Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

06/06/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝟕𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐕𝐅𝐃 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐔𝐰𝐞 𝐊𝐮𝐡𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧!

For 24 years, Chief Kuhlmann led the Freiwillige Feuerwehr Pinneberg with dedication and vision. In 1991, a simple letter he mailed to Rockville helped establish what would become one of the most enduring and meaningful international fire service relationships imaginable.

More than 35 years later, the bond between our two Sister City fire departments has grown far beyond official exchanges. It has created lifelong friendships, family connections, and countless visits across the Atlantic for celebrations, weddings, birthdays, and more. What began with one letter has evolved into friendships that have transcended generations, connecting members and families who continue to share experiences and traditions across continents.

Chief Kuhlmann's leadership and friendship helped build a lasting bond that continues to enrich the lives of members and their families in both Rockville and Pinneberg.

From all of us at the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, thank you for your remarkable legacy and friendship. We wish you a very Happy 75th Birthday and many more years of health, happiness, and camaraderie.

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Chief Kuhlmann!

06/02/2026

🚨🏅 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 🏅🚨

Today, members of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. were recognized for their dedication, courage, and commitment to serving our community at the 37th Annual Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Awards.

We are proud to congratulate the following members on receiving well-deserved recognition:

𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
EMT Vira Safai
EMT Carrick Southall
EMT Michael Bychkov
EMT Laura Castro

𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
Lt. Ian Weston

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
FF Ameen Elhamdani
FF Grant Polla

𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲
Capt. Robert James
MFF Daniel Schoenfeld
FF Christopher Baranek
FF Cassandra Hedetniemi
FF Grant Polla
FF Michael Strickland
FF Asher Barbour

These awards recognize extraordinary actions performed in service to others - whether through lifesaving medical care, exceptional service to the department and community, or acts of bravery under challenging circumstances.

We are incredibly proud of these members and grateful for their unwavering commitment to protecting the residents and visitors of Rockville. Please join us in congratulating them on this outstanding achievement!

Montgomery County Maryland – Fire & Rescue Service
Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association
City of Rockville Government

05/20/2026

𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭. 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰.

This EMS Week, the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. celebrates the proud history and continued evolution of emergency medical services in our community.

From historic rescue units to modern advanced life support response, generations of RVFD members have remained committed to one mission - providing exceptional care to those in need.

Thank you to all past and present EMS providers for your dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the citizens of Rockville.

05/19/2026

This past week, Directors of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) from across the country gathered in Alexandria, Virginia for the organization’s annual Spring Meeting. Each state is represented by two directors, and we are proud that RVFD President Eric Bernard serves as one of Maryland’s representatives. During the week, attendees participated in national discussions on the future of the fire and EMS service, industry updates, leadership sessions, and the annual awards banquet.

We were honored to welcome Montgomery County Fire Chief Corey Smedley, who greeted attendees, thanked them for their service, and shared his perspectives on today’s fire and rescue service.

A special moment of the week was seeing our own Mary and Jimmy Seavey Jr. present the Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health & Wellness Leadership Award to retired FDNY Assistant Chief Frank Leeb in recognition of his longstanding commitment to firefighter health and wellness.

This year also marks the NVFC’s 50th anniversary of advocating for, training, and advancing the volunteer fire, rescue, and EMS service nationwide.

05/18/2026

Training never stops at the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. Over the past week, RVFD firefighters completed a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) refresher focused on emergency survival skills, including navigating confined spaces, disentanglement procedures, and operating in challenging conditions while on air.

These hands-on drills build confidence, reinforce critical skills, and help ensure our crews are ready when the community calls for help. While emergencies may only last minutes, the preparation behind them takes countless hours of training and dedication.

Special thanks to the -Chevy Chase Rescue Squad for allowing us to utilize their SCBA maze and training structure for this important training.

05/16/2026

On Thursday, Rockville VFD President Eric N. Bernard visited Capitol Hill with dozens of other directors and chiefs from the National Volunteer Fire Council meeting with elected officials and staff advocating for fire, rescue and EMS needs. A display highlighted the gear and equipment used today protecting our most valuable resource - our awesome volunteers!

04/30/2026

🚨 𝐑𝐕𝐅𝐃 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐤𝐞 🚨

RVFD Thursday Evening Crew was dispatched to a traffic collision with entrapment in the area of 845 Rockville Pike.

Upon arrival, units encountered a two-vehicle crash with one patient trapped inside. The crew from Rescue Squad 703 quickly went to work - stabilizing the vehicle and carefully removing the roof to gain access to the patient.

Both the driver and passenger were safely extricated and transported to a local hospital for treatment by Ambulance 703 and Medic 703.

👏 Great work by all responding units for their quick, coordinated efforts to bring this incident to a safe resolution.

04/10/2026

Rockville Fire and EMS units currently operating at the 2nd alarm apartment fire in Gaithersburg.

Fire Through Roof at Gaithersburg Apartment Building, Multiple Rescues Reported

Click below for full article.

https://mocoshow.com/2026/04/09/fire-through-roof-at-gaithersburg-apartment-building-multiple-rescues-reported/

01/10/2026

Thank you to MISSION BBQ & National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for honoring the life and sacrifice of RVFD Captain Sander Cohen.

NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro was pleased to spend a few minutes with the team at the Mission BBQ - Rockville to express our gratitude for their support of the Sander Cohen Memorial Scholarship Program.
The Rockville Mission BBQ is currently selling blue reusable cups, with $2 from each sale donated to the Memorial Scholarship Fund—a simple way to make a meaningful impact.
Sander Cohen was a Maryland State Fire Marshal and a volunteer firefighter with the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. He was tragically killed while stopping to render aid to a motorist along Interstate 270. His legacy of service lives on through this scholarship fund, which supports the educational pursuits of spouses, life partners, children, and stepchildren of firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, with a focus on students pursuing careers in public safety.
Learn more about Sander Cohen and support the Scholarship Fund: https://www.firehero.org/resources/family-resources/programs/sander-cohen-memorial-scholarship-fund/

12/23/2025

Our last night of Santa Runs takes us to Hungerford, Stoneridge, Tower Oaks and Americana Center. Here comes Santa! 🚒🎅