Community Involvement

The Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters hosted their Second Annual Italian Dinner to benefit the Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters Widows and Orphans Fund on January 31. The sell out crowd once again enjoyed the homemade cuisine prepared by our very own “Chef Advil”, President Joe Addivinola.

The guests were in for another treat, for they were the first to learn of the creation of the Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation, which will provide emergency assistance and charitable support to the victims of fire, disasters, and tragedies in Anne Arundel County Maryland as well as support for Fire Fighters who are injured or who perish while serving the community.

Sadly, over the last three years we have lost four members of our department. A fire fighter was recently significantly injured, spending weeks at Shock Trauma with a traumatic brain injury from which he is still recovering.

“We’ve been doing this great work all along,” said IAFF Local 1563 President Joe Addivinola. “We are excited to have this new vehicle to help us raise awareness and further our work in support of the Anne Arundel County community.”

Kicking off Fire Safety Month, in October Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters and Best Buddies Maryland annually host a “Fire Fighter for a Day” event for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Anne Arundel County Fire Department Training Academy. The event emphasizes the importance of Fire Safety, while also preparing and empowering these students with the skills and knowledge to know what to do to stay safe and manage an emergency.

Fifteen Professional Fire Fighters from Local 1563 and ten Best Buddies participants from Anne Arundel County area schools experience what it is like to be a Fire Fighter in a safe and fun learning environment. Activities include dressing in protective gear, spraying water at a prop from a booster hose line, riding in a fire engine around the academy grounds, talking on a fire radio, and participating in rescue of a lightweight prop from a non-dangerous staged scenario.

Throughout the course of the day, Best Buddies participants will be developing stronger relationships with their local Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters and will leave with specific instructions on how to stay safe and manage an emergency.

The IAFF Local 1563’s Burn Foundation is dedicated to burn prevention and education, burn research, and improving the quality of life for burn survivors. This tax exempt, non-profit organization takes a total approach to burn injuries, encompassing prevention, treatment, research and support for burn survivors. The Burn Foundation also provides funding and assistance for adult burn survivor retreats, educational workshops for burn camp directors and counselors, burn prevention and education materials, and direct financial assistance to regional burn camps and other burn-related activities, based on need.

Breast Cancer Awareness
IAFF Local 1563 Members support Breast Cancer for many reasons – often it’s because they have been personally affected by the disease. Breast Cancer is a recognized occupational cancer for fire fighters. In addition to fighting fires, our members sport the color pink throughout October in efforts to fight breast and other cancers.

Men’s Cancer Awareness
Professional Fire Fighters are disproportionately affected by a variety of diseases, including Men’s Cancer. Every November, Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters design and sell tee shirts to raise money for Men’s Cancer research and support. This initiative, the first of its kind in the fire community, was originally put into action by Anne Arundel County Fire Fighter Mike Hertz.

Fired Up for Childhood Cancer Awareness Super Hero Family Day
IAFF Local 1563 proudly supported our members in their creation of this free family event which raised awareness for childhood cancer as well as funds for local childhood cancer support groups. This event is hosted by Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters, in collaboration with Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Department, BWI Professional Fire Fighters, Anne Arundel County Police, Annapolis City Fire Department, and others to bring awareness to childhood cancer and support Anne Arundel County’s true bravest, our children fighting cancer.

Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of injuries among young children in Anne Arundel County. Using your child’s car safety seat correctly helps reduce motor vehicle injuries and death. Below are some quick check tips, a list of inspection sites in Anne Arundel County and links to other sites providing more information.

Effective April 20th, 2017, every Anne Arundel County Fire Station will be a designated as a safe environment for individuals looking for assistance to start their path to recovery from heroin/opioid addiction. Anne Arundel County residents struggling with heroin or opioid addiction can go to an Anne Arundel County Fire Station where they will be assisted in obtaining the necessary detoxification resources.

Every day in the United States 1,500 homes catch on fire. Each year 4,500 people die and 280, 000 are injured in residential fires. Most fire deaths occur at night, while everyone is asleep.

The Fire Department, through a partnership with the Anne Arundel Fire Safety Foundation, can provide assistance to any citizen that cannot afford to purchase a fire alarm or needs help installing one. If you have any questions about smoke alarms or need assistance call phone number/person for help.

Proper Maintenance:

• Check the power supply once a month by pressing the test button.
• Change the battery at least once a year.
• Remove cobwebs, insect, or dust by vacuuming at least every six months.
• Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years. Smoke alarms should also be replaced when they beep periodically and cannot be corrected by replacing the battery or vacuuming to remove the dust and cobwebs.