1955 Legislative Session

July 10, 1888

• July 10, 1888

• the Volunteer Fire Company Of Ellicott City No.1 was formed
• only organized fire protection for Howard County until the 1930's

• August 7, 1937

• Savage Volunteer Fire Company

February 25, 1943

• February 25, 1943

• Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department

• September 4, 1944

• West Friendship Volunteer Firemen’s Association

• October 26, 1944

• Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company

• October 16, 1947

• Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department, Clarksville

1955 Legislative Session

• 1955 Legislative Session

• Senate Bill 391 was passed by the Maryland General Assembly
• allowed for a special district fire tax for Howard County.
• developed the funding for the six volunteer fire departments in the County.

1959

• 1959

• The all volunteer fire department was changed to one supplemented with paid personnel
• Ellicott City Volunteer Firemen's Association hired its first paid firefighter on May 4, 1959.
• Another firefighter was hired on a part time basis during that same year.

1968

• 1968

• The Howard County Fire Department was established through legislative action
• B. Harrison Shipley, Jr. was the first Fire Coordinator for the fire department appointed by the County Commissioners.
• He served in that position until July 1971.

May 17,1969

• May 17,1969

• Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department dedicated the Banneker Station
• the first fire department in the new town of Columbia
• became the seventh station in the County

1969

• 1969

• Howard County adopted Charter Form of Government
• The three County Commissioners were replaced by a County Executive
• Omar J. Jones was elected as the first Executive for Howard County

June 8, 1969

• June 8, 1969

• County Executive Omar Jones, continued the position of Fire Coordinator for the Howard County Fire Department

• 1971

• the Fire Coordinator’s title was
• changed to Fire Administrator
• B. Harrison Shipley, Jr. continued
• to serve in this position

Fire Service Study Committee of the Howard County Fire Advisory Board recommended to the County Executive that

• Fire Service Study Committee of the Howard County Fire Advisory Board recommended to the County Executive that

• a full time Fire Administrator be appointed
• all employees of the volunteer departments be transferred into the Howard County Classified Service as public safety employees
• Fire
• Administrator operate a Volunteer Fire Service supplemented by full  time paid career trained personnel

County Executive accepted the findings of this study and implemented these measures

• County Executive accepted the findings of this study and implemented these measures

• May 3, 1971

• Paul F.J. LePore was appointed to this position.
• He was charged with the overall administration, direction and control of the Fire Department

1971 the department's seven fire stations responded to 4,487 emergency incidents

• 1971 the department's seven fire stations responded to 4,487 emergency incidents

• There were 46 pieces of fire equipment in the County

• fire service budget of $333,755

• The population of Howard

• County was approximately

• 62,000

July 1, 1971

• July 1, 1971

• 29 career employees were assigned to four of the six volunteer fire departments
• These firefighters were transferred into the Howard County Classified Service as public safety employees
• Today only one of these individuals is still in the system
• Deputy Chief Richard Freas

July 1, 1974

• July 1, 1974

• Ellicott City Volunteer Firemen's Association placed in service the Bethany Fire Station. Station 8
• became the 8th fire station in the County

• October 5, 1974

• Savage Volunteer Fire Company dedicated the Long Reach Fire Station #9
• became the second fire department to be located in Columbia

1975

• 1975

• the Fire Administrator, Paul F.J LePore, by administrative directive, divided the Department into three bureaus
• Operations
• Services
• Fire Prevention

Bureau of Operations

• Bureau of Operations

• responsible for managing emergency services
• including the career and volunteer fire fighters and emergency medical technicians
• provides guidance and direction for day to day operational activities of the department
• coordinates the capital budget for facilities and equipment

Bureau of Services

• Bureau of Services

• responsible for training, testing and certification
• both career and volunteer personnel
• responsible for information systems, records management and duties of the quartermaster
• operate from headquarters
• provide training for career and volunteer personnel at headquarters, fire stations and other locations

Bureau of Fire Prevention

• Bureau of Fire Prevention

• administers county wide
• fire prevention programs
• code enforcement
• fire lane designation
• public safety education
• plans review
• departmental statistical analysis
• assist the State Fire Marshall in fire investigations

