The SACC Hosts First Annual Delmarva Fire Chief Forum

The May SACC General Membership Luncheon was held on held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 and featured the first annual Delmarva Fire Chief Forum, presented by DK Law Group.

The Cambria Hotel Ocean City Bayfront in Ocean City, MD hosted the luncheon, sponsored by Avery Hall Insurance Group and Deeley Insurance Group.

Fire Department Chiefs from Delaware and the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia gathered to share challenges, opportunities, and what the future of firefighting looks like for each department.

Panelists included Chief Joshua Bunting, Ocean City, MD; Chief David Carey, Dover, DE; Chief Rob Frampton, Salisbury, MD; Chief John Mitchell, NASA Wallops Flight Facility, VA; and Chris Robertson, Fire Supervisor, MD State Forest Service.

David Livingston, Livingston Wealth Management, moderated the panel.

Topics addressed included the next generation of firefighting, how AI plays a role in the fire service, health issues in the fire services, dealing with the changing nature of fires, and the future of the fire service and funding challenges.

The subject of mental health was at the top among the first responders. Salisbury Chief Frampton spoke about his department’s peer support team.

“We allow and encourage access to services for our men and women in the Salisbury department,” Frampton shared. “The stresses of the job are real.”

NASA Wallops Island Chief John Mitchell, a veteran of several departments up and down the East Coast, went further in his observations, “This may be controversial, but much like requiring fire personnel to be physically fit for the job, we should also add mental health testing as a criterion in the hiring processes.”

Budget challenges and opportunities were also discussed. Dover Delaware Chief David Carey shared that community and corporate fundraising has all but dried up.

“We have a good relationship with city elected leaders from whom we get much of our operational funding. We share our story with individual City Council members come budget time,” stated Carey.

Salisbury Chief Frampton added, “A new engine is 1.4 million dollars today. We positively communicate with all of our elected leaders, city and county, and maintain strong relationships with our businesses and the community to share our budgetary needs and wants.”

Maryland Forest Service Fire Chief Chris Robertson spoke about the governor’s priority to fill vacant state positions, including many under his jurisdiction.

“We are close to being fully staffed, and that’s my budget priority,” Robertson added.

Ocean City Chief Josh Bunting offered a unique perspective on his departmental budget.

“We are an insurance policy – we are asked by our elected leaders, do you really need what you are asking for? Being prepared and having what you need is the core nature of budgeting.”

The topic of changing fire behaviors elicited some telling remarks from the panel of chiefs. Chief Robertson, Maryland Fire Service, said,” Wildfire season used to be spring and fall, it is year-round now in Maryland.”

Ocean City Chief Bunting added, “Our town aggressively looked at reducing the incidence of structure fires years ago by being among the first jurisdictions in the state in 1998 to require buildings higher than three stories to install sprinkler systems.”

Dover Chief Carey added, “The City of Dover requires that all structures larger than ten-thousand square feet must have a sprinkler system.”

Each chief emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication, building morale, and encouraging teamwork amongst their staff.

NASA Wallops Chief Mitchell ended on a lighthearted note, saying that his secret to maintaining morale and communication was simple, “I have a bowl of candy on my desk; everyone wants to stop by and chat.”

The Law Enforcement Leaders of Delmarva Forum and Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. The event is presented by Absolute Security Group, Inc. and Tactical American Security Consulting, LLC (USTASC) and sponsored by Minuteman Press.

Registration is required and includes a full buffet breakfast. Tickets are $35 for Members and $45 for Non-Members, and sponsorship is available. Visit salisburyarea.com or call 410-749-0144 for information.