Subtitle 1 – Fire Department
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-1 (2026)
§ 1-1 Fire Chief in general command.LinkCopy Citation
The Chief of the Fire Department:
(1)
shall have command at fires over all other officers and all other persons who may be present at fires; and
(2)
shall take all proper measures:
(i)
for the extinguishment of fires; and
(ii)
for the protection of property, preservation of order, and observance of the laws of the State, ordinances of the City, and regulations respecting fires.
History: Ord. 1879-029
History: Ord. 76-136
History: Ord. 22-124
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-2 (2026)
§ 1-2 Control of persons and property at fires.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The Chief of the Fire Department shall, during the occurrence of fires or alarm of fires, have authority for himself, and the power to delegate to his assistants, the authority to control all persons and property in the vicinity of a fire, during the continuance thereof; provided, that the exercise of such authority does not conflict with any law of the United States, or of the State of Maryland.
(b)Establishment of emergency scene.
When responding to an emergency, the Chief or the Chief’s designee shall:
(1)
identify the emergency scene, as defined in <cite data-path="19|§25-5|(a)">City Code, Article 19, § 25-5(a)</cite>;
(2)
establish the boundaries of the emergency scene using:
(i)
a barricade;
(ii)
posted personnel; or
(iii)
another reasonable method; and
(3)
after the Fire Department completes the investigation of the emergency, remove any boundaries marking the emergency scene, unless the Chief makes a determination that a public safety hazard remains.
(c)Persons present.
Only an authorized person, as defined in <cite data-path="19|§25-5|(a)">City Code, Article 19, § 25-5(a)</cite>, may be present within the boundaries of an emergency scene.
History: Ord. 1877-024
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-3 (2026)
§ 1-3 Facilities.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Chief to examine.
It shall be the duty of said Chief to examine all fire apparatus and stations and equipment used for the purposes of the Fire Department and the companies attached, as often as circumstances may render expedient.
(b)Alterations, repairs, or additions.
Whenever the facilities of the Fire Department require alteration, additions, or repairs, the Chief of the Fire Department shall cause to be made, as he deems expedient, such alterations, additions, and repairs, the whole to be done under the jurisdiction and control of the Chief.
History: Ord. 1879-029
History: Ord. 76-136
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-4 (2026)
§ 1-4 Control of fire hydrants.LinkCopy Citation
On the occurrence of fires, the Chief of the Fire Department, or his assistants, shall have the use and control of any and all fire hydrants belonging to the City of Baltimore.
History: Ord. 1859-048
History: Ord. 76-136
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-5 (2026)
§ 1-5 Regulations for fire companies.LinkCopy Citation
Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Chief of the Fire Department shall prepare rules and regulations for the government of the Fire Department and members thereof, and furnish each member of the Fire Department a copy of the rules, and have same posted in Fire Department Headquarters and in all stations.
History: Ord. 1858-005
History: Ord. 76-136
History: Text Conformed 02/16/21
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-6 (2026)
§ 1-6 Regulations for relief from duty.LinkCopy Citation
Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Chief of the Fire Department shall have the authority and power to adopt reasonable rules and regulations to permit members of the Fire Department to be relieved from duty when their respective relief reports for duty.
History: Ord. 44-080
History: Text Conformed 02/16/21
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-7 (2026)
§ 1-7LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-8 (2026)
§ 1-8 Board of Fire Commissioners.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Board established.
There is a Board of Fire Commissioners, as established in <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="VII|§49">City Charter Article VII, § 49</cite>.
(b)Composition.
The Board of Fire Commissioners comprises 5 members appointed by the Mayor in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">City Charter Article IV, § 6</cite>.
(c)President.
The Mayor shall designate one member of the Board as its President in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="VII|§50|(b)">City Charter Article VII, § 50(b)</cite>.
(d)Tenure.
The term of each member is 4 years, concurrent with the Mayor’s term of office, and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(e)Powers and duties.
The Board of Fire Commissioners has the powers and duties specified in <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="VII">City Charter Article VII</cite>, §§ <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="VII|§49">49</cite> to <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="VII|§52">52</cite>.
History: Ord. 08-067
Balt., Md., Code art. 9, § 1-9 (2026)
§ 1-9 Reporting requirements.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
On or before January 31 of each year, the Baltimore City Fire Chief shall report the following information, disaggregated by race and gender (excluding names), from the previous calendar year regarding the Baltimore City Fire Department to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore:
(1)
the number of uniformed personnel working in fire suppression and the emergency medical services division;
(2)
the number of supervisors by rank assigned to fire suppression and the emergency medical services division;
(3)
the number of uniformed personnel assigned to fire suppression and the emergency medical services division who were promoted to a supervisory rank in the previous calendar year;
(4)
the number of high school students who were in the Department’s high school program;
(5)
the number of high schools students who received EMT certification from the Department’s high school program;
(6)
the number of high school students who were hired by the Department after completion of the Department’s high school program and graduation from the Department’s Training Academy;
(7)
excluding those counted in paragraph (6), the number of individuals who graduated from the Department’s Training Academy and were hired by the Department; and
(8)
the number of uniformed personnel who participated in the fire suppression or emergency medical services divisions’ promotional process for a supervisory position in the previous calendar year.
(b)Other reporting requirements.
On or before January 31 of each year, the Baltimore City Fire Department shall also report the following information from the previous calendar year to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore:
(1)
the number of uniformed personnel who are residents of Baltimore City;
(2)
the number of uniformed personnel who were suspended with pay;
(3)
the number of uniformed personnel who were suspended without pay;
(4)
the number of discipline charges filed against uniformed personnel, as well as the number of charges that were sustained and the number of charges that were dismissed;
(5)
the number of recruiting events in Baltimore City that the Department sponsored or participated in;
(6)
the number of citizens who have added their names to the citizen contact recruitment list; and
(7)
the number of community-based town hall meetings attended by the Department.
(c)Public availability.
The reports required by subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be made available to the public on the Department’s website.
(d)Required public hearings.
(1)
The Baltimore City Fire Department shall notify the Baltimore City Council that the Fire Department has began the pre-employment screening process for entry-level fire suppression positions or has moved into a new phase of the pre-employment screening process for those positions.
(2)
On receipt of notice that the Baltimore City Fire Department has began the pre-employment screening process for entry-level fire suppression positions or has moved into a new phase of the pre-employment screening process for those positions, an appropriate committee of the Baltimore City Council shall promptly hold a public hearing during which the Fire Chief or the Fire Chief’s designee must present information regarding:
(i)
the overall pre-employment screening process;
(ii)
the recruitment strategy for entry-level fire suppression applicants;
(iii)
the race, gender, and City residency data of the applicants at the current phase of the pre-employment screening process; and
(iv)
any steps taken to improve equity in the pre-employment screening process and to reduce barriers to entry.
(3)
Each year, during the third week of July, an appropriate committee of the Baltimore City Council shall hold a public hearing during which the Fire Chief or the Fire Chief’s designee must present information regarding:
(i)
the overall pre-employment screening process for entry-level emergency medical services positions;
(ii)
the recruitment strategy for entry-level emergency medical services positions;
(iii)
the race, gender, and City residency data of the emergency medical services applicants; and
(iv)
any steps taken to improve equity in the pre-employment screening process and to reduce barriers to entry for entry-level emergency medical services positions.
History: Ord. 21-006