). "Historic home in Elkridge destroyed by 1940 fire". The Baltimore Sun.
  7. ↑ "Center for Emergencies". The Times. 31 March 1965.
  8. ↑ Darl R. McBride, Howard County. Fire and Rescue Services (1993). A Customer Service Program for the Howard County, Maryland Fire and Rescue Department.
  9. ↑ Amanda Yeager (21 November 2014). "Howard fire chief resigns". The Baltimore Sun.
  10. ↑ Amanda Yeager (10 July 2014). "Howard County fire contingent ranks drop to one". The Baltimore Sun.
  11. 1 2 "Apparatus". Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department.
  12. 1 2 3 "Apparatus". Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Apparatus". West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Apparatus". Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Apparatus". Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department Clarksville. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Apparatus". Savage Volunteer Fire Department. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
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