How the OVFC is Organized

Anne Arundel County uses an enhanced 911 system, which provides for all emergency calls to be received at a central location at the county’s public safety headquarters in Millersville. 911 calls in the county are routed to call takers and dispatchers at this facility. Our station receives the call by radio and a station printer. Designated crews respond to the incident as required.

The AACoFD maintains a database of trained and certified responders. Only those individuals listed in the database are legally authorized to ride fire or EMS apparatus in the county.

Unlike career firefighters, the OVFC is a volunteer organization and cannot compel its members to work any specified number of hours per week. However, we do strongly encourage at least one 12-hour shift per week. We recognize the demands of families and careers, and we are flexible in accommodating volunteers’ requirements.

At present, there are five county-employed career firefighters assigned to Company 28. Volunteer members may come to work at the station at any time their schedule permits. We have been successful in operating volunteer crews by encouraging members to select a regular “duty night” every week. Crews then sleep over and staff the equipment as required, along with a career driver. The station is equipped with both male and female bunkrooms. This system, while not mandatory, has provided all members with an opportunity to participate while keeping the level of service to the community very high.