Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company seeks funding amid rising operational costs

The Board of Town Commissioners in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland, held a budget work session on April 17, 2025, where the local fire department presented its funding needs amid significant financial challenges. Joseph Rutherford, president of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, highlighted the department's 135-year history of providing essential fire and emergency services to the community.

During the meeting, Rutherford reported that the fire department responded to 2,580 fire calls and 403 EMS calls last year, averaging over eight calls per day. He emphasized the department's impressive response time of 1.61 minutes from alert to dispatch, which he noted is competitive with paid departments in the region.

However, the fire company faces a critical funding shortfall. Rutherford explained that the transition to a paid EMS system in Harford County has eliminated a significant source of income from EMS billing, resulting in a loss of approximately $2.6 million. The department's estimated income from the general fund drive for the current fiscal year is projected to be $650,000, which is $31,000 less than the previous year. Other funding sources include a county fire contribution of $1.1 million and a town contribution of $175,000.

Rutherford pointed out that the funding from the town has seen minimal increases over the past 15 years, averaging just $1,400 annually. He stressed that this amount is insufficient to cover the rising costs of essential firefighting equipment, which can exceed $14,200 per firefighter for necessary gear. The department is also in the process of replacing aging equipment, including a new ladder truck costing $2.3 million and two new engines projected to cost around $5 million.

In comparison to neighboring municipalities, Rutherford noted that Bel Air receives significantly less funding than Aberdeen and Havre de Grace, which further exacerbates the financial strain on the fire department. He concluded by urging the town commissioners to consider increasing funding to ensure the fire department can continue to provide vital services to the community. The discussion highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by volunteer fire departments in securing adequate financial support to maintain operations and safety standards.