Fire chief details staffing, sprinkler ordinance and cadet program at Annapolis public safety committee

Fire Chief Doug Vermally told the Annapolis Public Safety Committee on March 18 that the city’s fire department is grappling with staffing and equipment pressures while continuing efforts to protect historic downtown buildings and support major special events.

Vermally opened the department’s presentation by saying, "We are going to educate you on the Annapolis Fire Department today," and then described the department’s history, its ISO Class 1 rating and the operational constraints posed by narrow, historic streets and tall structures in the Historic District.

Why it matters: The department responds to about 13,000 emergency incidents a year and logs roughly 23,000 unit responses because many calls require multiple apparatus. Vermally said ambulance/EMS work constitutes roughly 75% of the department’s workload and that the combination of high call volume, cross‑staffing and long apparatus procurement timelines creates recurring pressure on staffing and the replacement budget.

Key details from the presentation: - Staffing and national standards: Vermally said the department does not currently meet the national recommendation for four-person engine and truck crews and that increasing staffing would require a multi-year, fiscally responsible plan. He noted other Maryland jurisdictions moved to four-person crews following line‑of‑duty fatalities. "I'd love to see 4 person staffing but it's figuring out how we can do that," he said. - Sprinkler ordinance in the Historic District: Vermally described a council‑passed ordinance requiring retrofit sprinklers for qualifying Main Street buildings. He said the compliance timeline has been revised (he referenced 2030 or 2032 as the current target) and that many business owners had not yet acted. He characterized this as an ongoing public‑education and enforcement matter rather than a new legislative proposal. - Cadet program and workforce development: The department has partnered with the Maryland Department of Services and Civic Innovation and training partners to launch a nine‑month paid cadet program ($15/hour) for 18‑ to 24‑year‑olds. Vermally said the initial cohort of 10 cadets completed EMT training, received career‑fire school instruction and were given national certifications (including airport firefighting) to improve placement prospects across the region. - Fleet and equipment: Vermally detailed fleet replacement challenges (3–4 years to build apparatus and rapidly rising costs), noted recent medic units placed in service (PO cut in 2024 for one unit), and said the department aims to replace roughly one frontline medic per year. He reported a new state‑of‑the‑art fireboat is under construction with expected delivery in mid‑summer or around September and an anticipated 20–25 years of service life. He also said the Eastport Volunteer Fire Company has agreed to purchase a $1,100,000 pumper using community donations and grants; the city provides a modest annual budget contribution to support those payments. - Mutual aid and special events: Vermally emphasized close coordination with Anne Arundel County and Naval District Washington, especially for large events (boat shows, Navy games) that can bring tens of thousands of visitors and require surge staffing and multi‑agency response.

Committee questions and responses: Committee members asked about response composition for medical calls and schedules for administrative staff and chiefs. Vermally explained that dispatching is driven by call priority and that engines are often sent with medic units to provide needed personnel on scene; he said medic crews work 24‑hour shifts and administrative staff are typically Monday‑Friday. On code and standards, Vermally said the department plans to update city code language to reflect current fire code regulations but did not present new standalone legislation at this meeting.

What did not change: No new ordinances or council votes were presented at the meeting; the sprinkler retrofit ordinance discussed was described as already adopted and being implemented under its revised timeline.

Next steps: The department will continue implementation of the cadet program, pursue fleet replacements as budgets and procurement timelines allow, and work with council and business owners on sprinkler ordinance compliance. The committee adjourned after the presentation and a short Q&A session.