2022 ANNUAL REPORT-Final

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VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES

The Woodsboro Volunteer Fire Company is located on the eastern side of Frederick County which is home to several lakes and ponds as well as three limestone quarries. Volunteers placed in service a 2022 Zodiac MillPro Inflatable Rescue Boat and is designated as Boat 16. This boat will strengthen the county’s water rescue capability.

Boat-16 2022 Zodiac MilPro

The Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Company, Inc. has a unique response area that includes the CSX railroad, U. S. Route 340, the Potomac River, C & O Canal, and the Appalachian Trail. They currently operate three ambulances, rescue squad, rescue boat, two utility vehicles and Chief’s vehicle. Volunteers had old A197 re-chassis and placed in service a 2022 Dodge RAM 4500 4x4 Ambulance utilizing existing patient treatment area and compartments. This unit will service the Brunswick community as A197.

A197 2022 Dodge RAM 4500

The Wolfsville Fire Company is nestled in the mountains of Frederick County in a narrow valley between South and Catoctin Mountains and not too far away from Camp David. Volunteers placed a Ford F450 brush truck in service. This unit will be used to combat brush and woods fires.

B216 2020 Ford F450

The DVFRS also, maintains a centralized membership database for County volunteers, which records the County’s Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP). Since its implementation in 2016, added enhancements include a training module, electronic approval process and drop box feature to improve security of personal information.

There is and always will be a need for more volunteers. The recruitment and retention of volunteers in Frederick County, remains a top priority. The Division continues to recruit new volunteers on-site at various events, via an extensive advertising campaign, which includes television and radio commercials, advertisements, flyers, personal presentations, and a recruitment website, www.GearUpFireRescue.com. The success of this campaign is a combined effort between our volunteer recruiter and our individual volunteer corporations, working together to welcome new volunteer members into our fire and rescue family. Additionally, the Division provides eleven new orientation classes throughout the year to welcome, educate and provide new volunteers with guidance on transitioning from civilian life to that of a volunteer in Frederick County’s fire and rescue service.

Annually, fire and rescue companies receive County government funding to support their operational activities. In 2014, the FCVFRA moved from a line-item budgeting system to a funding matrix with quarterly appropriations. The matrix system is calculated using as a base funding amount for type of service provided (fire/EMS or combination), operational square footage, apparatus ownership and call load.