CATONSVILLE — A firefighters’ union is questioning the safety of operational practices within the Baltimore County Fire Department that aim to address staffing and overtime issues.
Firefighter union president John Sabiga told WJZ that the practice of rotating fire engine closures throughout the county impacts firefighter safety and, in turn, impacts the safety of residents.
Since about September of 2023, the fire department administration implemented the closure of two engine companies per day during weekdays and over certain timeframes within the county, according to Sabiga.
“I think that maybe the fire administration would disagree that this is a safety concern, that this is less services available but I would have to respectfully take an opposite position,” Sabiga said. “I think those double engine houses are there for a specific reason, those daytime engines are there for a specific reason and that is obviously for firefighter safety, for our safety.”