Credit – Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department
WALDORF, Md. — Tributes are being shared across Southern Maryland following the death of Past Fire Chief Dan Stevens, a longtime leader of the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department who died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.
Stevens joined the fire service in 1975 and went on to serve as Waldorf’s Fire Chief for 22 years before stepping down earlier this summer. Colleagues said his leadership shaped the county’s fire and rescue system for decades.
“Firefighting is in my blood,” Stevens once said with a smile — a reflection of the passion that guided his service.
A lifelong resident of Southern Maryland, Stevens began volunteering as a teenager with the Lexington Park Volunteer Fire Department, where his late father, Robert Stevens, also served. He later became a central figure in Waldorf, overseeing major growth that included the construction of Fire and EMS Station 12 in Westlake.
In addition to his role as chief, Stevens spent more than 25 years as an instructor with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, helping to launch its cadet program to prepare future firefighters and EMTs. He also served on state and local boards, where he influenced training and safety standards across Maryland.
Over his career, Stevens earned numerous honors, including Firefighter of the Year in Waldorf on multiple occasions, induction into the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame in 1996, and national recognition from the National Volunteer Fire Council in 2001.
Outside of the fire service, Stevens worked for 33 years as an international tobacco economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Friends and family described him as deeply committed to balancing professional life, volunteer service, and family.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbi, who served as treasurer of the fire company, and their sons, Matthew and Philip, both active volunteers with Waldorf VFD. Matthew currently serves as vice president, and his wife, Jennifer, as treasurer.
Charles County Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II ordered county flags to be lowered to half-staff in Stevens’ honor. Fire Chief Jenkins also approved mourning bunting and badge shrouds at stations across the county.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
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