Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services begins this current fiscal year with a 6% increase in funding. It plans to use that money wisely, said Fire Chief Corey Smedley Tuesday.
“We are excited about our future,” he said.
Uniformed firefighters received a 3.25% pay increase in this fiscal year. Civilian employees received a 3% hike.
Ten new firefighter positions will handle increased work as well as staffing shortages. Six of the new personnel staff a new transport basic unit 24 -7. They are currently in training with a start date in January 2026.
Other new hires will be used for community engagement and civilian education.
New Master Plan
“Our master plan envisions a shift towards dynamic, data informed fire and rescue operations,” Smedley said. Decisions on staffing and equipment use will be based on community vulnerability, population density and call demand.
The goal is “more equitable service distribution,” he said.
As a result, fire personnel attached to the Hyattsville Fire Station will be assigned to the Aspen Hill station as of July 13. The Hyattsville station will remain open as an all-volunteer station.
Plans also include adding 68 new recruits to deal with staffing issues.
Physical and Mental Health
Smedley wants to help his personnel deal with mental and behavioral problems that result from their work. “Unfortunately, we see things that humans should not see on a regular basis,” he said.
He hopes to work on ways to make his staff more resilient, including better training, better equipment and more appropriate physical exams “so we can catch problems earlier.”
Firefighters often face a higher risk of developing cancer due to exposure to carcinogenic substances during their work.
“This is a brilliant department with a lot of great people that are passionate about what they do,” Smedley said, who will mark his first anniversary as chief July 15.
