Emergency Medical Services Division

The Fire Department's Emergency Medical Services Division responds to  emergency and non-emergency calls involving injury or sickness. More than 70 percent of calls received by the Department are medical calls.

Medic units (often called ambulances) are housed in fire stations alongside fire apparatus, and many career and volunteer personnel are trained in both EMS and fire suppression. The department operates 46 advanced life support medic units, 29 career and 17 volunteer.

In addition, the Department trains each engine company to serve as a first responder on medical calls and to provide oxygen or an automatic external defibrillator to treat sudden cardiac arrest patients. Some engine companies are fully equipped as paramedic engines. 

Seven EMS district officers and one EMS shift commander supervise daily EMS operations.

Contact Information

Fire Director Joseph Brown, 410-887-4860 or  jbrown@baltimorecountymd.gov, supervises Baltimore County's EMS operations.

Residents of Baltimore County enjoy a state-of-the-art emergency medical and trauma care system. This system features:

• Advanced life support engine companies
• Emergency medical technicians and paramedics on all medic units
• Maryland State Police Medevac helicopters
• The world-renowned Shock Trauma Center at University of Maryland Hospital

. The County is serviced by 47 career and volunteer medical transport units (medic units) and 7 EMS Supervisor District Officers and one EMS Shift Commander. Each engine company has the ability to serve as a First Responder and provide oxygen or an AED. Some engine companies are fully equiped as paramedic engines.

The ability to provide on-scene quality assurance is essential for patient care. Our Department accomplished this through the utilization of the 7 District Officers (Lieutenants) and 1 shift commander (Captain). News

EMS Staff

District officers on a daily basis review medical reports, investigate patient inquires, mentor new EMS providers, assist in EMS education, serve as a hospital liaisons and are involved in community education programs.

On staff is a part time paid Medical Director, assisted by a core group of 11 non-paid Fire Surgeons - many of whom are specialist in EMS related fields like, pediatrics and trauma. They help develop policies and internal training programs for EMS providers. The EMS staff and medical personnel work hand in hand to propose/design better ways to deliver pre-hospital care. It is acknowledged that because of this relationship between medical care professionals, both in and out of hospital, that Baltimore County has one of the best EMS systems in the country.

The focus of the Department is to provide timely and highly qualified personnel to all medical emergencies. An Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) program is in place at the 911 center. The EMS Division is actively involved in overseeing and coordinating this program.

The career and volunteer services work closely and cooperatively to meet the EMS needs of the community.

The state of the art in pre-hospital care is quite an achievement for the Baltimore County Fire Department. With active support from the County Administration and County Council, the department recently placed in service 4 additional new, medium duty (Horton/International) medical transport units doubling the coverage at 4 career stations. Additionally, all ALS units, including the paramedic engine companies, and support units, are using state of the art, LifePak 12 monitor/AED/defibrillators and other medical devices.

Current medical transport units:

Revised May 12, 2003