Fire Stations

Howard County Fire Stations
Daily Life at a Fire Station

Howard County Fire Stations

Station 1 - Elkridge
Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
5700 Rowanberry Drive
Elkridge, MD 21075
410-313-4901

Station 2 - Ellicott City
Ellicott City Volunteer Firemen's Association, Inc.
4150 Montgomery Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-313-2602

Station 3 - West Friendship
West Friendship Volunteer Firemen's Association, Inc.
12535 Old Frederick Road
Sykesville, MD 21784
410-313-5403

Station 4 - Lisbon
Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
16104 Frederick Road
Woodbine, MD 21797
410-313-5404

Station 5 - Clarksville
Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
5000 Signal Bell Lane
Clarksville, MD 21029
410-313-7305

Station 6 - Savage
Savage Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
8521 Corridor Road
Savage, MD 20763
410-313-4426

Station 7 - Banneker
5815 Banneker Road
Columbia, MD 21044
410-313-7307

Station 8 - Bethany
Ellicott City Volunteer Firemen's Association, Inc.
9601 Old Frederick Road (Route 99)
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-313-2608

Station 9 - Long Reach
5950 Tamar Drive
Columbia, MD 21045
410-313-7309

Station 10 - Rivers Park
10155 Old Columbia Road
Columbia, MD 21046
410-313-7310

Station 11 - Scaggsville
11226 Scaggsville Road
Fulton, MD 20723
410-313-3791

Station 12 - Waterloo
7645 Port Capital Drive
Jessup, MD 20794
410-313-7312

Station 13 - Glenwood
14620 Carrs Mill Road
Woodbine, MD 21797
410-313-0513

Station 14 - Merriweather
6025 Symphony Woods Road
Columbia, MD 21045
410-313-3414

Daily Life at a Fire Station

A Fire Station Never Sleeps

In addition to responding to fire and medical emergencies, life inside a firehouse is packed with activity. HCDFRS career personnel work on one of three shifts (A,B,C). Each shifts works for 24 hours at the fire station and then has 48 hours off. During the 24 hours on duty, personnel run calls, train, shower, eat and sleep at the fire station. Firefighters have a wide range of responsibilities, not only to hone the skills required of firefighting and medical emergencies, but also for the upkeep of the firehouse, equipment, and all the apparatus. All firefighters are on rotating schedules. Everyday activities firefighters engage in include:

Raising and lowering the flag outside the firehouse
Discussions of safety drills and creating safety messages to share with personnel
Cleaning the dorms
Sweeping and mopping the floors
Cooking the meals
Participate in mandatory fitness and conditioning program
Daily training drills
Attend workshops or classes designed to inform firefighters on the latest advancements in medical technology, fire science, emergency treatment and prevention
Maintenance of all apparatus (checking fuel levels, examining for damage or wear, etc)
Maintenance of all equipment (uniforms, tanks, etc.)
Inventory of supplies
Discussion of recent or past firefighting, emergency medical responses and working out strategies to cope with unexpected occurrences during emergencies

Every activity is important and given attention. A fire truck cannot respond to an emergency if it is low on fuel. A facemask can cause a fatality if it has a crack in it. A firefighter’s entire day is spent, in one way or another, preparing for emergencies. In our department SAFETY is the top priority!

Teamwork is another key component of HCDFRS. Modern fire stations have separate sleeping and bathroom/shower facilities for men and women. Older stations have been retrofitted with separate bathroom/shower facilities, but common sleeping areas remain. The Department makes every effort to provide the best available solution to privacy issues at each station. And by the way, everyone takes turns cooking, so you might want to start thinking about some of your favorite family recipes.

Like members of the armed services, firefighters and EMTs follow a command structure based on rank, with firefighters and EMTs at the lower end of the scale. A paramilitary structure requires you to take orders from those of higher rank. When on duty, firefighters cannot leave the station to take care of personal business nor can they make or receive cell phone calls while en route to or working on an incident. Firefighters are expected to come work on time every day they are scheduled to work including during snowstorms, hurricanes or other severe weather. Lateness is not tolerated. You are held accountable for your behavior – off and on the job, inside and outside Howard County.

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