Baltimore County Firefighters Raise Alarm Over Response Times Amid Staffing Challenges

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. — Firefighters in Baltimore County are sounding the alarm about the department's ability to respond quickly to emergencies as the county's population continues to rise while staffing levels decline.

According to Steve Redmer, president of the union representing the county's firefighters, delays in emergency medical services (EMS) responses are becoming more frequent. He noted that crews have sometimes waited 20 to 25 minutes for EMS units to arrive on the scene of emergencies.

Redmer emphasized that the Baltimore County Fire Department is facing a critical situation as it strives to meet the demands of a growing population. He pointed out that the operational model currently in use has not adapted to the significant changes over the past several decades.

“We’re running a model that worked in 1970 when the population was significantly lower and the call volume was a third of what it is now,” Redmer stated. He highlighted that in 1991, the county had approximately 692,000 residents and a fire department with 1,206 positions and eight ladder trucks. Today, the population has increased by 150,000, but staffing has decreased to 1,159 positions, and the department has one fewer ladder truck than it did 35 years ago.

Redmer criticized the lack of expansion in staffing and services to keep pace with the rising demand. The reliance on volunteer fire departments in areas like Cockeysville has also become problematic, as the number of volunteers is diminishing even as call volumes continue to increase.

In a recent commentary in The Baltimore Sun, county executive candidate Nick Stewart echoed these concerns, stating that the fire department's staffing has shrunk while call volume has surged by 500% over the past 30 years.

Earlier this year, County Executive Kathy Klausmeier allocated an additional $3.5 million to the fire department, which included funding for 12 new battalion chiefs. However, Redmer believes that while some progress has been made, the department still faces significant challenges.

“We’ve made strides, but we’re just so far behind because of the decades of stagnation, honestly,” he said. “We have to plan now and start now. We need significant investments now.”

Reported by HarborBeat based on WBFF (source).