Emergency Services

Emergency response is carried out from 15 fire and rescue stations located throughout the county, covering 274 square miles and protecting a residential population exceeding 150,000 and a large daytime business population. Our location in the National Capital Region brings over 4 million visitors to our county each year. Each year, the department responds to over 23,000 calls for service.

Department Numbers
The County Fire Chief has established a countywide standard of reaching all emergency calls for service within 8 minutes or less 90% of the time. All career Operations Division personnel work 24-hours shifts on a 56-hour “Berkley” schedule.

A Deputy Chief is assigned to manage each shift and is stationed at Fire and Rescue Headquarters in the County’s Public Safety Center. A Battalion Chief is assigned to each of the 2 Battalions:

Battalion 1 (Station 12)

• Fire and Rescue Station 1
• Fire and Rescue Station
• Rescue Station 4
• Fire and Rescue Station 6
• Fire Station 7
• Rescue Station 7
• Fire and Rescue Station 12

Battalion 2 (Station 10)

• Fire and Rescue Station 2
• Fire and Rescue Station 3
• Fire and Rescue Station 5
• Fire and Rescue Station 8
• Rescue Station 8
• Fire and Rescue Station 9
• Fire and Rescue Station 10

Fire Stations 4 and 14 and Fire-Rescue Stations 9 and 12 have been upgraded to medic engine stations.

The Department’s Mobile Command Unit, along with the reserve fleet and special operational support vehicles, are stationed at the Fire and Rescue Department’s Training and Logistics Center.

Special Operations Command
The Special Operations Command oversees the special operations teams of the Department including Technical Rescue Operations Team (TROT), Haz-Mat Team, Dive Rescue Team, Swift Water Rescue Team, Marine Fire-Rescue and Air-Rescue Helicopter operations in partnership with Air Evac.

The Special Operations Command is based out of Fire-Rescue Headquarters and operates several assets throughout the county to include 3 heavy rescue squads, 3 fire boats and several marine support units, dive truck, 4 Zodiac water rescue crafts, 1 Hovercraft, etc.