Not Just a Rural Issue: Urban Counties Struggle with Fire/EMS Recruitment & Retention
Urban and rural counties across Maryland are reporting difficulties in recruiting and retaining career and volunteer firefighters. Earlier this week, the Baltimore Sun reported that the Baltimore City Fire Department was struggling with firefighter and EMS shortages, pushing many in the department into overtime shifts. The article details how city officials are being forced to contend with record vacancy rates and a need to balance coverage in the state's largest city. Unfortunately, this story is…