Today, I was proud to join members of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department and members of our community at Rocktobierfest to officially dedicate and place Ambulance 703 Bravo into service. This was more than the dedication of a new vehicle. It was the continuation of a remarkable tradition of emergency medical service in Rockville.

RVFD placed its first ambulance into service in 1950. More than 75 years later, and as the Department celebrates its 105th year serving our community, Ambulance 703 Bravo is now ready to answer its first call.

The new ambulance is a 2024 Ford F-550 with a Horton custom ambulance body and incorporates modern technology designed to improve safety and patient care. Most importantly, it provides RVFD with another modern and reliable emergency response vehicle to serve Rockville residents when they need help.

I was particularly thrilled that the City of Rockville played such a significant role in making Ambulance 703 Bravo possible. The City provided $250,000 toward the new ambulance, reflecting a much broader strengthening of Rockville’s partnership with the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department over the past several years.

When I joined the Council, City support for the Rockville Volunteer Fire had been relatively limited. During the three preceding fiscal years (FY2022 through FY2024), Rockville provided a grand total of $30,000, only $10,000 each year for reimbursement of water expenses.

Since then, the Mayor and Council have significantly increased that commitment. For the past three fiscal years (FY2025 through FY2027), we have provided $439,000 in direct support for RVFD. Much of that increased funding has gone directly toward emergency vehicle needs, including the $250,000 contribution in FY2026 that helped put Ambulance 703 Bravo into service today.

Specifically, Rockville has provided more than 14 times as much support to RVFD during the past three budget years as during the three years immediately before I joined the Council.

I am proud to have strongly supported these increases. Supporting our public safety personnel was one of my priorities when I sought a seat on the City Council, and it has remained one of my priorities since taking office. I believe that commitment should be reflected not simply in what we say, but in the budgets we adopt and the equipment and resources we help put into service.

When someone calls 911, we need to make sure our first responders have the personnel, equipment and resources necessary to answer that call. RVFD has served Rockville for more than a century, and its members provide an essential service to our community every day.

Our partnership also extends beyond this new ambulance. The City continues to work with RVFD on its vehicle and equipment needs and on planning related to the future relocation of Station 3.

One of my favorite moments today came at the conclusion of the dedication, when RVFD Deputy Chief Hinde made the official call:

And with that call around 2:30 pm, Ambulance 703 Bravo officially entered service for the Rockville community!

Thank you to everyone at the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service for the work you do every day. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the partnership between RVFD and the City of Rockville and making sure our first responders always have the support and resources they need to keep our community safe.