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Fire department seeks permanent recruit‑school staff, summer marine medics and new dive truck
Summary
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department asked the council for permanent instructor staffing for recruit academies, summer ALS staffing for new fireboats, replacement of an aging dive truck and funding for a new training maze and other equipment.
Fire Chief Tricia Wolford told county leaders on May 13 that the department needs permanent staffing for recruit classes, additional summer ALS‑capable marine staffing and replacement of several specialized pieces of apparatus.
The department proposed making recruit‑academy instructor roles permanent (one captain, one lieutenant, three firefighter/EMT‑paramedics). Chief Wolford said moving to two smaller academies per year would shorten the instructor‑to‑recruit ratio, reduce overtime used to cover instructor duties and make hiring timetables more attractive to applicants.
Wolford also asked for summer weekend advanced‑life‑support staffing on the department’s two new fireboats and continuing support for advanced rescue‑swimmer and swift‑water training, noting high water‑season call volumes and a need for medically equipped marine response. She said the current dive response truck — a 23‑year‑old unit — must be replaced with a modern ambulance‑chassis apparatus to carry dive gear and improve readiness.
Capital requests include funding for continued fire‑station projects (Brownsville nearing completion and other station replacements in planning), a new training academy tied to the consolidated 9‑1‑1/EOC site and a modernized training maze for live‑scenario skills. Chief Wolford said the training maze will be used by other Maryland departments through the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and will help realistic firefighter self‑rescue and victim removal exercises.
Why this matters: Permanent academy staff can reduce overtime and allow more frequent, predictable recruit classes, helping staffing and retention. Marine ALS staffing is intended to provide immediate medical care on the water rather than delaying care until transport to shore.
Council members asked for more detail on overtime savings and for cost estimates of vehicle replacements and station projects. Fire officials said some projects are already in construction or close to shovel‑ready.
