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HCFR Strategic Planning Retreat 1/29/09 - 1/31/2009
Welcome to the website of the Howard County Professional Fire Fighters. “Who are we,” you ask? We are the labor organization that represents 324 paid firefighters, firefighter paramedics, and lieutenants that work in 10 of the 11 fire stations throughout Howard County, as well as the administrative offices of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. We were chartered as the 2000th Local of our parent organization – the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) – in August of 1970. After an unsuccessful attempt to gain collective bargaining rights, we voluntarily forfeited our charter. Ten years later, a renewed interest in workplace fairness and safety lead a largely different group of firefighters to pursue re-affiliation with the IAFF and to lobby, once again, for collective bargaining rights. They were successful in their efforts; getting our original charter number reassigned (April, 1980) and winning collective bargaining in 1981. We are eternally grateful for the efforts of our “founding” brothers and sisters, as today we enjoy the fruits of their labors. 
Governor O'Malley and President Ruehl - Opening Night Raven's Stadium 9/2005 Local 2000 has grown from a smattering of paid firefighters working in a handful of stations throughout the mostly rural county, to the predominant firefighting and EMS force in almost every area of the county; directly serving nearly 200 of the 251 square miles making up Howard County. The only station that our members are not permanently assigned to is Lisbon (Station 4); though it is common to have two career firefighters/paramedics detailed there from day-to-day. Our members like to give back to the community we serve. In recent years we have offered a $500 scholarship to each of the county’s twelve high schools. Spearheaded by one of our members we recently held our 5th Annual Bragging Rights Flag Football tournament; a charity tournament that has raised money for the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Cardiac Center, the non-profit Maryland for our Military which provides funds to the wounded veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and the Howard Heroes Fund – a registered 501(c)3 organization designed to assist career firefighters throughout Maryland who are beset by injuries, severe illnesses, or death. Our office is located in Columbia off Thunder Hill Road. In addition to housing office space for the elected Executive Board, at approximately 1,400 square feet the office is large enough to hold our monthly membership and Executive Board meetings, meetings with other IAFF locals, meetings with our department’s senior management staff, as well as the many member committees that meet from time-to-time. The office space has also given our members a sense of identity in the community; a feeling of belonging. Click on the About Us link at left to learn more. 
from left - Doug Bartholomew Local 1619 President, second from left - Richard Ruehl Local 2000 President, far right - John Niemic Local 2068 President, assist Vice President Joseph Biden with a Habitat for Humanity project 1/19/09 You are Visitor #105594
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