Public Safety Committee

Summary

This legislative oversight hearing reviewed the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operations, apparatus, equipment, hiring, training, and safety, drawing from multiple quarterly reports and budget information through FY26 Q1. The department has received 6 new engines, 2 trucks, and 34 medic units in FY25, with more apparatus on order for FY26/27, including innovative POD units which are significantly more cost-effective than traditional heavy rescue vehicles. Challenges persist with repair delays due to national parts shortages and skilled labor constraints, impacting the 20-year fleet replacement cycle.

Infrastructure & Technology: ARPA funds are supporting gender-neutral bathroom renovations and equipment upgrades (SCBA, hoses, forcible entry tools). Several station renovations are underway or completed using ESPP and State grants, including Engine 14 and Engine 31. The Operative IQ digital management system has yielded $600,000 in annual savings for EMS supplies and improved facility and apparatus inspections. New ADASHI software on 18 iPads provides real-time incident information, unit locations, and Code X data, enhancing situational awareness and operational efficiency.

Operations & Safety: The 911 call center handled 1.38 million calls in FY25, with 85% answered within 15 seconds, and is now fully staffed. AI technology has been implemented for real-time call transcription and non-emergency triage. Fire suppression responses averaged 473 per day in FY25. Fireground injuries decreased by 49% in FY25 compared to FY24, and burn injuries saw a 100% decrease in Q1 FY26 due to enhanced training and tactical changes. Total active Code X properties stand at 5,605 as of September 2025, with Code X-involved structure fires increasing by 128.57% in FY25.

EMS & Population Health: EMS incidents totaled 158,754 in FY25, with transports returning to pre-pandemic levels. However, median ambulance offload times at hospitals increased to 50:31 minutes in FY25, with a median 90th percentile of 46:06 minutes in FY25 Q3, significantly above the 30-minute state goal. The Tele911 program, launched April 2024, has handled 605 consults with 61% resolved via treat-in-place. The Buprenorphine Program, started September 2024, has completed 3 inductions and trained 59 paramedics. Citywide overdose incidents decreased by 25.2% in FY25 compared to FY24, with 13,798 Naloxone kits distributed. The Nurse Navigation program, launched October 2025, has answered 758 calls, with 77% of callers perceiving a life-threatening emergency but 19% not knowing how else to get care.

Human Resources & Training: The Fire Academy saw 156 recruits hired and 124 graduated in FY25, with recruit training hours nearly doubling in Q1 FY26. Significant grant funding (over $2.6 million from FEMA for FY24 AFG) supports advanced training, including a new "Connex City" system for realistic rowhouse simulations. The department is addressing 22 entry-level fire vacancies and 44-50 EMS vacancies through recruitment and partnerships with BCCC for paramedic training.

Fiscal Overview: The FY26 preliminary budget is $362.2 million (a 10% increase from FY25), with $5.2 million allocated from the Opioid Restitution Fund for EMS services and $500,000 for Fire Code Enforcement. EMS costs and revenue will now be transferred to the General Fund, with an estimated $75 million in EMS revenue for FY26.

Citizen Impact

Residents benefit from improved emergency response times (median 3 minutes for fire) and enhanced safety measures, including free smoke alarm installations and targeted community risk reduction efforts. The BCFD's focus on reducing fireground injuries and decreasing citywide overdoses (down 25.2% in FY25) directly contributes to public safety. However, extended ambulance offload times at hospitals may lead to longer waits for emergency care, and the aging 911 CAD system poses a risk of service interruptions.

Confidence

high