Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services


The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services provides fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services to Howard County, Maryland.

History

On July 10, 1888, Ellicott City citizens formed The
Volunteer Fire Company of Ellicott City No. 1. On August 24, 1888, authorization was granted to purchase a hand-drawn ladder wagon from the Charles T. Holloway Company, Baltimore, Maryland. The wagon arrived on October 5, 1888 and was based in the old foundry. The first firehouse built in Ellicott City was constructed in 1896 with a cupola to house a firebell donated by the B&O railroad to summon firemen.
In 1924, the Howard County Volunteer Fireman's Association was formed operating out of a new combination firehouse and transit terminal on Main street in Ellicott City with an $10,500 600 gallon American LaFrance triple combination engine. Insurance agent Benjamin Mellor became the first fire chief serving until 1934. In April 1940, a new fire station was dedicated in Ellicott City.
On 18 April 1959, the Central Alarm went into operation in an office above the Ellicott City Jail.
In 1991, the department implemented a customer service program, more commonly found in the commercial industry. In 1996, Fire Chief Joseph Herr is replaced by Bill Goddard. In 2014 the criteria for contingent firefighters that supplement volunteer stations without benefits changed to require the same qualifications as career staff, promoting the departure of 33 of 34 contingent staff primarily from Lisbon and West Friendship.

Stations & Apparatus

There are a total of 13 stations under the umbrella of the department, 5 of which are fully county staffed. The remaining 7 are career/volunteer combination stations. These firehouses are staffed with a combination of both paid personnel and volunteers. The volunteer departments, which are marked below with a V are as follows:
Fire Station NumberCityEngine Companies or Engine-Tanker CompanySquad Company, Tower Company, Truck Company or Rescue Engine CompanyParamedic, Ambulance or EMS UnitsBrush UnitsChief UnitsSpecial Units
1VElkridgeEngine 11, Engine 12Squad 1Paramedic 15
Ambulance 16		Brush 18Chief 1, Chief 1A, Chief 1BUtility 1, Utility 1A, Utility 1B, ATV1S, ATV1M
2VEllicott CityEngine 21, Engine 22Tower 2
Squad 2		Paramedic 25
Ambulance 26		Brush 27Battalion Chief 2, Chief 2, Chief 2A, Chief 2BUtility 2, Utility 2A, Utility 2B, Water rescue 2, Boat 2
3VWest FriendshipEngine 31, Engine 32Tower 3Paramedic 35
Ambulance 36		Brush 37, Brush 38Chief 3, Chief 3A, Chief 3BTankers 3, Tanker 34
4VLisbonEngine 41, Engine 42, Engine-Tanker 44Rescue Engine 4Paramedic 45,
Ambulance 46		Brush 47, Brush 48Chief 4, Chief 4A, Chief 4BUtility 4, Utility 4A, Utility 4B
5VClarksvilleEngine 51, Engine 52Squad 5Paramedic 55
Paramedic 56		Brush 58Tanker 5, Utility 5, Dive 5, Boat 5
6VSavageEngine 61, Engine 62Truck 6, Squad 6Paramedic 65
Ambulance 66		Brush 68Chief 6, Chief 6A, Chief 6BUtility 6, Canteen 6
7ColumbiaEngine 71Truck 7Paramedic 75, Ambulance 76Utility 7
8VBethanyEngine 81, Engine 82Paramedic 85, Ambulance 86,
EMS 2		Brush 87Chief 8BAir Unit 17, Utility 8, MAB 13,
MAB Support Trailer
9Long ReachEngine 91Paramedic 95,
Ambulance 96, EMS 1		Brush 97Battalion Chief 1Safety 1, Utility 9, Public Education Unit-
10Rivers ParkEngine 101Tower 10Paramedic 105, Reserve Ambulance 106Special Operations
Battalion Chief 10		Transport 10, Transport 12, Utility 10,
Water Rescue 10, Boat 10, ATV10
11ScaggsvilleEngine 111Paramedic 115Tanker 11, Boat 11, Decon 13, Utility 11-
13GlenwoodEngine 131Paramedic 135Brush 137EMS/Battalion Chief 3Tanker 13, Utility 13-
14ColumbiaEngine 141Paramedic 145Utility 14, ATV14-