By Karen Bune
for LawOfficer.com

The usual perception of a Fire/EMS Department is one comprised of professional firefighters riding fire trucks and putting out fires coupled with medics riding ambulances and providing emergency medical service. Although firefighters and medics often find themselves together on the scene of a traffic accident or summoned by police to a call for service where victims of crime may be injured, most don’t realize that some Fire/EMS departments have professionals on board who are actually performing law enforcement duties. One such department is the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department in Prince George’s County, Md.

Within the department, the Office of the Fire Marshall exists under the Special Operations Division under the leadership of Lt. Col. Scott Hoglander. Under Lt. Col. Hoglander, the unit is comprised of a battalion chief, two captains, four lieutenants, four fire investigators, a firefighter and three civilians.  The three components include fire and arson investigations, fire prevention code enforcement and a bomb squad.

“The personnel assigned to the Office of the Fire Marshal are some of the most dedicated employees within the Fire/EMS Department,” says Acting Battalion Chief Paul Gomez. “Their commitment to the job is unrelenting.”

Read the full article here.