[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6221535,"mediaKeyId","3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1","parentId",3612546,"title","Baltimore 911 describes geofencing, cloud telephony and AI tools as part of modernization; center reports full staffing","audioSeconds",405,"startMs",9824270,"endMs",10230000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1&start=9824&end=10230","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1/thumbnail_9824270.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221535/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Baltimore-911-describes-geofencing-cloud-telephony-and-AI-tools-as-part-of-modernization-center-reports-full-staffing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221535-72f4b59adcfca0ddedeb1c153731560e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832732&Signature=jJZlkvt7prUksIAcRWWpcxzHMM3jHlaKnqqlORrUA2DRVXSzYI6B1U~n-IpD~z6Gj5kKVhSVHWBG7zIs~ME5dF7z89LzjpvJJcCc28f5rdJerVv-KqN8pzjVNfp9vKNOI5vPUOILmsAESF43tCDuV2Nh-8rSd0Oj5cnrhcx7XMQ9PTHBpYDtG19CH55~7Y2g1zxzhvkp9cd581JFSKfBPzkiN0o~qCDu2V0kHE6aIjw8Qrwj0yESm1A-lVSeBsd3QPGlpXabCJ-sWm1fV7kHOzcu~CPkaL81JLJRM4F3EiRJNFtz3ddRYs01Ta461dvnqfDPWZo~lHEA57nb97cSpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Baltimore, MD","date","2025-05-30T02:36:18Z","article","Tania Reddick, director of Baltimore City 911, described recent technology upgrades and operational changes and said the center is largely staffed after a focused recruitment push.

Technology and event operations: Reddick described a geofencing deployment used at Artscape that divided the event into seven zones so call takers assigned to the event could receive calls in a focused footprint; the city used remote stations in the Emergency Operations Center during Artscape and said the approach allowed event calls to be routed to dedicated staff. She described a cloud‑based phone system (part of NextGen 911 migration steps) that the center moved to in 2024 and said the cloud/IP architecture improves location accuracy and resilience.

AI, language access and video: Reddick said the 911 center is experimenting with AI‑driven phone transcription, radio‑text tools and translation services and is preparing to pilot video contacts for American Sign Language (ASL) and other non‑English communications. She said the center also uses bots to triage non‑emergency traffic during high call volume to preserve call‑taker availability.

Staffing and partnerships: Reddick and the CAO noted the center has benefitted from targeted recruitment partnerships with Baltimore City Public Schools and other community outreach and that center staffing levels are now described as close to full. The CAO said the administration is exploring a unified communications office to bring 311 and 911 closer for improved operational alignment.

Next steps: Reddick said the city is pursuing federal and state funding to upgrade computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) and that the department is exploring how to braid funding sources and capital plan investments to support a CAD replacement in the coming years.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Hearing: FY2026 Budget – OEM/BCFD; May 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Director Tania Reddick said Baltimore’s 911 center is adopting geofencing, cloud phone infrastructure, AI transcription/translation tools and is planning ASL video contacts; she reported that the center is near or at full staffing following recruitment partnerships with city schools.","taxTitle","Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Maryland","taxId",4816,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221540,"BCFD’s leave‑behind Narcan program reports large distribution and reduced calls, officials say",234,6375135,6610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1&start=6375&end=6610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1/thumbnail_6375135.jpg","/articles/6221540/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/BCFDs-leavebehind-Narcan-program-reports-large-distribution-and-reduced-calls-officials-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221540-f54c539e339202374beed377d730f1ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832732&Signature=F5kCPYyJRTSXEvdogMB7R5PB-5nQdM5nsfpsH-p8ib5UAVuMsAKMW0W-ID8dyt7IGHUcvMPDg0BK1OgEIVfkVzxKCdUB4su50GaLd4kOu~mB0h7lZ-FTpFucvXt-0jH9xkWJquIVH0f~xfrRBzkZQd90vspZ-F3Ac--7uo6LW4qFPhobB~mg4MdLSRJs-1UN1Hn-e1CPPhvJdaqboNgaFX0KGVxlWQyF26kerKj~KmJ7bsj8dUvtgUS3XyzRs024i8fB5bEG4rG4cyXdwEOQy~YF6j5LZMKmIHmRyAp0UtReFuDsu9WCYv4xPOH~ixF0LK3ZWMmrijuWZEbCx7NHDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant Chief of EMS James Matts told the committee the department’s ‘leave‑behind’ naloxone program has distributed tens of thousands of doses and that the initiative has been associated with a decline in some overdose calls.

