2023 ANNUAL REPORT-FINAL

72

VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES

Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services

Frederick County’s fire and rescue service is a combination system comprised of both career and volunteer personnel. The Division of Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services (DVFRS) recognizes the need for both career and volunteer personnel to maintain the high level of quality service expected in Frederick County. The number of requests for service continues to rise, and without the dedication of both career and volunteer personnel, the level of service would diminish to an unacceptable level. Nearly half of the 1,820 individuals that are members of the volunteer fire and rescue companies throughout Frederick County are active in some capacity. Approximately 646 volunteers are operationally functional to respond to fire, rescue, and EMS incidents. Approximately another 600 members work behind the scenes, raising money, performing administrative functions, and generally providing services needed to maintain a small business and provide funds to purchase apparatus and buildings. The remaining individuals are social members or long-standing members no longer in an active status. The DVFRS works closely with twenty-five volunteer fire and rescue corporations, the Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (FCVFRA), the Division of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) and Frederick County Government to provide support services to our many operational and administrative volunteer members. Volunteer Services consists of five full time employees, Director/Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Administrative Coordinator, Volunteer Training Coordinator and Volunteer Recruiter who work on initiatives in support of these administrative and operational volunteers. Training of our personnel is essential. Fire, Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Emergency Medical Services, and Annual Compliance Training courses are held at the Public Safety Training Facility and throughout the county in individual fire and rescue stations. Numerous training hours are accumulated through classes conducted by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and DFRS Training Division. Many members give up their personal time and earned vacation leave to maintain and upgrade their skills. Doing so demonstrates their true dedication to helping people in need, which is what volunteering is all about. In November, DVFRS hired Timothy Shelton as the Volunteer Training Coordinator (VTC). This professional position is primarily responsible for the training coordination of the volunteer members. The VTC works closely with DFRS to ensure seamless operational functionality of the entire fire and rescue service for Frederick County. The VTC also coordinates with and supports the FCVFRA, including several joint committees comprised of personnel from both the DVFRS and DFRS. In collaboration with Frederick County Public Schools, DVFRS provides high school students the opportunity to participate in a Work–Based Learning Internship Program. The successful completion of this program can give students preference points toward being hired as a career firefighter with Frederick County Fire and Rescue Services if they choose that career path. This program runs Monday through Friday and is a daytime training opportunity that is open to all volunteers not just high school students. Allowing additional volunteers in the classes has served us well in providing training to many volunteers that have joined us in the program. This program offers, Fire Department Basic Orientation, CPR, Protective Equipment/SCBA, Hazardous Materials Operations, Firefighter, Emergency Medical and Rescue Courses. Upon graduation of the program, these volunteer members will have met both state and national certification requirements and can respond to emergency incidents in their community.