FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Montgomery County is planning to remove all career firefighter and paramedic staff from the Hyattstown station. While the building would technically remain open, there would be no 24/7 professional emergency responders — leaving the area vulnerable and the station functionally closed.

Career staff are full-time, professionally trained firefighters and paramedics employed by the Montgomery County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. At Hyattstown, they work side-by-side with volunteers to ensure reliable, around-the-clock emergency response.

Without career staff, the station cannot guarantee emergency coverage. Response times will increase dramatically, putting lives, homes, and property at serious risk.

Technically yes — but practically no. If Hyattstown is unstaffed, emergency responders would have to come from Clarksburg or even farther away, adding six minutes or more to response times. In a fire, crash, or medical emergency, that delay can be devastating.

Hyattstown’s service area is rural and has no fire hydrants. Our station is equipped with specialized vehicles that carry large volumes of water directly to emergencies — a capability that most nearby stations do not have. We also protect major commuter routes like I-270 and Route 355, where serious accidents are common.

Hyattstown has ten active, trained volunteers who are dedicated to serving the community. But volunteers cannot provide 24/7 coverage alone. Career staff are essential to maintaining readiness, supporting volunteers, and ensuring equipment and apparatus are always prepared for emergencies.

No. The County calls it a "redeployment" — but the result is the same: Hyattstown would lose all full-time professional staff. This isn’t about saving money. It’s a redistribution of resources that leaves our community at greater risk.

Yes. Residents in Upper Montgomery County pay the same Fire & Rescue tax as every other part of the county — but under this plan, they would receive far less in return.

Potentially, yes. Insurance Service Office (ISO) ratings — which influence homeowners’ insurance premiums — are based in part on fire department staffing and response times. Longer response times could result in a higher ISO rating, leading to increased insurance costs for property owners. We encourage you to contact your insurance provider for more information.

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✅ Share this campaign with neighbors
✅ Speak up at public hearings
✅ Display a yard sign to show your support

We actively recruit volunteers year-round, but there are several important challenges that limit how effective recruitment alone can be in meeting our operational needs: 

• Volunteer Recruitment Is Competitive and Ongoing 
  Fire and EMS departments across the region are all working to attract volunteers. While we do receive applications, the number of new recruits is often not enough to fully staff all shifts, especially during weekdays or overnight hours. We need to double our volunteer staff to be able to run as an-all volunteer station. 

• Most New Volunteers Prefer EMS Over Firefighting 
  A growing trend we’ve seen is that many new recruits are primarily interested in serving as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), not as firefighters. EMS is a critical component of what we do, but we also need trained and certified firefighters to respond to structure fires, vehicle accidents, and other non-medical emergencies.

• Training and Commitment Requirements Are Substantial 
  Becoming an operational volunteer—whether in EMS or fire—requires hundreds of hours of training, ongoing certification, and a strong time commitment. Many potential volunteers aren't able to meet those demands due to work, school, or family obligations. 

• Retention Is just as Important as Recruitment 
  Bringing in new volunteers is only half the challenge. Keeping them active and engaged over time is equally important. Burnout, life changes, and competing responsibilities can reduce the number of volunteers who remain available for duty long-term. 

• Not All Volunteers Are Available at Key Times 
  Even with a decent number of volunteers on our roster, availability is often an issue—especially during daytime hours on weekdays when many people are working. This creates gaps in staffing despite ongoing recruitment efforts. 

No, none of the 37 fire stations in Montgomery County are run entirely by volunteers. 

If you’re interested in joining us—whether for firefighting, EMS, or administrative support—we’d love to talk to you. Call or stop by the station or visit the Montgomery County Volunteer fire and Rescue Association to learn more about how you can get involved.