Kent County Chiefs Association

By-Laws, S.O.G.’s & S.O.P.’s

Subject: Self-Dispatching Policy

S.O.G. 1-1-33

Approved

October 2026

Approved by: James L. Price, Jr.

Revised

I.                    Purpose and Scope

This policy establishes the operational, legal, and safety guidelines for Company’s and/or Departments who encounter or chose to respond to an emergency incident for which they have not been formally dispatched by Kent County Office of Emergency Service Dispatch Center.  This applies to all Kent County Fire/Rescue/EMS Company’s and/or Departments and all out of county or state Fire/Rescue/EMS Company’s and/or Departments.

II.                Policy Directives

1. No Fire or EMS apparatus shall self-dispatch or respond to any incident without explicit authorization from the home company or departments Officer in Charge or the Kent County Office of Emergency Services Dispatch Center.

1.  When the company or department apparatus make a response, contact them via

   radio with the following information;

a.   Company or Department Name

b.  What unit is staffed – a minimum crew of 3 personnel with at least 2 qualified interior firefighters.

c.   And where is the unit responding from – station or specific location

2.  If the home company or department has not made a response in a reasonable

   amount of time, 8-minute response check, the staffed company or department may

   contact Kent County Office of Emergency Services Dispatch Center via radio

   with the same information above.

a.   DO NOT CONTACT Kent County Office of Emergency Dispatch Center via phone.

2. Shall the Officer in Charge or Kent County Office of Emergency Services Dispatch Center inform you to respond, do so using safe-driving practices and compliance with State of Maryland Fire Law regulations.

III.              Liability and Accountability

1. Companies or Departments that respond without authorization assume civil and legal liability.

2. Failure to follow notification and deployment procedures may result in disciplinary actions

IV.              Exceptions

1. If your company or department was dispatched on the initial emergency and your company or department is staffed with more apparatus than what was dispatched, those units do not need to ask to respond.  However, these units shall be staffed with a minimum crew of 3 with 2 qualified interior firefighters.

1.  Engine Tanker acting as a Tanker only may respond without the minimum crew.

2. Notify Kent County Office of Emergency Service Dispatch Center to put you on the call.

1.  Example – Engine 1 to Kent put us on the Fire Box located at (address) with a

   crew of 4.

Betterton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Renny Grapes

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief John Darling

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Community Volunteer Fire Company of Millington, Inc.

Chief Vince Baxter

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Galena Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Jeffrey R. Haley

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

Chief James L. Price, Jr.

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Inc.

Chief Jason Lobley

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.

Chief Mike Pinder

YES      NO      NOT PRESENT

Kent County Emergency Service Board

Chair Lynn Sutton

Submitted for Emergency Service Board Approval on __November 2nd, 2026____________

Compliance Date _____December 1st, 2026_____________________________________