Northwood News ♦ December 2003

Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services

By Charlie Pritchard

An issue raised at the latest meeting of the Executive Board of our civic association is the future of volunteer fire and rescue services in our county.  Bill 3603 has been introduced in the County Council calling for the virtual abolition of county-based volunteer fire and rescue companies and their integration into the overall Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service under a single chief.

Much of the rationale for the bill is the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center in New York.  The bill proponents argue that a unified single command structure is needed.  This bill, however, is being strongly resisted by many of the volunteer units.  The volunteers argue that local units are well motivated to serve their own communities, know the local terrain, and provide significant tax payer savings since the units own their own stations and finance purchase and maintenance of their own equipment (fire engines, etc.).  Our civic association has not yet taken a position on the issue but recognizes that its effects are not totally predictable.

The bill comes up for a vote on 18 November.   ■