Request Fire Department Records

New Records Request System

The Baltimore County Fire Department has transitioned to a an electronic Fire/EMS Report Request Portal. Details are available on this page in the "Obtain Fire Incident and EMS Reports" section. You must create a password-protected account that will allow you to submit your request and all required documentation online. Requests will not submit without all required documentation. We will notify you by email if your records have been located, are not releasable or if we need additional information.

The fee is $15 for a Fire Incident Report. The fee is $6.50 for an EMS Report. You will pay electronically through the County’s online payment portal. Please allow at least 24 hours after payment for records to be sent.

AMBULANCE BILLING

On February 22, 2024, Baltimore County was notified by third-party vendor, Change Healthcare Optum, of a potential nationwide cybersecurity incident. 

In response, the vendor immediately disconnected from County systems and, out of an abundance of caution, Baltimore County has implemented additional security measures.  

As a result, residents may experience delays with Baltimore County EMS billing and collection beginning on or after February 22, 2024.

Through their initial investigation into this incident, Change Healthcare Optum has determined that certain protected health information (PHI) or personally identifiable information (PII) may have been impacted nationwide. It is important to note that, at this time, Change has not notified the County of any unauthorized access of information. 

Baltimore County is in the process of restarting EMS billing as soon as possible, continues to closely monitor the situation, and will continue to support the Change Healthcare Optum’s efforts to provide further updates. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.

OBTAIN FIRE INCIDENT REPORTS AND EMS REPORTS

Our electronic Fire/EMS Report Request Portal allows you to submit requests for two types of Fire Department records:

  • Fire Incident Reports are public records of BCoFD responses to fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents and other calls for Fire service. There is a $15 fee for each Fire Incident Report.
  • Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Reports are patient care reports generated whenever BCoFD assists a sick or injured person. These reports contain confidential medical information that is not part of the public record. Copies of patient care records are available to our patients, their representatives and others as specified by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Maryland Public Health-General, Title 4, Subtitle 3, Confidentiality Of Medical Records. BCoFD policies and procedures for the release of patient care reports comply with restrictions specified under federal and state law. There is a $6.50 fee for an EMS record.

REQUEST FIRE AND EMS REPORTS

 We will notify you via email when your Fire Incident Report or EMS Report has been located. You will receive a link to the County's electronic payment system; after payment is made, the record will be sent to you via email. To comply with privacy laws, EMS records are sent via secure email.

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR USING OUR RECORDS PORTAL

  • Identify the correct type of requestor. When you register for our portal, you will be asked if you are a member of a law firm representing a client. This is important because, for EMS patient care record requests, the documentation required of legal representatives is different than for other requestors. If you are a representative of a law firm, make sure you select that option.
  • Choose the correct type of record. You will be asked whether you want to request an  EMS patient care record or a non-EMS record (non-EMS records are Fire incident reports). Make sure you select the correct type of record.
  • Provide all required information. You will need to provide the date and location of the incident. EMS record requests require various documentation; you will be notified if you are missing required documentation.

FIRE INSPECTION RECORDS

To request public records of fire inspections for County business properties and other establishments, email fire-records@baltimorecountymd.gov. Provide the name and address of the establishment, the time period involved and the type of violation (if known).

OTHER PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS

Send other requests for public records under the Maryland Public Information Act  (MPIA) to fire-pia@baltimorecountymd.gov. Under the MPIA, agencies may charge a fee to cover the costs of research and record retrieval and preparation.

PATIENT'S RIGHTS

The Emergency Medical Services Division (BCoEMS) takes seriously our patients' right to privacy regarding how medical information may be used and disclosed, and how the patient can access this information. The laws and regulations protecting your medical privacy apply whether you received emergency medical services from a career or volunteer unit. 

You have the right to be notified of a breach involving your information.

RESTRICTIONS

You have a right to request a restriction or limitation on the health information BCoEMS uses or discloses about you. BCoEMS may accommodate your request, if possible, but is not legally required to agree to the requested restriction. If BCoEMS agrees to a restriction, BCoEMS will follow it except in emergency situations. You have the right to request that we not share your information about a particular incident with your insurance company as long as you have paid the entire charge yourself.

CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Our normal method of contacting you is by mail to your home address or by calling the phone numbers you provide. You have the right to ask that BCoEMS send you information at an alternative address or by alternative means. BCoEMS must agree to your request as long as it is reasonable for us to do so.

AMENDMENTS TO THE HEALTH RECORD

You may request in writing that BCoEMS correct or add to your health record. BCoEMS may deny the request if BCoEMS determines that the health information is:

  • Correct and complete
  • Not created by us/not part of our records
  • Not permitted to be disclosed

If BCoEMS approves the request for amendment, BCoEMS will change the health information and inform you and any others that need to know about the change in health information.

You have a right to review or request a copy of your health information. If your health information or a portion thereof is in paper-only format, there may be a copying and postage fee. You have a right to request what portions of your information you want copied and receive an estimate of the cost. If your records are in electronic format, you may request your information in this format and may request that we transmit a copy of that information to a third party. The request for electronic copy and transmittal to a third party must be requested in a clear, conspicuous and specific manner. We may charge a fee based on cost of labor to produce the electronic copy.

You have a right to request a list of the disclosures made of your health information for the six-year period prior to the date on which the accounting is requested. Exceptions are health information that has been used for treatment, payment and operations. 

