2021 ANNUAL REPORT

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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Office of the Fire Marshal (continued)

The Office of the Fire Marshal is also required to inspect facilities, throughout the County, which have a liquor license, all government owned buildings, certain State-licensed buildings, and premises, which include migrant labor camps, day camps, trailer parks, home adoptions, and assisted living facilities in single family homes. Certain special events, such as the Fourth of July celebration in Baker Park, In the Streets, and the Great Frederick Fair, are also inspected by this office. Fire Marshals also investigate complaints for vacant buildings and excessive vegetation and work with property owners to secure structures and/or gain code compliance. Additionally, any request for a Building Inspector after normal business hours is handled by the Office of the Fire Marshal, with the exception of requests originating within the City of Frederick.

Investigations Section

Internal Investigations

From time to time, the Office of the Fire Marshal is required to perform internal investigations to assure that the County’s and the Division’s policies and procedures address the needs of the citizens and the fire/rescue and EMS services as a whole.

Origin and Cause Investigations

Maryland law requires that all fires and explosions be investigated in order to establish the cause. The Office of the Fire Marshal works with the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office and other law enforcement agencies as needed when conducting origin and cause investigations. Origin and cause investigations are conducted in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was developed in the Fall of 2010 and is working well. The MOU pools resources together fro m the Frederick County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office; thus, creating the Frederick County Fire Investigation Taskforce. The information that is obtained by conducting origin and cause investigations may point to a need to educate the public or business community, demonstrate or identify potential design or equipment defects, correct code deficiencies, or cause recommended code modifications.

Fire Fatalities

In 2021 there were 3 reported fire related fatalities. Two of the fire related deaths occurred on interstates in moving vehicles. On August 11, 2021, The Division of Fire and Rescue Services suffered a Line of Duty Death while on scene of a house fire.