Why Donations Matter

The Crisfield Fire Department is committed to delivering quality emergency services to the residents of Crisfield, as well as providing assistance to neighboring communities when needed. Our team responds to emergencies on both land and water, serving as the primary search and rescue agency for the waters off Crisfield and supporting operations on Smith Island.

Our department is comprised of dedicated men and women who devote significant time away from their homes and families. Beyond emergency responses, our volunteers are responsible for fundraising, ongoing training, attending meetings, and maintaining the fire station. For every hour invested in fire-related calls, our volunteers spend twice as many hours raising funds to support the department.

We serve within Somerset County, where funding levels are approximately seventy-five percent lower than those in neighboring Wicomico and Worcester Counties. Although our operational costs mirror those of nearby departments, these funding challenges make it increasingly difficult to replace essential fire apparatus. Routine expenses such as maintenance, fuel, repairs, and payments for our tanker quickly consume the annual budget allocation.

According to current standards, our aerial truck, built in 1988, is now 38 years old, and our rescue engine, manufactured in 1996, has been in service for 30 years. Both are overdue for replacement. These vehicles lack air conditioning, which exposes firefighters to excessive heat during the summer months. Wearing heavy protective gear and breathing equipment in such conditions increases the risk of exhaustion before crews even arrive at a fire scene.

Our main engine, produced in 2003, is now 23 years old. Its modular command system requires frequent repairs and maintenance, resulting in multiple service interruptions each year and costly fixes. Most volunteer departments replace their apparatus when equipment reaches 30 years of age due to maintenance challenges and part shortages. The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacement at 25 years.

We have established a truck committee to address these equipment needs, but restricted funding makes the purchase of essential vehicles nearly impossible. The cost of a new fire engine is one million dollars, while an aerial truck can cost up to two and a half million dollars, and a rescue engine is priced at one and a half million dollars. These figures do not include the cost of necessary equipment. While grants are available, competition for these funds is intense, with limited national resources and many departments applying. In Maryland, public safety rarely receives top funding priority; most support comes as loans rather than direct aid. The annual payment for a new fire engine would nearly equal our entire annual budget, making such an investment impractical. Delivery times for new engines or aerial trucks currently range from four to five years, which may also increase overall costs.

Despite continuous fundraising efforts, the funds raised fall short of what is required to cover these expenses. Additional support is needed, but its source is uncertain. Charitable organizations rarely prioritize public safety, and large-scale philanthropists generally operate on an invitation basis, with public safety falling outside their focus areas.

Every donation we receive goes directly to sustaining our fire department and ensuring our readiness to respond to emergency calls. We serve our community not only through emergency responses and fire prevention but also by taking part in local events, including the high school seniors’ graduation parade and supporting various community initiatives. Contributions as small as five dollars help to sustain our operations. The Crisfield Fire Department is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax deductible with automatic receipts issued for tax purposes.