In addition, BCoEMS does not have to list disclosures made:

  • To you
  • To others when based on your written authorization
  • When provided for national security
  • When provided to law enforcement officials and correctional facilities

Additionally, BCoEMS will provide an accounting for disclosures made through an electronic health record for treatment, payment and health care operations, but information is limited to the three-year period prior to date of request. There will be no charge for up to one such list each year.

You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice/an electronic copy by email, upon request. You have the right to request this Notice in alternate format by submitting your request in writing to:  

HIPAA Compliance Office
Baltimore County Fire—EMS 
700 East Joppa Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21204

SAFEGUARDING PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

BCoEMS is committed to protecting your health information and is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information, and to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information, and to follow the privacy practices described herein. 

BCoEMS reserves the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, and to apply the provisions of the revised Notice to your health information that we obtained before revising the Notice. Changes will be posted on this web page and be made available to you at our service locations. You may obtain a copy of this Notice currently in effect by calling 410-887-2071.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with:

  • The Privacy Officer, by calling 410-887-2077.
  • The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights. Call the County’s Privacy Officer for the contact information.

All services you receive from BCoEMS programs, regardless of type or location, are legally considered a single record. BCoEMS employees will use your health information only as necessary and for the purposes described below. For use and disclosure beyond those described in this Notice, BCoEMS must have your written authorization. If you give such authorization, you may revoke it by notifying the Privacy Officer at the address listed at the end of this section. This revocation shall apply except where we have already used or disclosed information in accordance with the authorization. The following are some examples of our possible uses and disclosures of your health information.

FOR TREATMENT

BCoEMS may use or share your health information to provide treatment or arrange for health-related services, such as:

  • Emergency treatment at the scene of an accident
  • Life support during ambulance transport to a medical facility
  • Helicopter transport to a trauma center
  • To arrange for services from various county, state or private organizations
  • To notify a hospital of your condition so they can prepare for your arrival
  • To contact you about upcoming health and safety information or events

TO OBTAIN OR MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

BCoEMS may use and share your health information to obtain an authorization from your insurance company or to submit a health care claim. We may also coordinate health insurance benefits between insurance carriers. This includes any activities we must undertake to obtain reimbursement for the services we provide to you, such as providing documentation that an ambulance transport was medically necessary.

FOR HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS

BCoEMS may use and share your information to evaluate the quality of services we provide and to help maintain the high quality of those services. For example, our quality assurance team may evaluate your record to determine if you received appropriate care in accordance with our standard procedures. We may use your information when seeking legal guidance from our attorneys. We may also share your health information with federal, state or county auditors as required by law or regulation.

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRED OR ALLOWED BY LAW

  • Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services (MIEMSS): BCoEMS shares your health information with MIEMSS, which maintains a statewide data system established for collection of emergency response treatment information. MIEMSS was established by law to oversee and guide the delivery of emergency services in Maryland and is required to keep your health information confidential.
  • Information Purposes: Unless you provide us with alternative instructions, BCoEMS may send material about a particular program to your home.
  • Required by Law: BCoEMS may disclose health information when a state or federal law requires us to do so.
  • Public Health Activities: BCoEMS may disclose health information when BCoEMS is required to collect or report information about disease or injury, or to report vital statistics to other divisions in the department and other public health authorities.
  • Health Oversight Activities: BCoEMS may disclose your health information to other divisions in the department and other agencies for oversight activities required by law. Examples of these oversight activities are audits, inspections, investigations and licensure. 
  • Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors and Organ Donations: BCoEMS may disclose health information relating to a death to coroners, medical examiners or funeral directors, and to authorized organizations relating to organ, eye, or tissue donations or transplants.
  • Research Purposes: In certain circumstances, and under supervision of an Institutional Review Board or other designated privacy board, BCoEMS may disclose health information to assist medical research.
  • Avert Threat to Health or Safety: In order to avoid a serious threat to health or safety, BCoEMS may disclose health information as necessary to law enforcement or other persons who can reasonably prevent or lessen the threat of harm.
  • Abuse and Neglect: BCoEMS will disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, domestic violence or some other crime. BCoEMS may disclose your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety, or the health or safety of others.
  • Specific Government Functions: BCoEMS may disclose health information of military personnel and veterans in certain situations, to correctional facilities in certain situations, to government benefit programs relating to eligibility and enrollment and for national security reasons, such as protection of the President.

FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND OTHER RELEVANT PARTIES

  • Your Care: In certain cases, your health information can be disclosed without authorization to a family member, close friend, or other person you identify who is involved in your care or payment for your care. Information describing your location, general condition or death may be provided to a similar person (or to a public or private entity authorized to assist in disaster relief efforts).
  • Workers’ Compensation: BCoEMS may disclose health information to workers’ compensation programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses without regard to fault.
  • Lawsuits, Disputes and Claims: If you are involved in a lawsuit, dispute or claim, BCoEMS may disclose your health information in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, investigation of a claim filed on your behalf or other lawful process.
  • Law Enforcement: BCoEMS may disclose your health information to a law enforcement official for purposes that are required by law or in response to a subpoena.
  • Fundraising:  BCoEMS may use your health information to contact you about fundraising events or to solicit a donation on behalf of our Volunteer Fire and EMS units. You have the right to opt-out of use of your health information for fundraising purposes. Call 410-887-2071 to opt out.