Senate Republican nominee and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan visited the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD) on Monday, saying that he wanted the opportunity to thank the county’s first responders.
“This is a station that is really special. They’re one of the largest in the state, with the most volunteers, and it’s got a special place in my heart,” Hogan said in an interview. “I have a couple of friends that are here, but they do a wonderful job. They’re one of the busiest firehouses in the entire state.”
Department President Eric Bernard, who led a tour of the station, told MoCo360 that Hogan’s campaign had reached out to the department. Bernard said the department is “apolitical” and “nonpartisan” and isn’t making an endorsement in any races, but will give any public official or candidate the opportunity to tour the facility and talk with the volunteers. Hogan is running against Democratic nominee and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks to replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.).
Hogan’s visit included a tour of the departments’ vehicles, boarding facilities, kitchen and common areas. He also spoke with the parents of Sander Cohen, a deputy chief state fire marshal and RVFD lieutenant who was killed while helping at the scene of a car crash in 2017 and saw his memorial locker. Hogan, who was governor at the time of Cohen’s death, spoke at his funeral.
“His parents were here today, which made it also special,” Hogan said. “We try to honor him every year at the fallen heroes event that [Maryland State Police] puts on.”
Hogan added that he is interested in pursuing federal grant funding to help support the department.
“This is kind of a familiar story, where we’ve got outdated firehouses that haven’t been able to keep up with the growing communities,” Hogan said. “Finding a way to eventually build a new firehouse here in Rockville would be terrific.”
Bernard said the department continues to face numerous challenges when it comes to resources. The department operates four stations and has 240 volunteer members, according to its website. Along with career members of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS), the department handles emergency calls for an area containing approximately 250,000 residents and provides fire and rescue assistance in other parts of the county.
The department has outgrown its main station on Hungerford Drive, Bernard said, adding that it opened in 1966 and has lacked functioning air conditioning for more than four years. He said he’s been advocating for a new building since 1999. The department would also like to buy its own heavy rescue truck, which Bernard said would cost more than $2 million. The department currently uses one of the six that the county owns.
RVFD was the victim of an online hack in May that scammed the nonprofit organization out of $220,000 in funds raised to purchase two new ambulances. The department was able to recover about $120,000 and is still fundraising to make up the difference. A verified GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $20,000.
“We get asked about the needs a lot, but it’s all about action,” Bernard said. “Everybody tells us and tries to help, but we compete [with other budgetary needs]. So we’re excited, and I don’t have any reason to doubt [Hogan’s] word and that he would work to help us, but we’re not unique in the sense that there’s just not enough resources for public safety.”
When asked how he felt at this point in the campaign cycle, Hogan said he “feels great.”
“My last two elections, I did better than any Republican ever in Montgomery County, and I’m hoping to do the same thing again,” Hogan said. “I mean, it’s a difficult county to win, but I think we can convince an awful lot of people to cross over.”
