Volunteers warn aging fleet and reduced EMS funding risk rescue capacity

Volunteer fire and EMS leaders pressed Baltimore County officials at a District 5 town hall to bolster funding for apparatus replacement, medic units and volunteer incentives, saying aging equipment and long build times threaten long-term capacity.

Susan Bollinger, president of the Baltimore County Volunteer Firefighters Association, told county leaders the volunteer fleet includes 188 pieces of equipment with a replacement cost she estimated at about $138 million and that many units now exceed recommended service lives. "A new engine costs over $1,000,000 and a truck over $2,000,000," she said, and noted multi-year fabrication lead times that require ordering well before planned replacement dates.

John Schneckenberger and other volunteer leaders described the breadth of volunteer involvement in emergency response and asked the county to ensure funding flows back to volunteer companies. John Doolina of Middle River Volunteer Fire Rescue specifically requested continuation of the medic unit replacement program and asked the county to examine EMS billing so revenue could be reinvested in the fire service.

County staff acknowledged the concerns and promised follow-up. Rebecca Young and other county officials said they would connect with volunteer leaders and the Department of Public Works and Technology to assess equipment and station needs. The county already funds a program to replace medic units; volunteers asked that program be maintained and expanded to avoid equipment shortages.

Next steps: Staff representatives said they will follow up with volunteer companies and explore whether expanded loan-fund or county capital support can accelerate replacements and address long lead times for apparatus builds.