2024 ANNUAL REPORT - Final

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VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES

DVFRS 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 administrative and operational volunteers. The Director/Deputy Chief of the DVFRS has a voice in both county government and the fire and rescue service structure. The division was established to not only provide direct volunteer representation in the hierarchy of the county fire service but provide direct representation of the volunteer fire and rescue service in county government. DVFRS is under the direct line of authority of the Frederick County Chief Administrative Officer. The DVFRS Assistant Chief assists in the operational functions of the volunteer services provided by the individual corporations that comprise the FCVFRA. This position works closely with the volunteer fire/rescue chiefs to ensure seamless operational functionality of the fire and rescue services in Frederick County.

Training of our volunteer members is essential. The Volunteer Training Coordinator (VTC) is responsible for the training of volunteer members. The VTC coordinates the training of Fire, Rescue, Hazardous Materials, and Emergency Medical Services courses. These courses are conducted at the Public Safety Training Facility and the individual fire and rescue companies that host training courses at their own fire/rescue companies. Numerous training hours are accumulated through classes conducted by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and DFRS Training Division. Many volunteer 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 collaboration with Frederick County Public Schools and the DVFRS, high school students can participate in a Work – Based Learning Internship Program. The successful completion of this program gives students preference points toward being hired as a career firefighter with Frederick County Fire and Rescue Services. This emergency services training program is managed by the VTC and runs Monday through Friday and is a daytime training opportunity that is afforded to and open to all volunteers not just high school students. Allowing additional volunteers in the classes has served as an opportunity to provide additional training to many.

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