Welcome to the website of the Howard County Professional Fire Fighters. “Who are we,” you ask? We are the labor organization that represents 350 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.

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 4th 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.  

SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Do not be confused by fire engines or ambulances that read “volunteer.” In nearly every case these rigs are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the men and women employed by the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. This is not a rural county where volunteer firefighters respond from home to go to a house fire. This is a metropolitan suburb of Baltimore and Washington D.C., with a call volume that precludes an all volunteer workforce.  

We respond to medical emergencies, car accidents, fires, hazardous material and technical rescue incidents. All career firefighters in Howard County are required to earn and maintain emergency medical certifications to at least the Emergency Medical Technician level. Over one hundred career firefighters in Howard County have elected to obtain an advanced level of medical certification; either Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate (EMT-I) or Paramedic (EMT-P).

We work a three (3) platoon system. What that means is that we work a 24 hour shift with 2 days off. Our shift begins at 7AM and ends the following day at 7AM. During our shift we perform daily and weekly equipment checks, workout to maintain fitness levels, engage in fire, EMS or rescue training exercises, perform housework and administrative duties, and perform inspections. On some days, we literally have to find time to eat lunch and dinner.  

The myth of firefighters sitting around playing cards waiting for the next alarm is false. It is not uncommon for some of our busier fire stations to run twenty or more calls a day.  

The Reality in Howard County

While you may think that your closest fire station is volunteer – and the building and trucks may actually say “volunteer” – the majority of Howard County has been protected by a full-time department staffed by career firefighters and paramedics around the clock for more than twenty-five (25) years.  

Over the years increased demands for emergency service and the increased demands of initial and annual recertification training for firefighters and EMTs has made it impossible for Howard County to rely solely on the volunteer fire service to answer emergency calls.

Howard County, like many metropolitan jurisdictions throughout the country, established a paid Fire Department to meet the growing needs of the community. Today, 90% of all calls to the Communications Center in Howard County are answered by career firefighters and paramedics employed by Howard County government.  

Volunteer fire departments are still responsible for emergency service in many small towns and rural areas in the United States. In fact there are still many more volunteer departments nationwide than municipal departments. Dedicated volunteers make tremendous contributions in communities without the resources for full-time departments.  

Today’s volunteer fire department serves as a useful “farm system” for future career firefighters and paramedics. The best volunteers often go on to pursue firefighting or EMS as a career. Many members of Local 2000 come from some sort of volunteer fire or EMS background.  

7 County Fire Stations are Volunteer Fire Departments

There are eleven (11) fire stations throughout the County, and seven (7) of them technically remain “volunteer” stations. While the building and land are managed by a volunteer corporation, the operation is supported with county tax revenue. Even though these seven (7) stations say “volunteer” on the front, six (6) of the seven (7) STATIONS are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by County employees.

Some of the equipment at these seven (7) volunteer stations is owned by a particular VFD, however Howard County maintains, fuels, staffs and operates most of these vehicles. So, even though the fire engine or ambulance you see may say Clarksville, Elkridge, West Friendship, Ellicott City, or Savage “Volunteer Fire Department” on it, its operation is almost completely funded by Howard County tax dollars – your tax dollars.

Staffing

Howard County attempts to staff all fire engines with a minimum of three (3) firefighters, all county owned ladder trucks with a minimum of four (4) firefighters, and all paramedic units with two (2) providers.

In volunteer stations the career staffing is the same except for West Friendship and Lisbon. At a minimum, West Friendship is staffed by a career lieutenant or lieutenant/paramedic and a career firefighter or firefighter/paramedic every day. Lisbon is staffed during the day by a mixture of volunteer, contingent (part-time) help and regularly by two career fire fighters who are either detailed there or hired back on overtime when there is gap in coverage. At night, if not staffed by career firefighters, Lisbon is staffed by a contingent employee and volunteers.

County residents should know that the contingent (part-time) employee treats this as a second job. They are not mandated to sit through the same recertification training as your career firefighters. They have no stake in your fire department and it shows. It is not uncommon for them to call in late or change their schedules at the last minute. Over the past year Howard County Fire and Rescue had to step in and clamp down on the schedule abuse of the part time employee’s. A portion of the overtime budget is being spent to staff Lisbon and West Friendship when there are gaps in staffing.

The current fire department management staffs the three volunteer fire stations which have special services (Elkridge, Clarksville and Savage) with two (2) personnel for the paramedic unit and four (4) personnel for the engine companies and/or ladder trucks and rescue squads.

Over the past year members of Local 2000 now staff a tanker which is based out of the Scaggsville fire station. This additional unit helps improve the counties insurance rating and make sure that there is a guaranteed response of a tanker on all fires in areas of rural water. The volunteer fire departments will deny that their tankers respond late or fail.

Howard County Fire and Rescue maintains a minimum of 70 career firefighters working everyday. Volunteer firefighters come in when they are available to supplement the career staff in nine (9) of the eleven (11) fire stations. Volunteer firefighters either ride with career staff or place additional units in-service.  

Tour Your Local Fire Station

We ask you to tour your local fire station and see for yourself who answers your emergency calls. Bring your children and your questions. We’ll be there, 24 hours a day seven days a week.