The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has changed many, many things in everyone’s lives. One thing that hasn’t changed is that your West Friendship VFD First Responders (Volunteer and Career) are still here for you whenever you need us, day or night. The West Friendship VFD is a combination fire department, relying on a mix of career and volunteer staffing. Our volunteer members are continuing to report for their assigned Duty Crew shifts at night, and many who are now not working during the day are making themselves available to respond from home for emergencies. To be sure, we are all taking extra precautions for your safety and ours during the COVID-19 outbreak, but we are here for you and will remain here for you when you need us, no matter what.

So what’s important for you to do during this crisis? Here are some suggestions:

Follow Governor Hogan’s directives for social distancing, avoiding non-essential interaction with others, biological cleansing, etc…. Maryland has been ranked #3 in the country in terms of the strength of the State’s response to COVID-19, but what makes that work for everyone is personal compliance with the Governor’s directives.

If you need emergency assistance of any type, please don’t hesitate to call 911 out of fear that you might pass something to us or we might pass COVID along to you. Howard County Fire and Rescue has and will continue to enact and refine procedures that protect all of us to the best of our collective abilities. But an emergency is still an emergency, and we are here to respond just as we’ve always been.

If you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, or you are exhibiting symptoms that may indicate contraction of the virus, please share that information with the 911 call-taker. The added safety precautions that benefit everyone kick in as soon as there is a hint of a reason to suspect COVID-19 as a possible concern. That applies not only to EMS-related emergencies, but also to Fire calls and calls for public service.

Stay home, stay safe, and stay confident in the knowledge that the West Friendship VFD and Howard County Fire & Rescue are here should you need us.

President Tim Titcomb
Fire Chief Mark Miller