Program performance and supplies: Matts said the department’s leave‑behind program had distributed 15,290 naloxone kits (about 30,000 doses) as of a recent week; earlier figures shown during questioning referenced 9,324 kits in reporting year targets. Matts said the program had also left fentanyl and xylazine test strips, wound‑care kits, and other resources in the community and that outreach workers have connected people to treatment: Matts reported 722 people placed into treatment through outreach team efforts.

Operational impact: Matts described the program as reducing some EMS call volume for overdoses. In testimony he said, “We've calculated last year roughly, 29, 20 8, 20 9 percent reduction in those calls,” language he used to describe a measurable decline in overdose-related dispatches; he linked that result to naloxone distribution and community engagement. The department said that intranasal naloxone used in leave‑behind kits is provided under an ORP framework and that the state supplies many of those kits; BCFD supplies paramedic-level injectable blood products and other clinical tools are under active consideration and cost review.

Context and next steps: Chief Wallace and Matts said the leave‑behind program is part of a broader population‑health strategy that includes Narcan distribution, wound care and referrals to treatment. The department is pursuing grants and restitution funds (opioid‑related settlement dollars) to support expanded community health interventions and said continued partnerships will be needed to convert outreach success into sustained treatment access.","Assistant Chief James Matts and BCFD leaders described a city leave‑behind Narcan program that has supplied thousands of naloxone kits to people in the community and said that increased distribution has contributed to reduced overdose call volume in recent reporting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221545,"Fire marshal launches website and third‑party pilot; council funds two new inspector positions",0,6164635,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1&start=6164&end=6164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1/thumbnail_6164635.jpg","/articles/6221545/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Fire-marshal-launches-website-and-thirdparty-pilot-council-funds-two-new-inspector-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221545-3fd84469b25cf5e0eb1f68091ec828f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832732&Signature=P5XvBNkUAE6BcK~oTzHSh~iE24Ed~3ChZJmooR~pU6F0x5w7lVpaNzlE4GMeJaCv-tvIKXnVTNozzjnY8d4nI4lewVEtmcqF8QyPCMcABa59qhFTwvDjAxYh-USwnFRya4EzlYkcc54sMtb2yB8M~YtJ0Umji-IuBVVpY4SGgmiVGfGKbif-SnM4pwjD7nJVkW0H-Xlk348mLVu48TMSfPSQ0LZoggnymzqe32uNWBEd2UwEzhd9tsExFgPDysz7SUSl2jdAs3InNXfjPu4yjPTMqqjK5lWBB1GF6QOWfN2MTMOeevEYlnYI6brrrEBKwpoO1Svw2ZhIgNFjSBMQ0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Captain Dennis Dawson and the fire‑marshal office described a new microsite and a limited third‑party plans‑review pilot designed to shorten turnaround for lower‑complexity permits, such as small sprinkler head relocations, alarm-device changes and kitchen hood systems.

What the pilot does: The pilot authorizes qualified third‑party reviewers (certified plans reviewers or fire‑protection engineers) to examine certain low‑complexity submissions so work can proceed more quickly; the fire marshal’s office retains final approval and performs an on‑site walkthrough inspection before final sign‑off. Department officials said the third‑party reviewer must provide certification numbers and meet minimum qualifications and that the customer, not the city, will pay the third‑party reviewer.

Staffing and budget: Chief Wallace and fire‑marshal leadership said the fire marshal’s office currently has 33 inspectors, that the FY26 budget includes $500,000 to expand capacity, and that the likely immediate step is to create two additional fire‑inspector positions (moving the inspector count to 35) while continuing to recruit and train civilian plans reviewers. Captain Dawson said the office is providing internal fire‑inspector and plans‑review training and expects improved throughput as staff and processes are adjusted.

Turnaround goals and checks: BCFD said the pilot aims for much quicker turnaround on specific low‑complexity plan sets — officials said they expect many of those to be reviewed and cleared within seven to 10 business days if the submission is complete — and emphasized that larger, complex projects will continue to receive full departmental review.

Why this matters: Councilmembers had previously criticized permitting delays; the department said this combination of additional staffing, targeted training, a new website to explain permit expectations, and a third‑party pilot is intended to reduce wait times and give contractors clearer instructions about filings and inspection workflows.

