The Fire Department must review and approve any plans for first aid and/or emergency medical services, as well as perform statutory fire prevention and life safety inspections to ensure that provisions are in place for coverage by proper licensed/certified personnel, and the overall safety and health of those who attend.
Special high-activity events such as concerts, marathons, 5K and 10K races, as well as other events staged during periods of extreme temperatures, or potentially affecting a high number of special needs individuals (e.g., elderly or young children) will be required to obtain first aid and/or emergency services and other fire department assets as determined by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department utilizing industry best practices.
Attached to this document is a list of resource requirements/recommendations when considering the level of EMS and/or other fire department resource coverage required depending on crowd size, event type, and risk assessment. It is most important to understand, that these are not individual requirements, rather they provide options and considerations after thorough planning and a determination of the overall event risk assessment.
Required medical assets for a special event are based upon several factors, including the size of the event, the type of event, the anticipated weather during the event, and the overall health/safety risks associated with that event. Larger events or events with higher risk factors held within Anne Arundel County should have public safety assets in place to provide for the safety and reduce the health risks of the participants and attendees should there be an illness, injury, or other type of public safety emergency.
Depending on your event’s type, size, and overall risk assessment, providing a certain level of first aid and/or emergency medical care and in some cases, fire suppression resources may be required. The Anne Arundel County Fire Department will work collectively with the event sponsor/vendor to make sure adequate emergency care can be provided. Overall event risk is the driving factor in determining what “adequate emergency care” is. This could be anything from having a single CPR-qualified person on site, to physician-managed first aid tents.
There are several options for event sponsors to secure EMS coverage, primarily contracting with private EMS services. The AACOFD can provide EMS Support at a cost to the event sponsor/vendor. Event sponsors may not directly contact any AACOFD Fire Department (including any volunteer fire department in AACO) directly to request support. Requests for services from the AACOFD will be done through the Special Event Portal. It is the event organizer’s responsibility to ensure that any Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, and/or Physician who volunteers or is contracted to provide EMS care at an event possesses a valid Maryland state certification/license; Similarly, the event organizer is responsible for ensuring that his/her special event has a back-up plan in case any medical personnel hired by the sponsor/vendor fail to show up for the event. All medical plans for special events in Anne Arundel County must be approved by the Fire Chief or their designee.
Special Event Fire Prevention – Life Safety Code Enforcement
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal has developed this administrative explanation for special events operating in Anne Arundel County in accordance with the Maryland State Fire Prevention Code, the Anne Arundel County Fire Prevention Code (as amended), the NFPA 1 Fire Code, and the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. These code requirements and guidelines will help ensure public safety during events. All structures or equipment shall be erected and ready for inspection by the Office of the Fire Marshal a minimum of two hours prior to the event’s opening to the general public.
- Exits
- All exits, aisles, and corridors shall be kept clear at all times.
- All required exit signs shall be properly illuminated, and readily visible and shall provide contrast with decorations, interior finish, or other signs.
- Panic hardware, door closers, and gates shall be maintained and in working order.
- Portable Fire Extinguishers
- Fire extinguishers shall be provided where required. Extinguishers shall be conspicuously located where they will be readily accessible and immediately available in the event of a fire.
- Fire extinguishers shall be maintained in a fully charged and operable condition and shall be kept in their designated places at all times when not in use.
- Crowd Managers may be required.
- Access shall be maintained for emergency vehicles to any buildings or structures. The Fire Department Access Road (FDAR) shall have a width of not less than 20 feet and a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet.
- All fire department hydrants and connections shall remain clear and unobstructed at all times.
- Mobile Food Vehicle Platform includes any trailer, enclosed trailer, or enclosed truck that uses propane or any other heat source to prepare food, a good, or service.
- A valid inspection sticker from the Office of the Fire Marshal shall be displayed by the Mobile Food Vehicle (MFV) on-site prior to operation.
- Any appliance that produces smoke or grease-laden vapors shall be protected by a listed fixed suppression system.
- Any MFV that does not possess a valid inspection sticker may contact the Office of the Fire Marshal to begin the inspection process at least 4 weeks prior to the event date.
Food Truck Inspections | Anne Arundel County, MD
- National Fire Protection Food Truck Safety Fact Sheet.
