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BCFD reports tens of thousands of inspections, expanded smoke-alarm outreach in targeted zones
Summary
Chief James Wallace told the Public Safety Committee BCFD exceeded 57,000 inspections in FY24 and reported higher totals in FY25 with a large smoke-alarm installation effort in partnership with the Red Cross; the department described five targeted enforcement zones where structure fires rose year over year.
At a Public Safety Committee hearing on LO 25-0006, Chief James Wallace described Baltimore City Fire Department prevention work and neighborhood outreach, including a continuing partnership with the Red Cross and a citywide inspections program.
"We exceeded 57,000 inspections" in FY24, Wallace said, noting the department identified more than 2,000 codeX properties and installed close to 7,500 smoke alarms that year. He said FY25 inspection totals rose to more than 59,000 with roughly 45,000 smoke alarms installed and that the first quarter of the current year had already recorded over 20,000 inspections.
Wallace highlighted a recent neighborhood sweep conducted with the Red Cross and Baltimore Gas and Electric under Chief Rough's direction that visited 87 homes; Councilwoman Porter joined that effort, he said. The sweep led to 18 smoke-alarm installs and 30 homes classified as "made safe" through inspections and other interventions.
The department also outlined five targeted enforcement zones used to focus prevention and enforcement activities. Wallace said three of the five zones showed year-over-year increases in structure fires between FY24 and FY25, with Zone 3 showing particular upward trend; he identified Zone 5 as including the Johns Hopkins Hospital area and described Test 4 as covering parts of the Southwest Side including Carrollton Ridge.
A councilmember asked for a map to orient the zones across the city; Wallace agreed to provide one and said the zones are concentrated areas chosen using EMS call volume, overdose data and 311 reports. The presentation was informational; there were no votes or formal motions on prevention programs during this session.