Next steps: The fire marshal’s office will evaluate the pilot, continue industry outreach, expand its trainings for internal reviewers and report on operational metrics as requested by the committee.","BCFD and the Office of the Fire Marshal began a soft launch of a new fire‑marshal microsite and a limited third‑party plan‑review pilot intended to speed low‑impact permits. Department leaders said $500,000 in the FY26 budget will be used to add roughly two inspector positions and expand plan‑review capacity.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221550,"Baltimore Fire Department cites staffing shortages, high overtime and a push for new recruitment and training pipelines",481,781820,1263000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1&start=781&end=1263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1/thumbnail_781820.jpg","/articles/6221550/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Baltimore-Fire-Department-cites-staffing-shortages-high-overtime-and-a-push-for-new-recruitment-and-training-pipelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221550-1a56b829bb6d78a5f56ba0b82ef795cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832732&Signature=NpEncTJXRqP-tP-vO~gxgy0vPCGVpj-OS5MT3uTCZTrJfU0ZhRlX7~us4FGqKWaCkpnVHj35FAuWuUQ5rYY9jXB0guEKViXM-Ry9al7kGRkUjZz67ACvnIEK7G5P9R3O7yAQqzrYSaewvDXWONeikRkPP5s1YO0IHLKJLFvZjOt-9x5MTGsvWAnHtHdGJj9Z7ABAiZKiucxjhFHsfpm9BgbI1u~Y9fFhPzqdIwdd634Vnc35D5RD4XZ2UhidUYjLayfgBoNESFkNTjEG4Bjz46lesY9VdcYDyNIF4mnoXQWd-mrvtllTFdu-dN7DqtgbDW8PgK6~FCLgQPZTbSYllQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department, outlined operational pressures and budget needs for FY26, saying the department requires minimum daily staffing of 242 suppression positions and 65 EMS field staff (307 total) to meet service obligations.

Why this matters: Wallace said the department dispatched more than 171,000 emergency calls between July 1, 2024 and May 1, 2025, and that EMS and paramedic shortages are contributing to sizable overtime expenditures. He described an example in which one paramedic’s aggregated pay reached $358,586 in a recent period, with about 68% of that compensation attributable to overtime; Wallace’s payroll records showed an average of 281 overtime hours per month for that member across an extended reporting window.

Recruitment and retention efforts: Wallace described new, on-the-street recruitment tactics — including QR codes placed on apparatus and used at community events and informal encounters — that produced more than 1,000 leads. He said the department has also expanded outreach to Baltimore City schools, youth programs and career‑pathway partnerships and is using a contracted testing vendor (NTN) to speed candidate processing. Dr. Shante Hart, the city’s chief administrative officer, described a YouthWorks‑based pilot that will place 30 students in the Fire Academy and five in the 911 center this summer; Hart said YouthWorks placements run July 7–August 8.

Paramedic training pipeline and apprenticeship questions: Councilmembers pressed the department on its public safety apprenticeship/cadet program created by ordinance in 2022 and on earlier budget years where the department reported funding but no enrolled cadets. Wallace said much of the initial work predated his tenure and that the CAO was reestablishing the program; Dr. Hart said the administration is restarting the effort with school-system and YouthWorks partnerships and will provide committee follow‑up on prior-year budgets and annual reports required by the ordinance.

Internal training and career paths: Chief Wallace, assistant EMS chief James Matts, and other BCFD leaders described efforts to expand internal paramedic training cohorts. Matts said paramedic education is now a multi‑year, college‑level curriculum (roughly 1,800 hours) and that cohorts are smaller than before the pandemic; he said the department has run cohorts that converted several EMTs to paramedic certifications but noted college scheduling and course availability make internal training complex and potentially costly if run by partner colleges.

Overtime controls and capacity: Wallace described a telestaff overtime assignment system that assigns overtime based on relative overtime buckets and availability; he said the department monitors overtime and seeks to reduce it through targeted recruitment, training cohorts, diversion programs (tele‑911, nurse triage) and 'chase car' pilots that keep paramedics available for high‑acuity calls. He emphasized the need for sustained recruitment and multi‑year planning to reduce overtime pressure.