****NO ONSITE INSPECTIONS****
- No stage, stand, booth, or cart shall be placed within 5 feet of a cross or connecting street or alley; nor shall they impede or obstruct the egress from a building.
- All vendors are required to have a fire extinguisher of sufficient size and type for the hazard involved. The extinguisher shall be at least a 2A:10 BC rating, or a type suitable for the hazard involved. A larger extinguisher may be required for liquid petroleum (LP) gas cooking and/or deep fryer cooking. Class K fire extinguishers shall be provided where there is potential for fires involving combustible cooking media, such as vegetable or animal oils and fats. The Class K fire extinguisher shall be at least 1.6 gallons/6 liters. The fire extinguisher shall be displayed in a manner as required by the Office of the Fire Marshal.
- Stands utilized for cooking shall have a minimum of 10 feet clearance on two sides and shall not be located within 10 feet of amusement rides.
- Stands that are not used for cooking shall have a minimum of 3 feet of clearance on two sides.
- All electrical devices, wiring, generators, and electrical hookups for all pre-manufactured carts/trailers, booths, stands, stages, and other structures shall be permitted, inspected, and approved by an Anne Arundel County Electrical Inspector prior to use.
- Any tent larger than 201 square feet shall require a permit from the Department of Inspections and Permits Land Use Navigator System.
Land Use Navigator System Information | Anne Arundel County, MD
- All electrical devices, wiring, and generators shall be permitted, inspected, and approved by an Anne Arundel County Electrical Inspector prior to use.
- All canopy and tent material shall have a label affixed to or on-site certifying that the tent complies with NFPA 701, California State Fire Marshal. The onsite certification must identify the make and model of the tent along with the certifying testing agency.
- Canopies or tents used for cooking shall not be occupied by the public. All cooking operations shall take place under a separate canopy or tent.
- All cooking tents shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from any structure. The location and placement of the tent shall not block any exit from a structure. The placement shall not create a situation where the building occupants will exit through the tent to get to a safe area.
- Tents and canopies shall not be set up inside a building.
- Only heating devices labeled by a recognized testing laboratory, i.e. UL, shall be used.
- Electrical heating units inside a tent shall be approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal.
- Fuel-fired devices shall be located on the exterior of the tent and air-ducted into the tent.
- Propane tanks/cylinders are prohibited inside the tent and must be a minimum of 5 feet from any door or opening on the exterior; 10 feet if only one means of egress.
- Propane tanks shall be secured in an upright position and protected from vehicle traffic.
- All exits from tents shall be unobstructed.
- Exit signs shall be provided.
- Emergency lighting shall be provided if the tent has sides in the downward position.
- Open flame devices and smoking is strictly prohibited inside a tent or canopy.
- A minimum of 1 portable fire extinguisher with a rating not less than 2A:10 BC shall be mounted with a travel distance equal to 75 feet.
- Hay, straw, shavings, or similar combustible material shall not be permitted within the structure unless approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal.
- Areas for outdoor events secured by fencing or other means, require sufficient exits (gates) for the occupancy of the area confined. An egress plan may be requested for review.
- The Office of the Fire Marshal may require emergency lighting, exit signs, and other safety features for the confined area.
- Extension cords shall not be utilized as permanent wiring.
- Extension cords must be sized (minimum of 16 gauge and grounded) to the device in use.
- Small household cords shall not be used.
- Extension cords shall not be spliced together.
- Extension cords shall be rated for outdoor use only.
- A breaker-protected, strip outlet, multi-plug, and/or permanent wiring shall be utilized when multiple outlets are needed.
- Multiple strips/multi-plugs shall not be chained together to form a longer service.
- All cords and equipment shall be listed by a testing laboratory recognized by the State of Maryland, i.e. UL).
- All fireworks and pyrotechnics require a permit from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and site/shoot approval from the Anne Arundel County Office of the Fire Marshal with the exception of hand-held sparklers, ignitable “snakes”, party poppers, and snap & pops.
- Generators and other internal combustion power sources shall be separated from temporary structures or tents by a minimum of 20 feet and shall be protected from contact by fencing, enclosure, or other approved means.
- Refueling shall be conducted only during non-operating hours.
- National Fire Protection Generator Safety Sheet.
EMS Resource Requirements/Options/Considerations Annex
