Who We Are
The Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department is a volunteer, non-profit fire, rescue, and EMS organization serving the Olney, Sandy Spring, Ashton, Leisure World, and surrounding communities of Montgomery County, Maryland.
We respond to over 6,100 calls for service every year — fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, water rescues, and more. Every response is delivered by neighbors who live in this community and chose to serve it.
We strive to invest in state-of-the-art equipment and training to enable safe and effective responses when our community needs us most. We hope you never need our help — but we will always be there if you do.
1924
Year Founded
100+
Years of Service
2
Stations
6,100+
Annual Responses
A Long & Storied History
From a $700 founding to over six thousand responses a year — the milestones that shaped the department.
For a century, the people of Sandy Spring have looked after one another — and the fire department has been at the heart of that promise since the very beginning. Read the full story of how it happened.
1924
Department founded; first pumper purchased.
1930
Station 4 established — ground broken by members.
1949
First Mack pumper, “Pearl,” joins the fleet.
1971
Station 40 opens in Olney.
2019
“The Pearl” returns home to SSVFD.
Department Leadership
SSVFD is guided by an elected Chief and President, supported by a full officer structure and board of directors.
Explore the Department
SSVFD maintains specialized teams and equipment for technical rescues, water response, and complex incidents beyond standard fire and EMS calls.
The SSVFD Auxiliary has supported the department since 1930 — the first of its kind in Montgomery County. They play a vital role in fundraising, community outreach, and department support.
Become Part of the Department
The department still runs on volunteers. Whether you want to fight fires, provide care, or support behind the scenes, there’s a place for you here.