Baltimore County Fire Chief Joanne Rund to retire

Baltimore County Fire Chief Joanne Rund, the first woman to hold the position, has announced plans to retire in July.

“Chief Rund broke barriers as Baltimore County’s first permanently appointed female fire chief, and her demonstrated leadership, commitment to the department, and tireless dedication to keeping our communities safe will have a lasting impact,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said in a statement.

Rund joined the BCFD in 2019 after 32 years with the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. As chief, she led the department during difficult times like the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

“I wish Chief Rund well in her future endeavors and am thankful for her outstanding service to Baltimore County and its residents,” Olszewski said.

Before joining the fire service in 1987, Rund worked as a volunteer EMS provider in Carroll County.

“Leading and contributing to this department’s growth and successes has been the privilege of a lifetime and I am profoundly grateful to the County Executive, the administration, County Council members and beyond for your trust and support throughout my tenure,” Rund said. “As I prepare to turn the page to a new chapter in my career, I am confident that collectively, the Department will continue to realize its unlimited potential in the years ahead.”

Last September, the fire department reached a $275,000 settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over sexual harassment claims filed by female employees. The claims began in 2017, prior to Rund’s appointment.

“Every employee deserves to feel safe in the workplace and I am proud of the progress we have started under my tenure to diversify our department and strengthen our culture,” Rund said in a statement last year. “Through this agreement, the department is sending a clear message that Baltimore County will not tolerate harassment in the workplace and I fully support the steps required to ensure we are doing all we can to be supportive of all of our people.”

Shortly before the settlement was reached, members of the firefighters union held a ‘no confidence’ vote in the department’s leadership, alleging a “toxic environment.”

Rund survived the vote of ