Career Firefighters

There's no dispute that, at nearly 60 years old, the volunteer-owned Lake Shore Fire Station in Pasadena is probably on its last legs. But the county professional firefighters' union and the volunteer company that owns the one-story brick building are butting heads over how dangerously worn the building has become. Keith W. Wright, president of the union, called the building uninhabitable and noted four problems - ranging from an infestation of birds above the ceiling to the possibility of a partial building collapse - that he believes should prompt the county to immediately pull its career firefighters from the station.

Danelle England-Dansicker, Baltimore County's first career female firefighter, died Tuesday of complications from autoimmune disease at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Pikesville resident was 52. "She blazed a trail for a lot of people," said Baltimore County Fire Chief John Hohman. "She earned the respect of those you would have never expected to accept a woman. She made it easier for us to diversify this department." Anida Danelle England was born in Baltimore and raised on Milford Mill Road.

A busload of volunteer firefighters turned out at last night's County Council hearing to object to the fire department's plan to cut career firefighter staffing at some volunteer stations - a move that the firefighters union and the volunteer association say could jeopardize public safety. Last night, the volunteer firefighters squeezed in among hundreds of teachers at the Arundel Center. Both groups hoped to persuade the council to reject County Executive Janet S. Owens' $895 million operating budget proposal and ask her to redirect funding.

Lt. Thomas Gerber didn't know what to make of the round of handshakes and congratulations that greeted him last month at the door for the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue awards ceremony. Then he picked up a program and was "shocked" to discover that he had been named the Career Firefighter of the Year. But to those who know him, there was nothing at all shocking about his winning the award. "He's very dependable, solid as a rock," said Lt. Chris Alliger, who nominated Gerber for the award and called him "one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet."

The Howard County Fire Department spends about $300,000 each year training and outfitting volunteer firefighters, but only half of them stay past three years -- prompting some to question whether the county is spending its money wisely.Firefighters union officials say the money spent on the volunteers should be used to hire more career firefighters."What are citizens getting for that amount of money?" asked Sgt. Kevin Henry, president of the Howard County Firefighters Association. "Is it worth it?"

A citizen committee charged with making recommendations to improve relations between career and volunteer firefighters has called for restoring the position of volunteer chief.The recommendation, one of 31 in a 108-page draft report, represents a compromise that does not entirely please either career or volunteer firefighters.The Fire Department Study Committee was formed in September by County Executive Robert R. Neall to evaluate Anne Arundel's dual fire department, composed of full-time career firefighters and fiercely independent volunteers.

In the 2 1/2 years since Baltimore County began requiring career firefighters to take random drug tests, at least a half-dozen have been dismissed for substance abuse - proof, union leaders say, that the policy works. But the county's estimated 2,000 volunteer firefighters and paramedics are not required to take the tests. And union leaders say that is a problem. "It's an inherently dangerous field," said Michael K. Day Sr., president of the Baltimore County Professional Fire Fighters Association.

A busload of volunteer firefighters turned out at last night's County Council hearing to object to the fire department's plan to cut career firefighter staffing at some volunteer stations - a move that the firefighters union and the volunteer association say could jeopardize public safety. The volunteer firefighters last night added their complaints to those of hundreds of county workers who have mobilized in recent days to protest several aspects of the $895 million operating budget proposal.

Although Ruppersberger administration officials say they are prepared, Baltimore County's 33 volunteer fire companies may be hit hard by a threatened federal labor law complaint that would have the effect of barring career firefighters from working as volunteers.The complaint, which could be filed within two weeks by Firefighters Union Local 1311, would seek compliance with an 11-year-old federal law requiring local governments to pay career firefighters for their volunteer work or prohibit them from doing it.The action is prompted by union members' anger at Ruppersberger for not financially rewarding their past political support, said Kevin B. O'Connor, president of Firefighters Union Local 1311.

Worried they will face lawsuits about overtime, Howard County fire officials will begin enforcing a federal law July 1 that effectively bans its paid firefighters from also serving as volunteers.Although the change affects only about nine firefighters, county fire Chief James Heller said the restriction will further erode the already low staffing at the county's fire stations. He said West Friendship, Lisbon and Elkridge stations will be particularly hard hit.Earlier this year, a task force organized by County Executive Charles I. Ecker concluded that more than half the county's busiest stations are understaffed, responding to emergencies with too few firefighters on a truck 37 percent of the time.

Francis E. "Frank" Uhlhorn III, a retired Baltimore firefighter whose career spanned nearly four decades, died of cancer Oct. 10 at his Catonsville home. He was 65. Born in Baltimore and raised on Carrollton Avenue, Mr. Uhlhorn was a 1960 graduate of Edmondson High School. He followed his father and an uncle when he joined the Baltimore City Fire Department in 1970. He spent most of his career as a firefighter and lieutenant and was longtime captain of No. 8 Truck on Frederick Avenue.

In the 2 1/2 years since Baltimore County began requiring career firefighters to take random drug tests, at least a half-dozen have been dismissed for substance abuse - proof, union leaders say, that the policy works. But the county's estimated 2,000 volunteer firefighters and paramedics are not required to take the tests. And union leaders say that is a problem. "It's an inherently dangerous field," said Michael K. Day Sr., president of the Baltimore County Professional Fire Fighters Association.

The Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland, a union that represents 6,000 workers statewide, endorsed Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan yesterday over his Democratic primary rival for governor, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. "I'm not here to bash Mayor O'Malley," LeRoy Wilkison, president of the union, said in an interview. "This election hopefully will be decided on the issues, not on the personalities, and Doug has a 12-year track record with his labor management relationships, and it's been an excellent relationship."

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department announced yesterday that 15 full-time firefighters will be transferred from stations in Brooklyn, Glen Burnie and Orchard Beach to vacant shifts elsewhere in the department that typically have been filled through overtime. The changes - aimed at reducing costs - should take effect by Aug. 1, said Division Chief John M. Scholz, a Fire Department spokesman. But some northern Anne Arundel politicians and residents said they believe the Fire Department's plan endangers citizens and may be politically motivated.

A busload of volunteer firefighters turned out at last night's County Council hearing to object to the fire department's plan to cut career firefighter staffing at some volunteer stations - a move that the firefighters union and the volunteer association say could jeopardize public safety. Last night, the volunteer firefighters squeezed in among hundreds of teachers at the Arundel Center. Both groups hoped to persuade the council to reject County Executive Janet S. Owens' $895 million operating budget proposal and ask her to redirect funding.

A busload of volunteer firefighters turned out at last night's County Council hearing to object to the fire department's plan to cut career firefighter staffing at some volunteer stations - a move that the firefighters union and the volunteer association say could jeopardize public safety. The volunteer firefighters last night added their complaints to those of hundreds of county workers who have mobilized in recent days to protest several aspects of the $895 million operating budget proposal.

County Executive Robert R. Neall said the recommendations he received yesterday on changing the county's fire services should help ease tensions between paid and volunteer firefighters.The 10-member Fire Department Study Committee recommended reinstating the position of volunteer fire chief and giving the county fire administrator more control over volunteer units.Paul C. Haigley Jr., the county's former fire administrator, eliminated the position of volunteer fire chief last year.Mr. Neall said he was "not averse to reinstating the rank of volunteer chief" if the task force's recommendations establishing the authority of the fire administrator over the volunteer companies are fully implemented.

HARD AS IT IS to criticize volunteers, one has to question the actions by members of the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Company who were so miffed over an internal dispute that they ignored minor calls for service. Perhaps they have good reason to be upset over political doings at the fire station, but delivering less service is not the way to express their displeasure.It flies in the face of the very intent of volunteerism when unpaid firefighters, who are an important part of Howard County's public safety force, become selective about which bells will move them to hop on a truck.

There's no dispute that, at nearly 60 years old, the volunteer-owned Lake Shore Fire Station in Pasadena is probably on its last legs. But the county professional firefighters' union and the volunteer company that owns the one-story brick building are butting heads over how dangerously worn the building has become. Keith W. Wright, president of the union, called the building uninhabitable and noted four problems - ranging from an infestation of birds above the ceiling to the possibility of a partial building collapse - that he believes should prompt the county to immediately pull its career firefighters from the station.

After 16 months of frustration, hundreds of paid Baltimore County firefighters can again fight fires as members of volunteer companies in their home county, under a new directive from the county executive's office."