Maryland’s Commission on Firefighting has released a sobering report on the challenges with recruiting and retaining the next wave of fire fighters – both career and volunteer. Their recommendations urge broadened benefits and complimentary approaches to help keep these essential services in place for all Marylanders’ safety. Here we walk through the essentials of the Commission’s recommendations as they head to the General Assembly for consideration in 2024.

The Commission to Advance and Strengthen Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services Within Maryland was created by 2023 legislation – spearheaded by leadership from the career and volunteer fire communities and MACo. Its final Report illustrates the depths of the concern with the firefighting workforce, but targets multiple recommendations for Maryland to recharge the value proposition for new hires.

Dr. Theodore Delbridge, Director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service Systems (MIEMSS) offered this perspective to sum up and frame the recommendations, as part of his transmittal letter to state policy leaders:

The Problem

The report includes some jarring findings on the status and stability of the firefighting workforce:

More context on the challenges facing volunteer companies nationally are spelled out vividly in a 2020 report, Culture Clash.

Multiple Forces at Play

The report reviews a variety of compensation comparisons, variable benefits, and training requirements that collectively compound to create an unintended, but material, barrier to entry for this workforce. Societal and social changes are surely an underlying factor as well.

Both national indicators, and Maryland specific data, continue to paint the picture of an under-resourced function. However, the capacity of Maryland’s local governments to simply, and unilaterally, transform this service is constrained – as scarce local resources are drawn for a full range of public services, and State-imposed mandates.

A Maryland Survey and Review

The Commission, powered by the Maryland Department of Labor, conducted a rigorous survey of current fire employees. Nearly 2,400 responses to the survey were received from all facets of the fire service across the state.

Among the gathered material was a provocative set of impressions on the current workplace from the many respondents:

…and another on the “values and motivations” of the workforce:

…all pointing toward the need for stronger incentives, additional benefits to complement those in place, and more Statewide resources to effect those tools.

Recommendations

The Commission evaluated efforts in nearby states, and their interplay with the concerns raised through the employee survey, and developed a set of robust recommendations to advance to State policymakers, including a “menu” of policy options to create sustainable funding to support new offerings or support:

• Recommendation 1: Establish a tuition-free program for career and volunteer firefighters at Maryland’s community colleges
• Recommendation 2: Broaden scholarship and loan forgiveness resources that are currently open to police officers to firefighters and EMTs
• Recommendation 3: Create State Incentives for subsidized EMS courses
• Recommendation 4: Broaden grants for Registered Apprenticeship programs that are currently open to police officers to firefighters and EMTs
• Recommendation 5: Incorporate the needs of the fire and EMS service in career readiness reforms created under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and opportunities created under Maryland’s new public service programs
• Recommendation 6: Offer healthcare to volunteer firefighters and EMTs through state programs
• Recommendation 7: Establish a healthcare benefit assistance program for career and volunteer firefighters through a copay subsidy
• Recommendation 8: Establish State subsidies to offset the cost of childcare
• Recommendation 9: Allocate Revenue from Fees on Speed Camera Tickets in Construction Zones
• Recommendation 10: Review Existing State Revenues and Investments that Support Fire and EMS Operations
• Recommendation 11: Implement an Insurance Premiums Tax Allocation= = = = =

The full set of recommendations, with more detailed rationale and context, is included in the Commission’s Report, beginning on page number 24

Further Resources

Materials from the Commision are available on the Maryland Department of Labor website, including presentations during their meetings, and its full schedule of activities.

What’s Next?

Expect engaged legislators to introduce legislation to enact components of this plan, during the 2024 General Assembly session. With its budgetary and personnel impacts, consideration should focus within the budget committees of each chamber. MACo has adopted these issues as a top initiative for the 2024 session, adding spotlight and energy from the county community.

This article is part of MACo’s Policy Deep Dive series, where expert policy analysts explore and explain the top county policy issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Policy Deep Dives.