The mission of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is to provide maximum protection of lives, property, and the environment with comprehensive risk reduction programs and safe and effective emergency response provided by highly skilled career and volunteer service providers representing the County's diverse population. The Fire and Rescue Service capital program provides for the repair and renovation of existing facilities and construction of new or replacement facilities at appropriate locations throughout the County to ensure prompt and efficient fire, rescue, and emergency medical services.Countywide fire, emergency medical and specialized rescue services, supported by an aggressive...

read more

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

The mission of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is to provide maximum protection of lives, property, and the environment with comprehensive risk reduction programs and safe and effective emergency response provided by highly skilled career and volunteer service providers representing the County's diverse population. The Fire and Rescue Service capital program provides for the repair and renovation of existing facilities and construction of new or replacement facilities at appropriate locations throughout the County to ensure prompt and efficient fire, rescue, and emergency medical services.

Countywide fire, emergency medical and specialized rescue services, supported by an aggressive community outreach component geared toward preventing the 9-1-1 call, is realized through the efforts of one of the largest combination fire and rescue service organizations in the country. Operating from 37 fire and rescue stations, and several satellite offices and facilities, primary staffing is widely provided by a career workforce supplemented by volunteers from 19 Local Fire and Rescue Departments (LFRD).

Departments (LFRD)

Volunteer staffing is provided within the framework of regulations, policies, and procedures established by County Code through the Fire Chief of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS). Volunteer support is supplemented by significant Fire Tax funding for equipment, training and facility maintenance, renovations, and additions.

The MCFRS, under the leadership of the Fire Chief, also directs and provides services in the areas of program development, fire prevention, fire and explosives investigations, communications, training, emergency medical services, and emergency management preparedness.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Continue design and construction of a new White Flint Fire Station to house units currently operating out of Rockville Station 23 which support the North Bethesda community. This project will include enhancements to achieve Net Zero construction.
• Continue apparatus replacement. The apparatus replacement program provides a steady stream of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding to meet critical apparatus replacement needs. The following units are anticipated to be replaced over the six-year period: six aerial trucks, 40 EMS units (ambulances), 15 engines, three all-wheel drive brush engines, three rescue squad/hazmat units, three tankers, and one auxiliary hazardous materials response vehicle.
• Fund planning for the Rockville Fire Station 3 renovation project.
• Design and construct female facility improvements at Silver Spring Fire Station 16 to expand and improve locker, shower, and restroom facilities to appropriately accommodate MCFRS personnel.
• Increase funding for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)/electrical replacement to preserve the buying power of important level of effort maintenance projects.
• Fund new project to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that are reaching the end of their useful life and support an essential part of fire fighters' personal protective equipment.

PROGRAM CONTACTS

Contact David Heltemes of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service at 240-777-6064 or Katherine Bryant Higgins of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2764 for more information regarding this department's capital budget.

CAPITAL PROGRAM REVIEW

The FY27-32 Capital Improvements Program for the Fire and Rescue Service includes 10 ongoing projects totaling $157.4 million over six years. This represents a $23.3 million or 17.4 percent increase from the FY25-30 Amended Program of $134.0 million. This increase is due mainly to the addition of the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Replacement project and cost increases to Apparatus Replacement, HVAC/Electrical Replacement, and White Flint Fire Station projects. These increases are partially offset by the completion of the Breathing Air Compressors Replacement and Fire Station Refurbishment projects.

read less