The Office of Emergency Management and Civil Defense

• The Office of Emergency Management and Civil Defense

• also the responsibility of the Department of Fire and Rescue
• emphasizes disaster preparedness and coordination of the Federal Government Super Fund Amendments and Re Authorization Act(SARA)

June of 1975

• June of 1975

• The Department began advanced life support service
• Ellicott City Volunteer Firemen's Association placed the first Cardiac Rescue Unit in service at Station 2
• the department appointed a qualified physician to serve as an EMS consultant
• Savage Volunteer Fire Company placed an ALS unit in service in the fall of 1975

1979

• 1979

• Paul F. J. Lepore retires

• January 15, 1979

• B. Harrison Shipley, Jr. returned as the full time Fire Administrator
• served in that position thru March 31, 1981

1979

• 1979

• Banneker Station, Fire Station # 7, was transferred from the Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department to the Howard County Fire Department
• first career operated fire station in the County

1981

• 1981

• the Department was serving a population of 125,187
• responded to 10,781 emergency incidents that year
• Combination department of 90 career and 376 volunteers

April 1, 1981

• April 1, 1981

• Robert Moore was appointed the third Fire Administrator
• administering a budget of $3,427,845
• he served until April1, 1983
• May 9, 1981, Medic 1 placed in service
• Captain Donald Howell(augmented Lisbon and other units to ALS)

August 11, 1983

• August 11, 1983

• William H. Austin became the fourth Fire Administrator
• Served until August 2,1985

1985

• 1985

• Richard W. Shaw became the fifth Fire Administrator
• served until March 31, 1991
• the first Fire Administrator to have served as both a career and volunteer firefighter in Howard County

May 18, 1987

• May 18, 1987

• SOP was issued for all departments to discontinue riding on the rear step

• October 31, 1987

• Rivers Park Station was dedicated
• It was the tenth fire station in the County
• Station is located in the Village of Kings Contrivance.

Spring of 1987

• Spring of 1987

• a position of Emergency Medical Services Coordinator was established by the Fire Administrator.

• Fall of 1987

• position was retitled as EMS Officer and became a Division under the Bureau of Operations

1988

• 1988

• a change to the Charter resulted in a title change from Fire Administrator toDirector.
• The name of the Department was also changed to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
• The operational concept for the Department shifted to one of career firefighters supplemented by volunteers

1989

• 1989

• Communications, which had previously been under the operation of the Fire Administrator, was moved to the Department of General Services

April of 1991

• April of 1991

• Darl R. McBride became the sixth Director of Fire and Rescue Services
• formerly of the Washington D.C. Fire Department
• brought the team building and effective delivery system concepts to the Department

July 1,1991

• July 1,1991

• the Long Reach and Rivers Park Fire Stations were transferred to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services from the Savage Volunteer Fire Company.
• Three fire stations are now managed and operated by the career fire service

December 14, 1993

• December 14, 1993

• James E. Heller became the seventh Director of Fire & Rescue Services
• started his career with DFRS in March of 1974 as a Lieutenant in charge of Training

April 19, 1994

• April 19, 1994

• Scaggsville Fire Station was dedicated
• becoming our eleventh station
• is located in the Public Safety Complex at Md. Rt. 29 and Rt. 216

December 4, 2000

• December 4, 2000

• County Executive James N. Robey appointed Joseph A. Herr
• became the eighth Chief of Fire & Rescue. Chief Herr
• had served previously for 26 years as a member of the District of Columbia Fire Department

July 1, 1991

• July 1, 1991

• The Department initiated a Customer Service Program
• organizational approach to creating service excellence within the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

November 1, 1991

• November 1, 1991

• the Department implemented a team of personnel dedicated to provide operational support during special emergency incidents.
• This team is referred to as the Special Incident Response Team (SIRT).
• made up of both career and volunteer participants
• The team is activated for special emergency incidents such as
• hazardous materials
• mass casualty,
• water rescue,
• and other special incidents