What remains unresolved: Councilmembers requested data on recruitment leads that converted to applicants and hires, historical reports for the apprenticeship ordinance (FY23–FY25), and a timeline and scope for a prospective internal paramedic training program. Chief Wallace and the CAO agreed to follow up with the committee on those items.","Chief James Wallace told the council BCFD needs daily minimum staffing of 242 suppression and 65 EMS personnel (307 total), faces paramedic shortages that drive overtime, and is expanding recruitment and apprenticeship efforts including a YouthWorks cadet pilot tied to Baltimore City Public Schools.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221554,"Baltimore OEM Seeks $2.76 million as FEMA grant outlook remains unclear",330,28895,359870,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1&start=28&end=359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3612546-108daf213e6764a8a061a58c172b64a1/thumbnail_28895.jpg","/articles/6221554/Baltimore-City/Baltimore-County/Maryland/Baltimore-OEM-Seeks-276-million-as-FEMA-grant-outlook-remains-unclear","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221554-075b06ba9e983ffd5015d713f62834b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832732&Signature=a~pEc2bn2VUKbiUh2mFI5FSnuTPtZlJrTPGrGHE~xAAJaT1IMVOFSqxVxYom2LhblTi5LgRort6guy-ELXRKi5Hc6ID8JEyBXwyXAjSk-KRPV-gVS9wcPcEgzwGNAc-IplH0U1zKbCcrfMBJvGO1M6MIiI5ltn9kCIbH4UJFE9g-6b4yzogJC6Sw~hBem3Vjva2bYLbCNeM1FlrMQxGEcDhvyuGBFDk6DN3fmjUd5kW3yozC1M2Z0bg7tSC5nG09N8wyMBjVsgM-FHjwEMbPTXmt7h1Dq76JBaGtx6DSZLkPE6QtNeyy3pvHazP4sn0NI3oTzB4nRXBMzMf5q0rXWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Joey Henderson, director of the Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management, told the City Council that OEM is seeking $2,760,556 for fiscal year 2026 and that the office is preparing for potential federal funding reductions.

Henderson said OEM’s Emergency Operations Plan received the mayor’s approval and that the office ran or supported multiple preparedness exercises and community events in FY25, including severe-storm and extreme-heat tabletop exercises, a cybersecurity exercise, Artscape storm response planning, and community outreach during National Preparedness Month. He said OEM certified more than 90 Community Emergency Response Team members in the fiscal year and activated the city Emergency Operations Center 25 times for incidents, events and holidays.

Why this matters: Henderson told the council that OEM currently uses federal grant money to fund eight positions and is awaiting the FY25 FEMA Homeland Security grant notice of funding. He said FEMA’s leadership turnover and a late notice of available FY25 funds leave OEM uncertain when or whether those grants will arrive. Henderson said OEM has started discussions with the mayor’s office about possible general-fund backfill but warned that the department would have to cut staff if federal grants are eliminated. He said OEM presently has four unfilled positions; two are GSS‑2 roles he expects to combine into two GSS‑3 positions to improve recruitment.

Henderson also described operational and outreach work: coordinating continuity-of-operations plans with other city agencies, working with DHCD and Baltimore City Health Department to develop inclusive shelter plans (including pet accommodations), and using the BeMoreAlert mass‑notification system. He said OEM spent down federal FEMA grant funds this year and continues to promote registration for the Everbridge system at canvasses, senior events and community gatherings.

Council members asked how OEM would respond if FEMA funds were cut. Henderson said the administration has discussed contingencies with OEM; if FEMA funds are lost OEM would seek general‑fund support but may still need to eliminate some positions funded on grants. He also said FEMA’s FY25 announcement had been delayed beyond the dates the state expected and that any FY25 application window is likely to have a rapid turnaround.

What the materials show: Henderson delivered specific operational counts — EOC activations (25), more than 90 new CERT certifications, and a FY26 request of $2,760,556 — and described outreach and training work across the city. He repeatedly returned to the central point that OEM’s ability to sustain staff and programs depends on federal grant decisions and that local budget backfill is being discussed.

Looking ahead: Henderson said OEM will continue outreach and canvassing ahead of storm season, and the office will coordinate with the administration if FEMA funding is reduced. He closed by saying he is available to answer follow‑up questions and provide any additional details the committee requests.","Joey Henderson, director of Baltimore City’s Office of Emergency Management, asked the City Council for $2,760,556 for FY26 and warned that uncertainty around FY25 FEMA homeland-security grants could force staff cuts if federal funding is not available.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Baltimore 911 describes geofencing, cloud telephony and AI tools as part of modernization; center reports full staffing

BCFD’s leave‑behind Narcan program reports large distribution and reduced calls, officials say

Fire marshal launches website and third‑party pilot; council funds two new inspector positions

Baltimore Fire Department cites staffing shortages, high overtime and a push for new recruitment and training pipelines

Baltimore OEM Seeks $2.76 million as FEMA grant outlook remains unclear