| We would like to share the following information with our community.
The Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department is a volunteer department and is supplemented by career staffing that is “partially” paid for by the Carroll County Government. The amount of money received by Carroll County only covers a small portion of the overall operation of the department and staff to help make sure we are responding on medical emergencies, fires, and rescue services. Other than providing a limited amount of funding the Carroll County Government does not have an active role in providing Fire Department protection, instead this is done by 14 individual departments in the county.
Sykesville is the second busiest department in the county and is equivalent in population to Westminster. Years ago the Carroll County Board of Commissioners brought on EMS billing for the fire department in an effort to create funds to sustain services. By doing so, it allowed departments to have additional funding that the county didn't have to provide. Two different rates are assessed and differ in whether the care provided is of a basic life support (minor) or advanced life support (major) nature. The other ways we help to make up the difference in money is by fundraising and annual letter drives.
As the population grows, equipment and supplies become more expensive and call volumes increase we are still struggling to financially make ends meet. This lack of funds hampers our ability to hire and retain qualified employees to supplement the volunteer force. As a result departments are used as stepping stones for personnel to go and work in surrounding counties for more money and better benefits.
We have provided dedicated service since 1933 and will continue to do what we can to provide the best service possible. In February 2011 we suffered a major structural collapse and fire that destroyed our building. With the exception of the vehicles we use and the apparatus bay to house them, we needed to rebuild. After many months of planning, and meeting with the community, we began to rebuild. The decision was made after input was received from the community that we would incorporate a large hall that would allow our community to have a venue to have nice events, and classrooms for community and business meetings.
We strive to make ends meet, and take into consideration our fiscal responsibility when we purchase equipment. Unfortunately with the prices of an average medic unit to be $225,000, fire engines to be $650,000, and specialty pieces such as rescue squads or ladder trucks to be $750,000 to well over $1,000,000 it is hard. That is a lot of money and does not even cover the amount of money on equipment and tools that have to be placed on those vehicles.
Additionally we are mandated by federal and state guidelines to meet minimum standards for Fire Officer’s (those in charge of a crew that would operate on a piece of equipment). We have Chief officers, Captains and Lieutenants responding to calls and leaving their homes and families in their personal vehicles at all hours of the night and day just to verify that emergencies are handled appropriately and we are doing the best we can with the tools and finances we have.
The Sykesville-Freedom District Fire Department has an open door policy and would gladly meet with any local organization, HOA, or group that would like to question how we do things, why we do things, and the services we provide. Fundraising efforts are down, and we continue to make the best of what we have and the limited funding that the county provides.
Thank you.
Please feel free to send us a message or comment with any questions you may have.
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