Division Chief Charles Bailey has been nominated to be the next fire chief for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services.
The division chief has been with the department for over 30 years serving in multiple roles including as the division chief of operations and as a member of the hazardous materials team, according to Public Information Officer Pete Piringer.
Bailey led the department’s efforts in response to COVID-19 in 2020, Piringer said. These efforts included the department helping to operate the first testing sites in the county and later, Piringer said.
“He’s nationally, internationally respected for a number of things,” Piringer said in an interview with MCM. “He’s very visionary in a lot of aspects of firefighting and particularly medical response.”
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard worked with Bailey through a number of serious incidents as well as the challenges posed by Ebola, Zika and COVID-19, in a X post.
“Charles is one of the smartest practitioners I have worked with,” Stoddard wrote. “Chief Bailey’s understanding of the intersection between the fire service, public health, equity and innovation are impressive.”
The fire chief position has been open since former Chief Scott Goldstein retired July 1. John Kinsley is serving as the interim fire chief.
County Executive Marc Elrich nominated Bailey. The Montgomery County Council will vote to confirm or deny the appointment in the the next few weeks, according to Piringer.
I have worked with Chief Bailey for a long time through a number of serious incidents as well as the challenges posed by Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19. Charles is one of the smartest practitioners I have worked with. (1/2) https://t.co/SP8eKSKVwL
— Earl Stoddard PhD, MPH, CEM (@EarlStoddard) November 17, 2023
