Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service

Last updated
Montgomery County Department of Fire and Rescue Services
Seal of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.png
Agency overview
Annual calls~134,000
Employees
  • ~1,270 career
  • ~1165 volunteer
  • ~100 support staff
Annual budget~$262,000,000
StaffingCombination
Fire chief Corey Smedley
EMS level ALS and BLS
IAFF 1664
Motto
  • French: Gardez Bien
  • (in English) Guard Well
Facilities and equipment
Divisions4
Battalions5
Stations 39
Engines 35
Trucks 15
Rescues 6
Ambulances 45
HAZMAT 2
Light and air 2
Website
MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/MCFRS
https://www.iafflocal1664.org/

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS), officially the Montgomery County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS), is the public safety agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for Montgomery County, Maryland. The services are provided by a combination of paid county personnel and volunteer members of the various independent, non-profit volunteer fire and rescue corporations located throughout the county.

Contents

History

MCFRS personnel with FBI agents at the Pentagon a day after the September 11 attacks in 2001. FEMA - 4358 - Photograph by Jocelyn Augustino taken on 09-12-2001 in Virginia.jpg
MCFRS personnel with FBI agents at the Pentagon a day after the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Recruit Class 1 for MCFRS began on 2/29/1988.

The MCFRS went to Oklahoma City in 1995 to conduct USAR operations after the Oklahoma City bombing. [1]

In 2001, the MCFRS went to Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia aboard RideOn buses to assist in urban search and rescue (USAR) efforts immediately after the September 11 attacks. [1]

In 2004, the County Council passed legislation to reorganize the Fire & Rescue Service by placing all personnel, career and volunteer, under the command of a single fire chief. [2] [3] However, actual services are delivered most commonly from career personal operating out of volunteer owned stations across the county with volunteers serving in the evening hours and on weekends to increase manpower during periods of high call volume. This system is due to the population size of the county and need for round the clock services. The county uses the standard incident command system to coordinate the efforts of career and volunteer personnel at the scenes of emergencies.

Montgomery County also works closely with and has mutual aid agreements with DC Fire & EMS, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue, Frederick County Fire & Rescue, Howard County Fire & Rescue, and Prince George's County Fire/EMS.


In April 2020, MCFRS implemented a COVID-19 Surge Plan which included the staffing of more BLS ambulances, as well as moving ALS providers from AFRA and medic units to chase cars. This, paired with a continuous Blue Alert, which goes in effect when an EMS jurisdictional system is temporarily taxed to its limits in providing pre hospital care and ambulance transportation due to extraordinary situations that contribute to high demand for ambulance service, and decontamination teams stationed at each of the main hospitals in the county enabled proper patient distribution and lessoned the burden on the system. The Plan was ended in June 2020.

On June 30, 2023, Fire Chief Scott Goldstein left MCFRS for a fire and rescue department in Cowlitz County, Washington. Goldstein had been chief since June 2015. [4] On July 9, 2024 Montgomery County Council confirmed Corey Smedley appointment as Chief of MCFRS. [5]

Ranks

Fire Chief ,Division Chief ,Assistant Chief ,Battalion Chief ,Captain ,Lieutenant ,Master Firefighter ,Firefighter 3 ,Firefighter 2 ,Firefighter 1 ,Recruit ,Candidate

Stations and Apparatus

The county is broken into five battalions, with a total of 37 fire stations and 2 rescue squads.

StationCompanyBattalionEngine Company or Paramedic Engine CompanySpecial Service UnitsEMS UnitsOther units
1Silver Spring VFD1st BattalionPE701M701, A701, A701BDCN701
2Takoma Park VFD1st BattalionPE702, E702BA702, A702B
3Rockville VFD3rd BattalionPE703, PE703BAT703, RS703M703, A703, A703B, A703C, ALS703SU703, UT703B, UT703C
4Sandy Spring VFD4th BattalionPE704A704W704
5Kensington VFD - Old Town4th BattalionPE705, PE705BA705, A705B,B705, CT705,UT705
6Bethesda FD2nd BattalionPE706T706A706
7*Chevy Chase FD2nd BattalionPE707A/M707 (BCCRS Staffed)HM707, UT707
8Gaithersburg-Washington Grove VFD3rd BattalionPE708PAT708M708, A708, A708B, A708C, ALS708CT708, B708, UT708, UT708B, UTV708, BUTV708
9Hyattstown VFD5th BattalionRE709, BE709B709, B709B, W709, UT709, UTV709
10*Cabin John Park VFD2nd BattalionPE710, E710BT710A710, ALS710SW710, SW710B, UT710
11Glen Echo FD2nd BattalionPE711A711, A711B, ALS711UT711,

UTV711

12Hillandale VFD1st BattalionPE712M712, A712BC701, UT712, UTV712
13Damascus VFD5th BattalionPE713, E713B,

