Picture of Chief Owens from the Fairfax City Fire Department website.
Read Frederick County, Maryland press release
Read Fairfax City, Virginia press release
Tom Owens, who has been the chief of the Fairfax City Fire Department in Virginia since 2003, moves across the Potomac River to Frederick County, Maryland. The announcement came in press releases today from both jurisdictions.
City Manager Robert Sisson said, “Chief Owens has provided high-caliber leadership to the City of Fairfax Fire Department since he came to the city in 1998.”
Owens had been an assistant chief in Fairfax City prior to taking over the chief’s job. Before that he was the first director of Virginia’s Frederick County Fire & Rescue Department. His career in the fire service in Virginia goes back to 1969.
On February 1, Owens will take over as director of a combined career and volunteer system that has been run since May of last year by Assistant County Manager Barry Stanton. Stanton had no background in fire and EMS when he took over after the sudden retirement of Director Gene Mellin.
In recent years there has been much tension between career and volunteer forces in Frederick County. At the urging of volunteer leadership, county officials rejected a consultants report that called for a reorganization and the appointment of a county fire chief (click here and here).
Also on STATter911 …
- Regime change at Burtonsville VFD. Leadership resigns & takes demotions in battle with Montgomery County, Maryland. – March 21, 2011
- UPDATE: Marc Bashoor new Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department chief. Read letter to PGFD employees & volunteers. – December 6, 2010
- The Washington Post looks at fire commission battles in two Maryland counties. The latest from Montgomery & Prince George’s. – September 27, 2011
- Frederick, Maryland firefighter accused of trying to set seriously ill ATF agent’s home on fire. Police say Independent Hose volunteer claims he’s in love with the woman. – May 15, 2011
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Frederick County is getting an outstanding Fire Chief.
Good Luck Chief! Our loss is Frederick County’s gain.
I will second Joe’s comments. I wish Chief Owens all the best in his new position.
Frederick is not getting a Fire Chief. The County Division of Fire and Rescue is getting a Director. Fire Chief is not in the title.
Dave, when are you going to blow the case of Frederick county wide open? We need you.
As for the new Chief, congrats and GOOD LUCK!
I am will be one of many who will be calling him Chief. Go back to milking your cows.
Can’t wait for you to start, CHIEF
Fred— Fredericken is correct in his statement.
The lid needs to come off.For years the volly companies have been operating without reguard for the county taxpayer. Why, when many volly companies are offered new fire engines,amdulances and even rescue squads they say no because of the color? Why, must a volly company go out and buy a 2007/8 demo fire engine and the next year tell the county that they need another new fire engine when they only run approx. 500 calls per year. Why,are the tax payers forced to pay the insurance of volly units that the county never bought? Why, are vollys allowed to ride units to a call be counted as staffing for the emergency scene and then try to function above their certified skill level? why,are duty chiefs who are using county owned vehicles to go to work in other metro areas or when getting a haircut run all over the county for calls when they do not meet county standards. Some chiefs live 10 miles from their first due and run from the southern part of the county to frederick city to be on a call. The county needs to build a COUNTY BASED FIRE DEPT with a COUNTY FIRE CHIEF. This not a small town/county anymore.Ask your self this question. Why, do the volly companies go to the county and ask for more career FF/EMT/PM EVERY YEAR. ANSWER –vollys canot handle the operation any longer. Another question—What 24 hr staffed station in Frederick County can handle the station operation and calls without vollys–Answer–ALL OF THEM !!! The last report stated Career ff/EMT’s made 75.4% of all fire /rescue calls and 91 % of all EMS calls. I am a volly !!!
Well it has come time that the comm. relize that it is 2010. I live in an area that has full carrer staffing. But, they have to run the only nursing home near them because the comm. and vollies drew the line for the first due area no where close to straight just so they did not have to run out of the city to this one part of thier area. The company first due to my home has to run thru Company 3′s area to get to this nursing home, just because they are firemen only and can’t be bothered by EMS calls to a nursing home!!! Then the comm. are so out of touch with the fire service that they want to go backwards on how companys/stations get tax dollars!! All I ask is to let me pay my taxes to keep my all carrer station so when I or my family need help they will get it other then the EMS unit that has to cover station 3′s nursing home. Let something happen at my home and I find out the EMS unit was running that area $$$$
Good luck Chief!! We lost him to Fairfax City years ago. Not only the best I worked under, but a great person and friend. Frederick Co. Md has appointed the right person for the job. Chief Owens brings great ideas and great changes.