Even with a family and a full-time job, one Anne Arundel County volunteer fire officer responded to more than 400 emergency calls in a year - an average of more than one a day. Another volunteer chief responded to none all year.
One volunteer took one of every 10 calls handled from his station. Another barely responded to one of every 100 emergencies, even though he drives a car paid for by the volunteer fire company.
As an analysis of county volunteer fire service neared completion yesterday, it appeared that nearly 75 percent of the officers met or exceeded the department's standards to maintain their ranks. But about a quarter of the 62 volunteer officers will likely lose rank by the end of this month, Division Chief John M. Scholz said yesterday.
The demotions are being criticized by volunteers who say that a department that relies on volunteers to operate should be grateful for whatever time a volunteer can give them.
"Volunteers shouldn't have to beg to volunteer. The county should be begging them," said Ray Smallwood, chief of the Maryland City Volunteer Company.
Department officials say they are pleased with volunteer firefighters who give an hour a month to fire service. But, they said, volunteers who hold officers' ranks must respond to a minimum number of calls to maintain the level of experience that the community expects.
The county's volunteer association supported the minimum standards, said association President John F. Long Jr. "The purpose of the quota is to promote active volunteers into positions of leadership," Long said.
Because volunteers have the same training as the county's paid firefighters, volunteers are integrated into the paid staff's chain of command. A volunteer captain holds a superior position to a paid lieutenant. If volunteer officers aren't active, the command chain gets less respect, firefighters say.
But, Scholz said, "It's really a performance issue. If you don't practice your skills, you lose the skills."
Smallwood defended the volunteers, noting that many are full-time firefighters in other counties. He also said it was unfair that the quota system didn't take into account the time officers spend on administrative duties, equipment inspections, maintenance and fund raising.
The department requires volunteer officers to respond to at least 100 fire or medical calls per year or 5 percent of the station's total calls - whichever number is smaller. Responses were counted from April 2000 to April 2001.
Initially, one-third of the volunteer officers received notice of possible demotion, which prompted a small protest by volunteers last week. But the projections were premature. Of the 21 notified, 10 to 15 volunteers will likely lose rank, according to officials.
Volunteers have until Monday to explain why they didn't meet the requirements. About a half dozen volunteers will be exempt from the quota for health or other reasons. Others were within one or two calls of the quota and will be exempt, according to fire officials.
"We're trying to be fair and as reasonable as possible," Scholz said. It is unclear how many grades would be part of demotion process, Scholz said.
Chief Roger S. Simonds originally wanted volunteer officers to respond to 150 calls per year. But he and volunteer association officials compromised on the current quota. Simonds also agreed to let volunteer officers count up to 20 percent of their stand-by responses in their totals.
The idea was that volunteer officers would motivate others, Scholz said. "If there are no officers responding, there's no mentoring going on," he said.
The department's response requirements do not affect volunteers' positions at the station-level.
Volunteers say the demotions will affect morale among the dwindling numbers of volunteers. Many of those likely to lose rank are based at stations with few volunteers - especially in South County.
At stations in Riviera Beach, Glen Burnie and Severna Park, with more volunteers, officers didn't have as much trouble meeting quotas. Long explained that part of the reason volunteer companies are successful is because their officers are active. "If leadership is active, members will be."
But Smallwood said the quota makes it especially hard for volunteer officers to take training classes for further promotions while answering service calls and working full time.
"It's just impossible," Smallwood said. "This county has the strictest requirements in Maryland. Then, they wonder why it's hard to keep volunteers."
