First African-American Elected to Lead MD Fire Association

OCEAN CITY, MD – The new president of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association has hit the ground running.

Eric L. Smothers was saluted by fellow officers when he took the stage Tuesday night.

Smothers, who retired recently from the Maryland State Police, quickly stopped and returned the salute.

As the first African-American to lead the MSFA --organized in 1893 – the longtime paramedic said he’s honored to advocate for firefighters and EMS clinicians.

“I appreciate the opportunity to represent the MSFA,” he said. “We are facing some of the same challenges as departments across the United States.”

Among the issues he will focus on include recruitment and retention, mental health of responders and fire prevention and life safety.

“We have to keep an eye on each other to make we are ready to respond appropriately not just physically but mentally as well. We have initiated peer support programs, and I want to see that increase. Our people are our greatest asset, and I think we need to do everything we can to protect them. We can’t allow our EMS clinicians and firefighters suffer in silence.”

As a flight medic with the state police aviation division for 37 years, he knows firsthand how calls can impact someone. “Some calls are especially tough. It’s important that people feel they can talk about their feelings with someone without fear of being outed or sidelined. It’s OK to say ‘I’m not OK.’”

As president of Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Co., he also understands the problem of not only recruiting but retaining people to take the training and respond.

“There’s no quick answer on this one as departments across the nation are seeing the same decline. I think we need to change the mindset so to speak. The days of generations of family members volunteering are disappearing. We have to come up with creative ways to attract and then, keep young people.”

Family dynamics, juggling careers and commitments make it extremely difficult for people to add taking EMS or fire training to the mix. It’s tough.

It’s imperative, he added, that longtime members really extend a helping hand to people when they walk in the station.

“One of the reasons people say they leave is because they never felt welcome. That shouldn’t happen. We need to mentor these folks and make them want to come around…”

He also is a strong advocate for fire prevention. “The number of fire deaths in the state is rising. That’s unacceptable to me, and it should be to everyone in the MSFA. We should make sure everyone has smoke detectors in their homes. Sprinklers also save lives, and I will be in Annapolis to promote them…”

During the ceremony, he thanked his family, fellow volunteers and state police colleagues for their support.

He remembered as a teen, his late father would drop him off at the Brunswick ambulance company for duty on Friday evening and return on Sunday to pick him up.

“Together will continue to make Maryland safer for each and every one of us. And, to make sure that our operational members make it safely back home.”