January 1, 1992

• January 1, 1992

• the department placed in service a Mobile Command Van
• operated by the Special Incident Response Team
• the van is called "'Mobile One"
• features an on board Apple Macintosh Computer
• allows team members to implement the CAMEO Program, Computer Assisted Management of Emergency Operations

features a weather pack

• features a weather pack
• allows for remote weather condition monitoring in conjunction with the CAMEO program.
• Building pre plans and drawings are also stored on the unit

May 1996

• May 1996

• approval was given for a compensated Medical Director
• Kevin Seaman presently serves in this position

The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services is divided into six bureaus

• The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services is divided into six bureaus

• Operations
• Life Safety
• Support Services(Emergency Management)
• CIT
• Training
• Administration

There are eleven fire stations

• There are eleven fire stations

• House over 175 fully equipped pieces of emergency apparatus.

• There are

• 287 career uniformed employees working
• approximately 175 operational and 225 administrative volunteer members

Serve an area of 256 square miles.

• Serve an area of 256 square miles.

• Provide emergency medical, fire and rescue services

• Career personnel are trained at the minimum level of EMT

• Eleven stations provide 24 hour dedicated ALS Units.

The department's career personnel use a A, B, C shift platoon system to provide 24 hour staffing

• The department's career personnel use a A, B, C shift platoon system to provide 24 hour staffing

• Career personnel are assigned to a shift and work 24 hours on and 48 hours off

• Each company is managed by a Captain.

• Field supervision is overseen by nine Battalion Chiefs.

Our department is one of 21 original internationally accredited fire departments in the world.

• Our department is one of 21 original internationally accredited fire departments in the world.

• was achieved in 1999
• we were re-accredited in 2004.
• This effort will increase the level of professionalism within the fire and rescue services

2001

• 2001

• The Department of Fire and Rescue Service responded to 26,154 emergency incidents
• generated over 50,000 emergency responses
• provided fire and emergency medical protection to a rapidly growing population of over 253,076

The cost of services has increased by 40% over the last six years.

• The cost of services has increased by 40% over the last six years.
• The operating budget for fiscal year 2002 was in excess of 35 million dollars

Several new fire station sites are currently under consideration

• Several new fire station sites are currently under consideration

• Mayfield and Cooksville

• plans to expand the number of department personnel are underway

• The department is preparing itself for the future challenges of a growing population and the urbanization of the County.

June 21, 1972

• June 21, 1972

• Tropical Storm Agnes

• 1974

• Royston Auto, 10 Alarm, New Car Preparation Facility

• September 25, 1975

• Tropical Storm Eliose

November 8, 1976

• November 8, 1976

• Normandy Bowling Lanes, Ellicott City

• December 10, 1976

• Howard County Bureau of Highways Garage, Rt. 97

•  December 29, 1976

• 5565 Harpers Farm Road

•  January 16, 1977

• 4931 Hale Orchis Court

 January 17, 1977

•  January 17, 1977

• 5174 Brookway

•  September 17, 1977

• C. R. Daniels Mill, Daniels Md.

• 1982

• Vantage Point Rd. Townhouse
• 2 Firefighters seriously injured

 November 14, 1984

•  November 14, 1984

• Ellicott City Main Street - 6 Alarm

•  October 30, 1988

• 10338 Lombardi Road, Ellicott City - 2 fatal (5yr, 8yr)

•  1989

• Turf Valley Overlook - Trench Rescue - 1 fatal

•  1992

• Tornado

 May 13, 1993

•  May 13, 1993

• 9623 Basket Ring Rd. Apartment fire

•  December 26, 1993

• 10540 Gorman Road, $500,000.00 Loss

•  July 16, 1994

• 10320, 10322 Hickory Ridge - Chase Glen Apts. $ 1.9 Million loss

•  April 2, 1995

• 5134 Thunder Hill Rd. - $ 150,000.00

May 8, 1995

• May 8, 1995

• 12130 Fulton Estates Court - $ 550,000.00 loss

•  January 2, 1998

• 10665 Gramercy Place - $1 Million loss 

• November 9, 1999

• Ellicott City Main Street - $ 2 Million loss - 6 Alarm

“EDUCATE

• “EDUCATE

• PROTECT

• SERVE”