Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Department topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Annapolis Fire Department reports steady call volume, new engine on track and strategic planning underway
Summary
Fire Chief Doug O'Malley updated the committee on April response counts, training absences for recruits, a structure fire response, a new engine expected in July and a department strategic plan that will be drafted this year.
Fire Chief Doug O’Malley briefed the Public Safety Standing Committee on May 5 on the Annapolis Fire Department’s recent operations, training and equipment plans, reporting April call volume, training pipeline impacts and progress on a strategic plan.
O’Malley said the department responded to 1,028 calls in April; about 75% were emergency medical service calls and 23% were fire calls. He noted several members are in long‑term training: “Those individuals will be out of the field for anywhere between 7 months to 18 months,” which temporarily affects daily operations.
The chief reviewed a working residential structure fire in the historic district that crews contained with mutual aid from Anne Arundel County and the Naval Academy. He said early notification played a role in limiting damage.
Equipment and staffing: O’Malley reported a new fire engine ordered nearly three years ago completed final inspection in Wisconsin and is expected to be in the city by late May with plans to place it in service at the Forest Drive station by July. Deputy Chief Lopez summarized the department’s strategic plan process, saying the department is using the Center for Public Safety Excellence model, has an internal community committee, and expects to launch external stakeholder surveys and focus groups in June with a draft due to the chief in September.
Health and workforce initiatives: O’Malley highlighted a state grant in partnership with Annapolis Professional Firefighters Local 1926 to screen firefighters for occupational cancer and said most of the department participated in the screening. “Cancer is becoming the number one cause of deaths for our first line firefighters,” he told the committee, and said the department will continue screenings and related health programs.
What’s next: The department will continue recruitment for lateral paramedic positions and said recently opened job announcements target certified firefighter‑paramedics to reduce training time. The strategic plan schedule anticipates stakeholder engagement in the summer and a draft for chief review in September.
