Bethesda Fire Department, Inc.

What Bethesda Fire Department, Inc. does

Bethesda Fire Department, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer fire department that has provided emergency services to the Bethesda, Maryland community since its incorporation on May 24, 1926. The department operates three strategically placed stations — Station 6 (headquarters at 6600 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase), Station 20 (9041 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda), and Station 26 (6700 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda) — housing engines, ladder trucks, ambulances, utility vehicles, and a Medical Ambulance Bus at Station 26 for mass casualty incidents. Service delivery is conducted in coordination with the career firefighters of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

The organization's service portfolio spans fire suppression and extinguishment, emergency medical services including ambulance transport (added in 2017 with unit A706) and event coverage, and a community fire and life safety education program covering carbon monoxide, cooking fire safety, home sprinklers, smoke alarms, and seasonal safety topics. It runs a volunteer recruitment pipeline offering free training, free equipment, and tax credits for prospective EMTs, firefighters, administrative, and auxiliary personnel.

Bethesda Fire Department's revenue model is donation-driven rather than fee-based. As a 501(c)(3) (EIN 52-0743537), it accepts tax-deductible contributions from citizens and businesses via PayPal ($25/$50/$75/$100 or custom tiers), check by mail, a vehicle donation program supporting firefighter training, and the AmazonSmile program (0.5% of eligible purchases). All emergency services are provided free of charge to residents. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (including President Andrew White, Chief Daniel Blankfeld, and Treasurer/Captain Juan Bofill) and operates independently while collaborating with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services.

Name

Bethesda Fire Department, Inc.

Legal name

Bethesda Fire Department, Inc.

Website

https://bethesdafire.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bethesda Fire Department, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) volunteer fire department operating three stations (6, 20, 26) in Bethesda, Maryland, providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, and fire safety education to local residents in coordination with Montgomery County career firefighters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire and Emergency Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Fire Protection (922160)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety) (BPAIAGAL), Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

Keywords

• Fire suppression services
• Emergency medical services
• Volunteer fire department
• Fire safety education
• Emergency response services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chevy Chase

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bethesda Fire Department, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer fire department that provides fire suppression, emergency medical services (including ambulance transport), and fire safety education to the Bethesda, Maryland community across three fire stations. Operating in coordination with Montgomery County career firefighters since 1926, the department recruits and trains volunteer firefighters and EMTs, maintains fire suppression apparatus (engines, ladder trucks, ambulances, and a Medical Ambulance Bus), and funds its operations through tax-deductible community donations.

Product overview

Bethesda Fire Department, Inc. is a volunteer fire department operating three fire stations (6, 20, and 26) in Bethesda, Maryland, in conjunction with Montgomery County career firefighters. The department provides fire suppression, emergency medical services (including ambulance transport and EMS event coverage), and comprehensive fire safety education to the community. The organization recruits and trains volunteer EMTs and firefighters, operates a vehicle donation program for training purposes, and accepts tax-deductible donations through multiple channels. Key facilities include Station 6 (headquarters with ambulance, ladder, and engine), Station 20, and Station 26 (which houses a Medical Ambulance Bus for mass casualty incidents).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Suppression Services Fire response and extinguishment operations across three fire stations (6, 20, and 26) serving the Bethesda, Maryland community.
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Emergency medical services including ambulance transport and EMS coverage at community events, operated by volunteer EMTs and firefighters.
• Fire Safety Education Community fire and life safety education programs covering carbon monoxide safety, cooking fire safety, home fire sprinklers, smoke alarm safety, and seasonal safety topics.
• Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Program Volunteer recruitment and training program for Emergency Medical Technicians and Firefighters in Montgomery County, MD, with opportunities for administrative and auxiliary personnel. Provides free training and equipment.
• Vehicle Donation Program Program accepting vehicle donations for use in firefighter training programs to help master or refine rescue skills.
• Donation Processing Tax-deductible donation processing via PayPal, direct mail, and AmazonSmile program. Accepts online donations at various levels ($25, $50, $75, $100, or other amounts).
• Fire Station 6 (Headquarters) Headquarters station located at 6600 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Houses Ambulance, Ladder, and Engine apparatus.
• Fire Station 20 Station located at 9041 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814. Provides fire suppression coverage.
• Fire Station 26 Station located at 6700 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817. Houses Medical Ambulance Bus for mass casualty incidents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Three fire stations providing fire suppression, EMS, and fire safety education to Bethesda, Maryland community

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service: The career-staffed county fire and rescue service that BFD explicitly operates 'in conjunction with' to provide fire protection across Bethesda. Directly comparable mission (fire suppression, EMS, prevention) and shared response area, though MCFRS is the larger, government-operated umbrella organization.

Direct peers

• Silver Spring Volunteer Fire Department: Another 501(c)(3) volunteer fire department in Montgomery County, Maryland, providing fire suppression, EMS, and community services. Closest direct analog: similar nonprofit structure, volunteer-staffed model, and suburban Maryland service area.
• Kensington Volunteer Fire Department: Volunteer fire department serving the Kensington area of Montgomery County, Maryland. Matches BFD's nonprofit, volunteer-based operating model and adjacent suburban Maryland service territory.
• Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad: Volunteer emergency medical and rescue service in Montgomery County, Maryland. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) volunteer-staffed emergency services organization operating alongside Montgomery County career responders.
• Rockville Volunteer Fire Department: Volunteer fire department serving Rockville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Same nonprofit volunteer model, county-coordinated response, and suburban Maryland footprint as BFD.
• Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department: Volunteer fire department in Montgomery County serving Takoma Park. Directly comparable 501(c)(3) volunteer structure, collaboration with county career firefighters, and community-based fundraising model.

Regional players

• Chevy Chase Fire Department: Mentioned as the home location of BFD Station 6 (6600 Wisconsin Ave, Chevy Chase). A nearby volunteer fire entity in the same sub-region; closely comparable suburban-serving volunteer fire department though specific operational details are not verified here.

Others

• National Volunteer Fire Council: National nonprofit membership organization supporting volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue organizations. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) ecosystem enabler for entities like BFD, though it operates at the industry-association level rather than as a service provider.
• International Association of Fire Chiefs: Professional association supporting fire service leadership globally. Relevant adjacent peer because BFD's leadership structure (Chief, Assistant Chief, Captains, Lieutenants) mirrors the IAFC's professional operating framework.
• American Red Cross: Large 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing emergency response, disaster relief, and safety education. Comparable as a donations-driven, community-based emergency services organization with safety education programming and a volunteer workforce model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/joinfirerescue

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bethesda Fire Department, Inc.