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The headlines have hit like blows from a hammer on Frederick County.
"Local nonprofits face funding uncertainty"
"Over $9 million for community projects left out of stopgap funding bill"
"USDA ends program that helped schools serve food from local farmers"
"Thousands face layoffs from federal jobs"
All shocking, all representing the loss of a career, or the loss of federal support for a local program designed to help those in need.
But none might be more puzzling than the headline that said: "In-person training at National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg extinguished."
What could be more necessary or useful to the entire country than an institution that improves the ability of firefighters to save lives by putting out fires? From forest fires made worse by climate change, like the recent blazes in Los Angeles, to house fires that destroy homes and kills families, the Emmitsburg academy is doing vital, important work.
David Durstine, the vice president of fire and government sales at IDEX Fire & Safety Experience, told the Maryland Matters news site: "The cancellation of these classes really has a detrimental effect on the entire fire service."
The even greater fear is that, if all classes are canceled, can the closing of the academy itself be far behind?
The academy opened in 1974 and it offers free specialized courses and advanced management programs to thousands of people across the country. Its classes are on its Emmitsburg campus, off-campus across the U.S., and online.
The Academy offers courses such as fire investigation, hazardous materials, fire prevention, emergency medical services and emergency responses to terrorism. In fiscal year 2021, it trained more than 98,700 students, according to its website.
Thew Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which oversees the fire academy, issued an indefinite cancellation of all classes at the academy that require a federally funded instructor.
The action follows executive orders from President Donald Trump to drastically cut the federal workforce and federal spending. FEMA leaders may be especially sensitive to Trump's wishes, since he has said he wants to eliminate FEMA.
Frank Davis, the mayor of Emmitsburg and a retired federal fire chief, told News-Post reporter Gabrielle Lewis:
"Unfortunately, I wasn't totally surprised. With the happenings all across the nation, I figured that we would be affected in some way. I was hoping they'd forget about us, but they didn't. … I was just hoping that it's very short-lived."
Durstine said the closing the academy in Emmitsburg, which trained firefighters from across the country, has "taken away foundational education" from fire leaders of the future.
"This may be a quick little move for, maybe, what is the efficient use of dollars, potentially but ... what does it do to the local communities in the remote areas of the country that rely heavily on the foundational education provided by the National Fire Academy," Durstine told Maryland Matters.
A letter signed by 64 members of the U.S. House and Senate is demanding answers from FEMA. That letter was led by U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-6th), and signed by every Democrat in the Maryland delegation.
"Firefighters and other first responders lay their lives on the line every day for our communities," the letter said. "The abrupt cancellation of courses has affected dozens of firefighters, educators, and local departments that rely on the National Fire Academy's and Emergency Management Institute's resources, classes, and expertise to promote safe and effective fire prevention, enhance firefighter safety, and reduce the loss of life and property to fire, floods, and other natural disasters."
The administration's efforts to cut spending have been chaotic, with some surprising about-face changes. The fire academy is doing excellent work, and the cuts to its programs should be rescinded and its future should be secured..
-- Frederick News-Post