Millersville, Maryland — An independent analysis has determined that Anne Arundel County’s Fire Department faces challenges from rising population and call volumes, prompting calls for increased staffing and operational changes to maintain effective emergency response.
The 2024 Community Risk Assessment and Deployment Analysis, prepared by Emergency Services Consulting International, evaluated the department’s capabilities against current demands and future projections. Conducted with $78,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds approved in April 2024, the study highlights issues such as reliance on cross-staffing and below-standard crew sizes on apparatus.
Cross-staffing, where crews shift between vehicles based on call type, can delay responses by leaving equipment unstaffed. The report notes this practice raises safety concerns, including risks of misplaced protective gear or communication errors. It recommends transitioning to dedicated staffing for all suppression resources, aligning with National Fire Protection Association Standard 1710, which requires at least four personnel per engine or ladder truck.
Service demand analysis shows a 7.4 percent increase in incidents from 2019 to 2023, totaling 95,016 calls in the final year. Emergency medical services accounted for 72.8 percent of responses, with fires at 2 percent. Projections indicate calls could reach between 95,016 and 138,371 by 2050, driven by population growth. The county’s population stood at 551,073 in 2023, rising to 602,350 in 2024, with estimates for 604,744 residents in 2025.
Geographic data reveals higher incident density in northern urban areas, correlating with population concentrations. Temporal patterns show peak demand from noon to 6 p.m., with Fridays seeing 14.8 percent of weekly calls. The study divides the service area into urban and rural zones based on density, recommending tailored response times: 6 minutes total for urban low-risk EMS, extending to 18 minutes in rural areas.
Among 32 recommendations, key operational changes include adding a fifth battalion chief position to improve command arrival times, fully staffing special units like towers and rescue squads, and deploying dedicated tankers in rural zones. For EMS, which dominates workload, the report suggests paramedic recruitment academies training 15 new hires as both firefighters and paramedics. It also advises measuring unit hour utilization quarterly to track commitments, noting some ambulances exceed sustainable levels.
Fleet management proposals involve revising the replacement plan to address production delays and establishing a southern garage for repairs and reserves. Administrative suggestions encompass converting the public information officer role to a civilian communications director and implementing self-inspection programs for low-priority occupancies to ease inspector workloads.
Joe Addivinola, president of Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters, Local 1563, stated, “These recommendations are not about luxury—they are about restoring the level of protection our community expects and deserves. When emergencies happen, effective staffing and timely response save lives.”
Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford responded, “The safety of our County residents and our firefighter/EMS clinicians has always depended on strong partnerships. By working collaboratively, we can build a fire and EMS system that reflects the needs of our growing County and ensures our crews have the staffing, equipment, and support they need to respond safely and effectively.”
The department operates 31 stations serving 206,625 households, with a median income of $115,866. Infrastructure risks include 50 percent of homes built before 1980 and 39 percent using gas appliances, underscoring needs for updated response strategies.
National Fire Protection Association standards guide many proposals, emphasizing rapid assembly of effective response forces: 29 personnel for moderate-risk fires, up to 38 for high-risk scenarios like high-rises or industrial sites. Low-risk fires require three to four staff, focusing on quick containment.
Mutual aid agreements with neighboring jurisdictions supplement resources, though the study urges internal enhancements first. Apparatus reviews found most units functional but stressed reserve fleet protection from weather.
This assessment builds on prior efforts, including a March 2024 paramedic study by Public Consulting Group. As the county grows at 0.4 percent annually, implementing findings could ensure sustained public safety.
