The Hagerstown Fire Department serves the citizens and visitors of Hagerstown, MD and the communities immediately surrounding the City.  The City fire department is a valuable all hazards public safety asset ready to respond at a moment’s notice. The department provides services such as fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, as well as, many non-emergency services.

The Hagerstown Fire Department serves a first due area of 12.17 square miles with a population of approximately 40,000 people.

We operate out of six strategically located fire stations throughout the City. The City maintains (5) Engine companies and (2) Ladder companies, each staffed with a minimum of 2 career firefighters. Several companies also have active volunteers that supplement staffing when available.

Career staffing is split among three shifts, also referred to as battalions, with each shift having at least 15 personnel working. These shifts are led by a Battalion Chief and a Captain.

The Hagerstown Fire Department is mindful of our past but continue to look for new opportunities to improve the services we provide to the City and its visitors.

During the summer of 2014, The City of Hagerstown Fire Department realized the need to develop a plan to take the fire department into the future. Initiated by Fire Chief Kyd Dieterich and chaired by Battalion Chief Mark Cleck, a Strategic Planning Committee was formed to develop the Department’s first ever Strategic Plan.  Members of the committee consisted of fire department command staff, city volunteers, representatives from the Hagerstown Professional Firefighters – Local 1605, a retired Battalion Chief, and a community member at-large.  

Information for this plan was obtained through surveys developed by the committee.  These surveys were delivered to members of the community through a web based questionnaire.  A second survey was developed and sent to organizations that the fire department interacts with on a daily basis, i.e. mutual aid fire departments and other city services.  A third survey was developed for questioning of fire department staff and volunteers. This third survey was facilitated In January 2015 by individuals outside of the organization during a series of structured meetings intended to promote positive interaction between personnel and an independent facilitator.  

Upon completion of the surveys, a S.W.O.T. Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) was done to determine what areas needed to be addressed.  Upon completion, the Strategic Planning Committee clarified and rewrote the fire department’s mission, vision, and core values.  The following strategic goals were identified for the fire department as well:

1.    Limited staffing.

2.    Limited funding.

3.    Volunteer /career coordination and cooperation.

4.    Lack of effective communication within the organization.

5.    Operations and safety.

6.    Professional development.

7.    Community perception.

8.    Organizational growth and development.

This strategic plan is intended to be used as a guide for the City of Hagerstown Fire Department over the next five years.  It should be viewed as the first step toward effecting and implementing change within the organization.  The strategic plan should be reviewed and updated annually to reflect changes in the current environment of the fire department and adaptation to those changes. 

The strategic plan will be made available in it's entirety to the public in the future.