BE713

M713, A713B713, W713
14*Upper Montgomery County VFD5th BattalionRE714, BE714M714, A714UT714, UTV714, B714, CT714, BT714, SW714, W714
15Burtonsville VFD1st BattalionPE715,

PE715B

T715, RS715M715, A715B715, UT715
16Silver Spring VFD - Four Corners1st BattalionPE716T716A716MAU716
17Laytonsville VFD5th BattalionPE717, EW717, BE717RS717A717B717, CT717, W717
18Kensington VFD - Glenmont4th BattalionPE718AT718A718CP718
19Silver Spring VFD - Montgomery Hills1st BattalionPE719AT719EMS701
20*Bethesda FD - Midtown Bethesda2nd BattalionPE720BC702
21Kensington VFD - Viers Mill Village4th BattalionPE721A721
22Kingsview5th BattalionPE722, BE722A722MAB722, MCSU722, W722, B722
23*Rockville VFD - Twinbrook3rd BattalionPE723AT723M723, A723
24Hillandale VFD - Colesville1st BattalionPE724, E724BAT724A724,A724BB724
25*Kensington VFD - Aspen Hill4th BattalionPE725T725ALS725, A725, A725B,BC704, EMS704, SU725, BT725
26Bethesda FD - North Bethesda2nd BattalionPE726A/M726 (BCCRS staffed)MAB726, MCSU726
27Public Safety Training AcademyXE727, E727BT727CP727
28*Gaithersburg-Washington Grove VFD - Derwood3rd BattalionPE728A728HM728
29Germantown VFD5th BattalionPE729, PE729BRS729M729, A729BT729, SU729
30*Cabin John Park VFD - Potomac2nd BattalionPE730A730W730, B730, SW730, SW730B, UT730
31*Rockville VFD - Quince Orchard3rd BattalionPE731T731M731BT731, W731, TR700, TR700B, SU731, UT731, UTV731
32Travilah3rd BattalionPE732A732, M732BC703, EMS703, SA700, DC700, CP732
33Rockville VFD - Potomac3rd BattalionPE733A733, A733BB733, CT733, MAU733
34Milestone5th BattalionPE734T734A734DCN734, BC705,EMS705
35Clarksburg5th BattalionPE735AT735A735W735
40Sandy Spring VFD - Olney4th BattalionPE740AT740A740B740, BT740, CT740, UT740, UTV740, BUTV740
Rescue Co. 1Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad2nd BattalionRS741, RS741BM741, A741B, A/M741C, A/M741D, ALS741UT741
Rescue Co. 2Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad4th BattalionRS742, RS742BA742, A742B, A742C, A742D, ALS742, ALS742BUT742, UTV742

Stations 36 and 39 are not listed as they are not in service as of September 2024

* Denotes Special Operations Station

Abbreviations:

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Fire Department</span> Fire department of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.

The Los Angeles Fire Department provides firefighting services as well as technical rescue services, hazardous materials services and emergency medical services to the citizens of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. The LAFD is responsible for approximately four million people who live in the agency's 471 square miles (1,220 km2) jurisdiction. The Los Angeles Fire Department was founded in 1886 and is the third largest municipal fire department in the United States, after the New York City Fire Department and the Chicago Fire Department. The department is sometimes also referred to as the Los Angeles City Fire Department or "LA City Fire" to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which serves unincorporated areas and, via contracts, other incorporated municipalities within Los Angeles County without their own fire departments. The department is currently under the command of Chief Kristin Crowley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Fire Department</span> American municipal fire department

The New York City Fire Department, officially the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the full-service fire department of New York City, serving all five boroughs. The FDNY is responsible for providing Fire Suppression Services, Specialized Hazardous Materials Response Services, Emergency Medical Response Services and Specialized Technical Rescue Services in the entire city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Fire Department</span> Fire department of the city of Chicago

The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) provides firefighting services along with emergency medical response services, hazardous materials mitigation services, and technical rescue response services in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department is the second-largest municipal fire department in the United States after the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). It is also one of the oldest major organized fire departments in the nation. It has numerous general purpose and specialized vehicles and equipment to accomplish its missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles County Fire Department</span> Firefighting service in California

The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) provides firefighting and emergency medical services for the unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, California, as well as 59 cities through contracting, including the city of La Habra, which is located in Orange County and is the first city outside of Los Angeles County to contract with LACoFD.

The Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) provides fire, emergency medical, and allied public safety services for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church in Virginia, USA. It is highly regarded within the profession as an innovator and leader in enhancing the industry. Among its many firsts are the hiring of the first female career firefighter in the world in 1974 and partnering with the United States Public Health Service to develop America's first Metropolitan Medical Strike Team to respond to the consequences of a chemical, biological or radiological terrorist attack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palm Beach County Fire Rescue</span> Fire rescue agency for Palm Beach County, Florida, US

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR) is one of the largest fire departments in the state of Florida. With 52 stations, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue provides fire protection, Advanced Life Support, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials' mitigation, aircraft rescue/firefighting, fire investigation, and 911 dispatching for unincorporated parts of Palm Beach County, Florida as well as 19 cities under contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Fire Department</span>

The Seattle Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. The department is responsible for an area of 142.5 square miles (369 km2), including 193 miles (311 km) of waterfront, with a population of 713,700. There is a total of 1,065 employees with 981 uniformed personnel and 84 civilian employees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department</span>

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is a combination career and volunteer organization that provides fire suppression services, emergency medical response services, technical rescue services, hazardous materials Response services, water rescue services, life safety education, fire prevention and arson investigation services to Fairfax County, Virginia. Emergency medical services include advanced life support response by ALS capable engines and transport units.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) is the full-service fire department of San Diego, California. It was established on August 5, 1889. The department responds to over 183,000 calls per year. It covers 343 square miles of service area, including 17 miles of coastline. It is the second-largest municipal fire department in California, after the Los Angeles Fire Department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department</span> Fire department of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department is the fire and rescue service provider for the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as the cities of Wilton Manors and Lazy Lake through service contracts. Additionally the FLFRD is responsible for ARFF at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. In 2013, the department responded to 44,387 calls for service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Fire Department</span> U.S. local government agency

The Detroit Fire Department (DFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan.

The Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) provides fire and rescue protection and emergency medical services to the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. In total the department serves 278 square miles (720 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department</span> Provider of fire prevention, fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue services

The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department (PGFD) is a combination career/volunteer county-level agency that provides "..fire prevention, fire protection, emergency medical services, rescue services and community outreach programs" for residents of Prince George's County, Maryland. The department is composed of volunteers from 33 fire companies throughout the county, that are represented by the Prince George's County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, as well as career firefighters affiliated with the Prince George's County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association, IAFF Local 1619. According to the Firehouse Magazine 2010 Combination Fire Department Run Survey, the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department covers a response area of approximately 580 miles, protects approximately 900,000 people, and has an annual operating budget of $132 million. Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department responded to 148,506 calls in 2016 according to the 2016 National Run Survey. 29,702 of those calls were fire related and 118,804 that were EMS calls, making Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department the busiest combination fire department in the United States to submit statistics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firefighting in the United States</span> Firefighting

Firefighting in the United States dates back to the earliest European colonies in the Americas. Early firefighters were simply community members who would respond to neighborhood fires with buckets. The first dedicated volunteer fire brigade was established in 1736 in Philadelphia. These volunteer companies were often paid by insurance companies in return for protecting their clients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department</span> Fire department in the District of Columbia, in the United States

The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, established July 1, 1804, provides fire protection and emergency medical service for the District of Columbia, in the United States. An organ of the devolved district government, Fire & EMS is responsible for providing fire suppression, ambulance service and hazardous materials containment for the federal district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System</span>

The Loudoun County Combined Fire-Rescue System (LC-CFRS) is made up of the career Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (LCFR) and 16 volunteer organizations. LC-CFRS has the responsibility of protecting the citizens and property of the towns, villages, and suburbs of Loudoun County, Virginia, from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, and technical rescue response services, including Hazardous Materials mitigation, Mass Casualty Incident response services, environmental danger response services and more. The headquarters and training facilities of the department are in Leesburg, off Sycolin Road.

The New Haven Fire Department (NHFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of New Haven, Connecticut. The New Haven Fire Department currently serves a population of over 130,000 people living in 19 square miles of land and is one of the largest fire departments in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Fire Department Bureau of EMS</span> New York City emergency medical service

The New York City Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services is a division of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) in charge of emergency medical services for New York City. It was established on March 17, 1996, following the merger of the FDNY and New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation's emergency medical services division. FDNY EMS provides coverage of all five boroughs of New York City with ambulances and a variety of specialized response vehicles.

The San Rafael Fire Department (SRFD) provides fire and emergency medical services to the City of San Rafael, California. The San Rafael Fire Department serves an estimated population of 72,000 people with approximately 70 firefighting and emergency medical field personnel. The ISO Class 1 department responds to, on average, approximately 9,000 emergency calls annually, with about 70% being emergency medical calls. EMS patients are transported to the hospital of their choice, unless the call is urgent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Jose Fire Department</span>

The San José Fire Department (SJFD) provides firefighting, rescue and emergency medical services to the city of San Jose, California, United States. The San Jose Fire Department protects the third largest city in California and the 13th largest city in the nation.

References

  1. 1 2 911NewsCoverage (4 July 2014). "ABC (WJLA) 9-11-2001 News Coverage 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM". Archived from the original on 2021-12-19 via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. "Council Approves Changes to Fire & Rescue Services" (PDF) (Press release). Montgomery County Government. May 4, 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
  3. Parrish, Warren (June 9, 2004). "County volunteer firefighters endorse restructuring law". The Gazette Newspapers. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
  4. "Message From The Chief". Cowlitz 2 Fire. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  5. "Montgomery County Council Confirms Corey Smedley as County Fire and Rescue Service Chief". Montgomery County Government.