Odenton Volunteer Fire Company Fire and EMS operations are conducted by members of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (OVFC) primarily in the communities of Odenton and Severn, Maryland. Mutual Aid assistance is provided as needed. The Anne Arundel County Fire Department has established a “First Due” area for the OVFC. Within this area, smaller subdivisions, known as “boxes,” are established to aid in incident location and coordination. For example, the fire station is located in the Box Area 28-8.
Anne Arundel County uses an enhanced 911 system, which provides for all emergency calls to be received at a central location. 911 calls in the county are routed to calltakers and dispatchers at the county public safety headquarters in Millersville, MD. Our station receives the call by radio and a station printer. Designated crews respond to the incident as required.
The AACO Fire Department maintains a database of trained and certified responders. Only those individuals listed in the database are legally authorized to ride fire or EMS apparatus in the county.
As a Volunteer organization, the OVFC cannot compel its members to work any specified number of hours per week. However, we do strongly encourage at least one 12-hour shift per week. We recognize the demands of families and careers, and we are flexible in accommodating volunteers’ requirements.
At present, there are five county-employed career firefighters assigned to Company 28. Volunteer members may come to work at the station at any time their schedule permits. We have been successful in operating volunteer crews by encouraging members to select a regular “duty night” every week. Crews then sleep over and staff the equipment as required, along with a career driver. The station is equipped with both male and female bunkrooms. This system, while not mandatory, has provided all members with an opportunity to participate while keeping the level of service to the community very high.
