By Sherry Greenfield
Baltimore Sun
CARROLL COUNTY, Md. — The Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services is now fully staffed at 13 of 14 stations countywide.
All 13 stations are staffed 24/7 with a total of 204 career personnel. This includes emergency medical technicians, firefighters, paramedics, lieutenants, fire apparatus drivers and four shift commanders, or captains.
“A three-year plan was realized in two years thanks to the support of the Board of Commissioners , which enabled us to get the job done efficiently,” Michael Robinson , director and chief of the Department of Fire and EMS stated in a news release. “The collaboration between the Board of Commissioners, Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association, fire stations, DFEMS and the Carroll County Department of Human Resources allowed us to push through and fulfill our goal a year earlier than expected.”
The push to create a combination of paid and volunteer county fire service began in Carroll County more than a decade ago. In 2018, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation allowing the county to establish the new department and in October 2020, commissioners unanimously voted to pass an ordinance creating it.
The department continues its transition from all-volunteer to both volunteer and career.
“The Carroll County Department of Human Resources played an integral role in the planning and execution of the hiring plan,” Robinson stated.
District 4 Carroll County Commissioner Michael Guerin, who serves as a non-voting member of the Emergency Services Advisory Council, strongly supports the department’s creation.
“The hard work and commitment of all involved in the formation of the department is to be applauded,” Guerin stated in the news release. “Collaboration, teamwork and sweat equity brought this plan to fruition. The council, DFEMS staff and long-serving, dedicated volunteers continue to work together every day to ensure quality, consistent services are provided to the citizens of Carroll County.”
The department will now begin implementing procedures for the use of EMS vehicles to carry blood on calls, use ultrasound equipment in the field, along with other improvements intended to provide quality care.
“The compromise, teamwork and dedication of all involved has produced results that will benefit Carroll County for years to come,” Carroll County Commissioners’ President Ken Kiler said.
Earlier this month, commissioners unanimously approved the allocation of $400,000 in the current operating budget to continue conducting physicals and drug testing for department employees, including volunteers.
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