News and Public Information

The Baltimore County Fire Department's Public Information Office is responsible for gathering timely information about incidents and departmental policies for dissemination to the public. This office provides information directly to interested citizens and through the local and national news media.

Other responsibilities of the Public Information Office include:

• Production of a bi-monthly cable program, "Burning Issues," available to Baltimore County citizens on BCTV Channel 25.
• Contribution of articles to specialized publications.
• Maintenance of the Fire Department's online information.
• Publication of departmental achievements.
• Coordination of employee and public recognition programs.
• Planning special events, such as the annual Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest.
• Assisting outside agencies in promoting fire and life safety activities.
• Processing requests made under the Maryland Public Information Act.

To contact the Public Information Office, call 410-887-4520, or email earmacost@baltimorecountymd.gov or dwelsh@baltimorecountymd.gov

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are a member of the media seeking information about an incident during non-working hours, call Fire Dispatch at 410-307-2052 to have a PIO paged.

"Burning Issues" Cable Program

The current edition of "Burning Issues" airs from April 7 through June 6. Featured this edition:

• Parkton Station #60. County and fire officials broke ground in March for a new fire station that will increase suppression services to north county residents. This four-minute segment looks at the history of Station #60, and previews what the new station will bring to this section of Baltimore County.
• Public Safety Day. This year's "Public Safety Day" is scheduled May 31 at Security Square Mall in Woodlawn. Public Safety Day features demonstrations and exhibits from Baltimore County Fire, Police and the Sheriff's Office.
• Recent Fires. See images of two recent, major fires: a four-alarm fire at a Woodlawn apartment complex, and a two-alarm event in Randallstown that claimed the life of a six-month-old boy.
• Food Coloring. Fitness Coordinator Lainy Dill explains why the color of your food matters.
• Preparing For Emergencies: Sheltering. Fire Specialist Jay Ringgold discusses an upcoming exercise designed to help emergency planners provide sheltering for residents during disasters.
• Calendar Highlights. A look at upcoming events at volunteer fire companies and throughout the Fire Service.
• Everyday Heroes. A look at volunteer and career personnel who have received awards and appreciations.

Burning Issues airs repeatedly on BCTV, Comcast Channel 25 at the following times: Mondays, 12:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.; Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; and Thursdays, noon.

A schedule of all BCTV programing is available online.

Public Information Staff

The Fire Department's public information officers are available 24 hours a day to provide information to the media and the public about newsworthy incidents. The PIO staff includes:

• Elise Armacost, Public Information Director, earmacost@baltimorecountymd.gov
• Division Chief Michael Robinson, Public Information Officer, mwrobinson@baltimorecountymd.gov
• Fire Director Glenn Blackwell, Public Information Officer, gblackwell@baltimorecountymd.gov
• Lt. John Cromwell, Public Information Officer,
  jcromwell@baltimorecountymd.gov

Revised April 7, 2008