Baltimore County to Add 12 New Fire Battalion Chiefs

Funding for additional leadership roles included in proposed 2027 budget

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:35pm

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A serene, nostalgic painting of a lone fire engine parked outside a traditional brick fire station, the vehicle and building bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of civic duty and community service.The proposed funding for new fire battalion chiefs aims to strengthen emergency response capabilities across Baltimore County.Baltimore Today

Baltimore County leaders have announced that the proposed 2027 budget will include funding for 12 additional fire battalion chief positions, doubling the current number. The new roles are intended to provide more support and leadership for the growing county's fire department, which has been stretched thin in recent years.

Why it matters

The addition of these new battalion chief positions is expected to improve emergency response times and allow the fire department to better prioritize life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation across the county's diverse communities.

The details

The budget proposal, which will be formally introduced on Thursday, allocates millions of dollars to add the 12 new battalion chief roles. According to Fire Chief Joseph Dixon, the department currently has six command officers on duty each day, and the new positions will allow them to better focus on their key priorities for every emergency situation.

  • The proposed 2027 budget will be formally introduced on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • The 12 new battalion chief positions would be added as part of the 2027 fiscal year budget.

The players

Kathy Klausmeier

Baltimore County Executive who announced the proposed budget increase for the fire department.

Joseph Dixon

Baltimore County Fire Chief who discussed the need for additional leadership roles to support the growing department.

Mike Ertel

Baltimore County Council Chair who emphasized the importance of quicker emergency response times across the county.

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What they’re saying

“These battalion chiefs will make Baltimore County safer and help our first responders continue to do what they do best — save lives.”

— Kathy Klausmeier, Baltimore County Executive

“We can all rest a bit easier at night, knowing that we are better prepared to meet the ever-increasing call volume and incident complexity.”

— Joseph Dixon, Baltimore County Fire Chief

“A battalion chief might be in Catonsville and has to be in Reisterstown, which doesn't sound like that far, but it's 24 minutes and could be longer depending on what time of day it is.”

— Mike Ertel, Baltimore County Council Chair

What’s next

The proposed 2027 budget, including the funding for the 12 new fire battalion chief positions, will be formally introduced to the Baltimore County Council on Thursday, April 17, 2026. The council will then review and vote on the budget in the coming months.

The takeaway

This investment in additional fire department leadership roles demonstrates Baltimore County's commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness as the region continues to grow. The new battalion chiefs are expected to improve response times and allow the fire department to better prioritize its core responsibilities of saving lives, stabilizing incidents, and protecting property.