Washington County Division of Emergency Services

08/28/2026

The Washington County Division of Emergency Services and Division of Emergency Management and Communications are advising motorists that the 3300 block of Limekiln Road is closed following an incident this morning that caused significant damage to the roadway. Both ends of the road will remain open to local traffic, allowing residents to access their homes.

At approximately 9:27 a.m., a garbage truck left the roadway and traveled approximately 150 feet off the road, resulting in damage to Limekiln Road.

The road will remain closed until repairs can be completed and the roadway is determined to be safe for travel.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use an alternate route. Local residents may access their homes from either end of the road. Additional information will be provided when the roadway is reopened.

The Washington County Division of Emergency Services and Division of Emergency Management and Communications appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation while crews work to address the roadway damage.

To read the full release, visit https://conta.cc/4gBvQzA

08/26/2026

The Washington County Division of Emergency Services (DES) congratulates Preston Johnson and Colton Hartman on their promotions to Lieutenant (EMS).

Division staff, family members, and co-workers gathered to celebrate the two Emergency Medical Service (EMS) professionals and recognize their hard work and dedication leading to this well-earned achievement.

Following their promotions, Lt. Johnson will serve on A Shift at Station 26, while Lt. Hartman will serve on B Shift at Station 26.

Please join the Washington County Division of Emergency Services in congratulating Lt. Johnson and Lt. Hartman on their promotions and wishing them continued success in their new roles.

To read the full release, visit https://conta.cc/45PdNAU

08/25/2026

Washington County is hiring full-time Paramedic’s and Emergency Medical Technician’s.

Looking for a rewarding career? Here's what you can expect in your first year with Washington County Government:

Paramedics (Single-Role) - $23.79 per hour, with overtime eligibility after 40 hours (2,496 hr. work schedule)
$59,380 Annually based on a 2496 work schedule,

Emergency Medical Technicians (Single-Role) - $20.58 per hour, with overtime eligibility after 40 hours (2,496 hr. work schedule)
$51,867 Annually, based on 2496 work schedule.

♦️ 60 hours Paid Personal Time Off
♦️ 96 hours Paid Vacation
♦️ 120 hours Paid Sick Leave
♦️ County-funded healthcare, life insurance, disability coverage,
and more!

Ready to serve your community? Apply today and kick-start your career!

📅 Deadline: September 4th at 4:00 p.m.
🔗 Apply here: https://www.washco-md.net/jobs/

08/19/2026

🚒 Training today could make all the difference when seconds count.

Washington County Division of Emergency Services and Hagerstown Fire Department continue hands-on Collapse Rescue training, focusing on breeching and breaking techniques, saw operations, and equipment overviews and refreshers.

During a structural collapse, rescuers may need to breach or break through walls, floors, concrete or other materials to reach and safely extricate victims. Regular training ensures our responders are prepared to use the right tools and techniques when faced with these challenging conditions.

This ongoing training helps keep our teams prepared, coordinated and ready to respond when our community needs them most. 💪🚒

08/13/2026

Thank you to National Education Center for Agricultural Safety for providing Grain Bin Rescue Training to the recruits at the Public Safety Training Center today.

Grain bin emergencies present unique challenges, and hands-on training like this helps keep our firefighters prepared to respond safely and effectively when called upon.

08/05/2026

08/04/2026

Leadership from the Washington County Division of Emergency Services (DES) participated in the Structural Fire Staff Ride presented by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and hosted by the Frederick County (MD) Fire & Rescue (DFRS).

The educational program examined the line-of-duty death of Captain Joshua Laird, who lost his life on August 11, 2021, while operating at a large single-family dwelling fire involving corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST). Through a detailed analysis of the incident, participants explored fire behavior, operational challenges, command decision-making, tactical considerations, and the critical lessons learned from the tragedy.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Staff Ride Program is a nationally recognized training initiative that uses significant fire service incidents to promote leadership development, operational excellence, and firefighter safety. By studying real-world events, fire service leaders gain valuable insights that can be applied to strengthen emergency response and reduce future risks.

To read the full release, visit https://conta.cc/4wEVoTf

07/24/2026

Behind every emergency response is hours of training and dedication.

Last week, the Washington County Division of Emergency Services conducted Fire Apparatus Operator (FAO) field testing for candidates working to become cleared Fire Apparatus Operators. After completing the required training, each candidate was evaluated through multiple practical evolutions to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to safely operate fire apparatus in the field.

Congratulations to all of the candidates for their hard work and commitment to serving our community. Continuous training helps ensure our personnel are ready when you need them most.

07/23/2026

The Washington County Division of Emergency Services recently partnered with the Hagerstown Fire Department for a hands-on Technical Rescue Operations training focused on collapse rescue.

Over the course of three days, crews from all shifts trained on critical rescue techniques, including lifting and moving concrete, Paratech and wood shoring, and metal cutting. The training emphasized site and scene safety while giving personnel the opportunity to sharpen the specialized skills needed for complex structural collapse incidents.

By training together, the Division of Emergency Services and the Hagerstown Fire Department continue to strengthen their coordination and preparedness, ensuring they are ready to respond when our community needs them most.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this important training.