Fire and Rescue requests modest increase; highlights whole‑blood, staffing gains and apparatus backorders

Howard County Fire and Rescue Services asked the County Council to approve a $163,373,463 FY26 operating budget that department leaders described as largely “maintenance of effort,” emphasizing safety, wellness, and sustaining an all‑hazards response system.

Chief Winston and Deputy Chief Wallace said the department completed a training class set to graduate in August that they expect will bring staffing to the NFPA 1710 recommended levels pending retirements. “This progress … reduced first responder fatigue” and contributed to a 6 percent reduction in overtime from 2020 to 2024, the department said.

The department described medical and clinical advances in its emergency response: the county’s ground‑based EMS system is an early adopter of a whole‑blood program for prehospital care. Speakers said crews administered 34 units of whole blood to 29 patients, and they reported a high survival rate among those who demonstrated certain clinical indicators (speakers gave a 91 percent survival figure for a subset of patients who received blood prior to cardiorespiratory arrest and 72 percent overall survival for the described group).

Chief Winston and staff also outlined the mobile integrated health program that works with aging and social‑service partners to reduce repeat calls and hospital usage among high‑utilizers. Officials cited internal program metrics: an 80 percent reduction in 911 calls for targeted users, a 71 percent reduction in emergency‑room visits and a 70 percent reduction in hospital admissions for the cohort engaged by the program.

The department requested one new position for the Office of Emergency Management — a Senior Administrative Analyst — to support climate resilience and continuity work. Leaders also warned of procurement lead times and price increases of 15–20 percent for vehicles, apparatus and some medical supplies. Fire requested modest capital and continuing funding to keep apparatus on a replacement schedule; speakers said 13 new ambulances, 12 new engines and other apparatus have been added since 2019 but that some units remain on backorder.

Council members asked how the department is preparing for reduced federal grants and FEMA funding uncertainty. Deputy Chief Wallace and the Office of Emergency Management director said federal and state grant programs are under review; they described several grants and programs that support emergency preparedness and volunteer apparatus — and said they are monitoring evolving federal policy and court rulings that may affect eligibility or amounts.

Chief Winston thanked the council for recent hiring and training support and said the department would continue to monitor grant availability and adjust plans if federal or state funding landscapes change.