Volunteer Fire Departments and Rescue Squads throughout the county are openingtheir doors on Sunday, April 10 for “Recruit St. Mary’s.”
 
The Volunteer Fire/EMS Service in St. Mary’s County has many key volunteer positions
open for citizens. On Sunday, April 10, 2011 between 1:00 and 4:00 PM, Volunteer Fire
Departments and Rescue Squads will join volunteer fire departments all across the state at their
respective firehouses for a unified recruitment drive, as part of National Volunteer Week 2011.
Not only will Recruit St. Mary’s be an opportunity to highlight the duties and rewards that come
with being a volunteer firefighter, it will also raise public awareness about the need for
volunteers.
 
“Join us for this unique recruitment day at your community fire departments and rescue
squads,” said Francis Jack Russell, president, Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary’s
County. “This is a great opportunity to observe the exciting tasks of a firefighter. Our current
volunteers love what they do; they are everyday heroes who help neighbors in need. We hope
our recruitment day will inspire other area residents to join our fire service family.”
 
Throughout the day, community fire departments will conduct tours of the station and
firefighter apparatus, allow visitors to try on gear, and provide activities and stations throughout
the firehouse for the whole family. The fire department will discuss the requirements to be a
volunteer, as well as conduct demonstrations, answer questions, and let visitors know how to
get involved.
 
To view a list of the fire departments and rescue squads in St. Mary’s County, log on to
the county’s website at www.stmarysmd.com. Find Public Safety Department under the
Departments pull down box, then click on Emergency Services.
 
Volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel do important and challenging work for the pure
satisfaction of helping others. They are essential for a number of reasons, including the fact that
volunteers live in the communities in which they serve which enhances response times, and
they save taxpayers millions of dollars every year.