Hagerstown Professional Fire Fighters Local 1605

Multiple Major Incidents Across Washington County

Emergency personnel are currently operating at several significant incidents throughout the county:

House Fire – Garis Shop Road (10 Box Area)
Firefighters are on scene working a residential structure fire.

Propane Leak – Clear Spring (4 Box Area)
Crews are operating at the scene of an outside propane leak and working to mitigate the hazard.

Tractor Trailer Rollover – Hancock (5 Box Area) I68 Westbound at the 72 Mile Marker Emergency crews are on scene of a tractor-trailer rollover. Expect delays and use caution while traveling through the area.

Please avoid these areas if possible to allow first responders room to work safely. As always, slow down and move over when approaching emergency vehicles.

During the month of June 2026, crews across Hagerstown and Washington County responded to 3,510 total Fire/EMS incidents.

812 Fire Responses
44 Reported Structure Fires
211 Reported Vehicle Accidents
2,698 EMS Responses

🚨 **TODAY IS ELECTION DAY!** 🚨
The members of **IAFF Local 1605 – The Hagerstown Professional Firefighters** are proud to endorse:
✅ **Dan Young** for County Commissioner
✅ **Randy Leatherman** for County Commissioner
✅ **Jeff Cline** for County Commissioner
✅ **Dianna Palmer** for Maryland House of Delegates, District 2A

As Firefighters, Paramedics, and EMTs, our members respond every day when our community calls for help. Because of that responsibility, we take our political endorsements seriously—and we make them for one reason:

**To advocate for the safety of our communities and the well-being of the firefighters and EMS professionals who serve them.**

The IAFF and IAFF Local 1605 do not endorse candidates based on broad political ideologies or partisan talking points. We evaluate candidates through a very narrow lens: **Where do they stand on firefighter, EMS, and labor issues?**

Our Local will always support leaders who understand the importance of:

🔥 Strengthening fire and EMS services
🚑 Expanding emergency response capabilities
👨‍🚒 Enhancing operational staffing levels
⚖️ Protecting collective bargaining rights
💰 Preserving fair labor standards and overtime protections
📈 Ensuring pay fairness and equity for firefighters and EMS clinicians
🏛️ Funding first responder initiatives and public safety programs
❤️ Protecting and expanding healthcare benefits for active and retired members

These principles are the foundation of our endorsement process. We support candidates who recognize that strong public safety systems require investment in the people who provide those services every day.

Today, **June 23, 2026**, voters will head to the polls for the Primary Election. We encourage everyone to make their voice heard and participate in the democratic process.

We look forward to seeing the results of tomorrow's election and continuing to engage with candidates who support the issues important to firefighters, EMS professionals, and working families. As we move toward the General Election in November, IAFF Local 1605 may consider additional endorsements based on those same core principles.

🗳️ **Election Day: Tuesday, June 23, 2026**

When it comes to protecting our communities and those who serve them, these are the candidates who have earned the support of IAFF Local 1605.

🚨 EARLY VOTING BEGINS JUNE 11 🚨

The Hagerstown Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1605, encourage all eligible voters to make their voices heard in this year's election.

After carefully reviewing candidate questionnaires, meeting with candidates, and discussing the issues that matter most to firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and the citizens we serve, Local 1605 has proudly endorsed:

✅ Dan Young for County Commissioner
✅ Randy Leatherman for County Commissioner
✅ Jeff Cline for County Commissioner
✅ Dianna Palmer for District 2A Delegate

These candidates demonstrated a commitment to supporting public safety, strengthening our communities, and ensuring first responders have the resources, staffing, and support necessary to continue providing the high level of service our residents deserve.

📅 **Early Voting Begins June 11**
🗳️ **Primary Election Day is June 23**

Every election matters. Every vote matters.

Please take a few minutes to vote and support candidates who support Washington County's firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and emergency services professionals.

While monthly statistics help tell the bigger story, some days deserve a closer look. On June 3rd 2026, emergency responders handled 143 calls for service throughout Hagerstown and Washington County, including 114 EMS incidents and 29 fire responses.

Days like this highlight the growing demand placed on our emergency response system. Every call represents someone experiencing an emergency and expecting a timely response. As call volumes continue to increase, so does the need for adequate staffing to ensure firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs can continue providing the level of service our community deserves.

Units are on scene in the 900 block of Lanvale Street for a reported structure fire. Crews have confirmed fire on the first floor.

No additional information is available at this time. Please avoid the area and yield to responding emergency vehicles.

During the month of May 2026, emergency responders answered 3,249 total Fire/EMS incidents.

Thank you to all career and volunteer personnel for your dedication, professionalism, and service to our community.

🚨 ENDORSEMENT ALERT 🚨

The Hagerstown Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 1605, are proud to endorse **Dianna Palmer for Maryland House of Delegates, District 2A**.

As Local 1605 met with candidates and reviewed their responses to our questionnaire, Dianna Palmer stood out as a candidate who took the time to learn about the challenges facing Washington County's firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and emergency services system.

Dianna demonstrated a clear understanding of the growing demands being placed on first responders and the importance of ensuring that fire and EMS agencies have the staffing, resources, and support necessary to serve our communities safely and effectively.

Throughout this process, she emphasized the importance of recruitment and retention, fair labor standards, responsible funding, and maintaining reliable emergency services for the citizens of Washington County.

As Dianna stated:

*"For Washington County, that means ensuring our firefighters, EMTs and paramedics have resources, staffing, and fair labor standards needed to meet growing emergency service demands."*

She also voiced her support for collective bargaining, recognizing the important role firefighters and EMS professionals play in protecting our communities and advocating for safe working conditions.

Local 1605 appreciates Dianna Palmer's willingness to engage directly with our membership, listen to the concerns of first responders, and commit to being an accessible and informed advocate in Annapolis.

We believe District 2A deserves a Delegate who will support public safety professionals, working families, and strong communities.

We are proud to endorse **Dianna Palmer for Maryland House of Delegates, District 2A.**

✅ Early Voting Begins June 11
🗳️ Primary Election Day is June 23