From Harford County government:
The Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company (JMVFC) turned out in force Saturday to support Harford County Government with an Edgewood Public Safety Initiative. The public safety initiative culminated several months of planning and preparation by the Department of Administration, the Department of Emergency Services and Joppa-Magnolia VFC.
The Edgewood Public Safety Initiative resulted from a visit to an Edgewood community last summer by County Executive David R. Craig, members of the County Council, State Senator Barry Glassman, Sheriff L. Jesse Bane, and a number of county department heads. The group toured streets in the Edgewater Village area, including Grempler Way and Simons Court.
Following the visit, Mary Chance, Director of Administration convened several meetings with departments of County government, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the County Health Department, Department of Social Services, and others to address a number of issues related to the community including public safety, and quality of life.
Due to a number of serious fire incidents in the community, Director Chance requested the Department of Emergency Services, under the coordination of Director Russell J. Strickland, to check homes throughout the community to help ensure the dwellings were equipped with operating smoke alarms and the occupants were provided with appropriate life safety materials for future reference.
In an effort to gain additional support for the initiative, the Department of Emergency Services contacted the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company whose first due response area includes the Edgewood community. Fire Chief Ryan Barrow of Joppa-Magnolia spearheaded coordination of a door-to-door campaign with his firefighters and administrative members.
On Saturday, April 26, the joint effort between Harford County Government and the Joppa-Magnolia VFC to ensure life safety of the residents in the Edgewood community came to fruition.
The smoke alarm campaign kicked-off at 10:00 a.m. and concluded approximately two hours later. Thirty-six JMVFC volunteer firefighters, cadets, and administrative staff canvassed 234 homes. A total of 123 smoke alarms were installed by the volunteers in dwellings that did not have a working smoke alarm. The Department of Administration and Department of Emergency Services helped provide funding to purchase the new 10-year tamper resistant smoke alarms.
The door-to-door campaign included single-family dwellings in the following areas:
• 1700 block of Brookside Drive
• 1800 block of Brookside Drive
• 1900 block of Brookside Drive
• 1800 block of Simons Court
• 1800 block of Grempler Way
• 1700 block of Judy Way
• 1000 block of Waterside Court
The public safety initiative was well received by both volunteer firefighters and residents.
Commenting on the success of the joint effort, Director Chance said, “We are grateful to Chief Barrow and the dedicated volunteers of Joppa-Magnolia for their service and assistance with this initiative. The door-to-door smoke alarm campaign is an example of a true partnership between local government and a non-profit service organization, the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company who has served the citizens of Edgewood with distinction for many years.”
Director Strickland added, “Partnerships are vital to the success of any significant undertaking. We were fortunate to have the support of Councilman Dion Guthrie and members of the Harford County Council as well as Chief Barrow and dedicated volunteers in bringing this venture to a successful conclusion.”
Good job Fort Hanson and the men and women of Joppa Mag. Joppa is one of a few company’s in the county that provide 24-7 sufficient fire suppression coverage for their community. On the other hand Bel Air is rumored to be paying cash for two new rescue engines but can’t even staff 1 engine crew at house one. The problem with Bel Air is too much politics go on behind the scenes. Bel Air needs to remember this it’s about the citizens and providing the best protection to them, it’s not about some big egos that exist in several chief officers at Bel Air.
Yea, what he said! Shit, Joppa has at least a dozen people living there and getting the troops on the street daily. As a homeowner and resident of this county I only feel safe knowing Joppa is on the assignment to my house, i cant count on Abingdon and Especially not Bel air, i mean $5million for a new firehouse and that engine never leaves!? It would be the first one to my house but nope, no one to staff it! Does Bel air have live ins? Doubtful, the old guys probably think that is satinism or something! At least start that engine once in while to make sure it still works! Put some money toward recruitment …hiw about retention!!! Hiw about paid staff-what a concept!! What a waste and misrepresentation of tax and taxpayer buck! And now more down the drain with new trucks that wont turn a wheel! I saw them in the 4th of july parade for many of the past years, 1 guy on a truck, wth is that!? What can 1 guy do if i need help? Heck i’ll just call my neighbor! Sonic anyone?
How many more houses need to burn down before the fire commission gets its head out of its @ss. I feel sorry for anyone who lives in abingdons area. Several years ago two career firefighters saw this coming and spoke out about it. I believe they got threats against them and they were chastised but guess what they were right. Wake up Hazard County. Many older members are stuck in their old ways and someone may get hurt because of that. Change is good sometimes.
Wasn’t it Bel Air Fire Department that a few kids threatened to not respond to a fire at Sonic because they didn’t get a discount on food?
yup also very true, i remember that! enough is enough mr fire commision!!! make it happen!!
Yet Bel Air’s membership continues to vote in the same group of chiefs. The only one that isn’t cocky is chief 3-2. If that’s who they want their chief officers to be that’s their problem.
you’re correct Deuce, but they are the idiots responsible for us! And are spending/wasting money, and not putting up when the bell sounds, me as a citizen has a big issue with that! i should have a say on who is the boss or where my money goes! We need 1 fire chief, its 2014, we are past the good ol boy club days!!!
I agree with you Jimbo. It’s a popularity contest and doesn’t do anybody any good. My point was it should show you how sad the membership is at Bel Air to keep electing goofballs as chief officers.
We need a paid Department period! Good job to Joppa!
David Craig appointed every member of the Fire Commission. David plays a lot of political games so I am sure the commission is full of his good ol boys. About two weeks ago some truck with 3-1 written on the side came driving like a mad man up rt1 towards darlington. It was a bel air fire SUV maybe a food truck or something. Driving all over the road too fast for traffic being thick
Seriously, these morons can’t afford $5 for a smoke detector?
What’s next the new Obama Smoke Alarms. Christ, don’t these people get enough freebees.
True….GOP presidents give out lots of free stuff. Reagan gave out free phones via life line. G.W.Bush expanded that to free cell phones and internet. Perhaps a smoke dectector is a bit more life saving and cheaper than a cell phone!
What hell does Obama have to do with this story, you tea party nuts just can’t help yourself can you?
This money for smoke detectors could have gone to better our school system. The landlords that are responsible for these property’s should be billed for each smoke detector that was installed.
True the land lords should have paid for the smoke detector. Perhaps the slum lords should have been sent a bill including labor and instalation!
md law requires smoke detectors in all rental properties.
why are these being handled out at all
So they will be in compliance with the law! 🙂
They don’t hold the landlords accountable for anything in that area. That’s why the neighborhood looks like a dump. All slum lords down there
Sure Joppa has quick response, they allow all the people that couldn’t follow the rules at their own firehouses to join and live there. Just what my goal in life is, to be in my 40’s and calling a volunteer fire station my home because I am a loser at being a responsible adult. Co 3 live in’s at least have rules to follow and are mostly students and young people who will grow to be responsible adults and home owners.
How’s that Bel Air VFC live in program working out for you at house 2 and 3? Not too well I imagine. Your volume of calls warrants 24-7 staffing at all houses and so far that isn’t happening. You are not providing the best service for the citizens of co3’s area. Politics? But you are quick to accept donations from the areas that you don’t staff.