Fire Department
Carroll County Department of Fire & EMS
Westminster, MD · Carroll County
236-member career force · 14 volunteer companies
Earn an hourly wage of $28.67 to $50.18 while providing senior-level administrative support for Fire and EMS operations. Requires an associate degree or two years of college plus three years of related experience.
Earn $33.11 to $57.95 per hour working a 24 on, 72 off schedule as a Firefighter/Paramedic. Requires a Paramedic certification, Firefighter I, and a Class C driver's license.
Earn $29.51 to $51.63 hourly as a Paramedic working a 24/72 schedule with comprehensive benefits and pension. Requires a Maryland or National Registry Paramedic certification and a Class C driver license.
The Carroll County Department of Fire & EMS (CCDFEMS) is one of Maryland's newest county fire departments, established October 1, 2020 by Ordinance 2020-06 to move Carroll County from an all-volunteer system to a combination career/volunteer model. Headquartered in the County Office Building in Westminster, the department provides administrative oversight to the county's 14 volunteer fire/EMS stations and shares governance with the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association (CCVESA).
The buildout has been fast. Career crews first went on duty around the clock at 3 stations in June 2023; career employees now staff 13 of the 14 stations alongside volunteers, backed by an authorized force of 236. In 2025 shift commanders were elevated to battalion chief, and 12 lieutenant/paramedic positions put three ALS supervisory units in service for 24/7 EMS supervision.
The system protects nearly 178,000 residents across more than 448 square miles of rural communities, small towns, and growing suburbs. It handled 25,517 incidents in 2025 — roughly 75 percent EMS — spanning fire, rescue, hazardous materials, and technical rescue responses, plus countywide fire prevention and education programs.
MissionThe Mission of the Carroll County Maryland, Department of Fire & EMS is to protect life, property, and the environment. This will be accomplished through the provision of service excellence in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
Hiring runs through Carroll County Government's job center rather than a separate fire department portal; each position requires its own application, and only candidates selected for an interview are contacted. The department hires already-certified personnel — firefighter/EMT, firefighter/paramedic, and paramedic — so applicants arrive with Maryland EMS certification and, for suppression roles, Firefighter I in hand.
Conditions of employment include a criminal background check, medical clearance consistent with NFPA 1582, a signed nicotine abstinence agreement, and random alcohol and drug testing. Recruitment has been steady as county staffing expands: the department added 68 new employees in 2025. The department posts a dedicated hiring contact, CarrollDFEMSHiring@carrollcountymd.gov.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Validated EMT and fire service field experience (validated paramedic experience for medic positions)
- Class C non-commercial driver's license; must meet county driver eligibility requirements
- Maryland (MIEMSS) EMT certification; firefighter/paramedic and paramedic roles require Maryland Paramedic, Cardiac Rescue Technician, or NREMT Paramedic
- Firefighter I certification by MFSPQB, Pro Board, IFSAC, or DOD; Firefighter II within one year of hire
- NIMS 100, 200, 700, and 800
- Vehicle and machinery rescue technician certification within one year of hire
- Criminal background check and medical clearance consistent with NFPA 1582
- Signed nicotine abstinence agreement; subject to alcohol and drug testing, including random testing
Hiring process
- Apply online through the Carroll County Government job center (a separate application for each position)
- Interview — only applicants selected for an interview receive further notification
- Criminal background check
- Medical clearance consistent with NFPA 1582
- Sign the nicotine abstinence agreement at offer
- Complete county-provided Emergency Vehicle Operator (and role-specific hazmat) courses during orientation, with MFRI retest rules applying
Benefits
Per the county's Fire & EMS job postings:
- Pension plus 401(k) and 457 retirement accounts
- No-deductible medical plans with prescription and vision coverage, low-cost dental, and county-paid basic life insurance
- Generous paid time off and 13 paid holidays
- Up to $9,000 per fiscal year in tuition assistance
- 24 on / 72 off shift with unlimited swaps, plus overtime and compensatory time
New hires must already hold their fire and EMS certifications; the county delivers the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (and role-specific hazmat awareness/operations training) during the orientation period, with MFRI retest rules applying.
Who leads the Carroll County Department of Fire & EMS?
Chief Michael W. Robinson, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. He retired as a deputy chief after nearly 33 years with the Baltimore County Fire Department, is a credentialed Chief Fire Officer, and is a licensed Maryland paramedic.
How busy is Carroll County Fire & EMS?
The department and its volunteer companies handled 25,517 incidents in 2025 — 19,044 EMS (about 75 percent), 3,034 fire, 230 rescue, and 3,209 mutual aid — across more than 448 square miles.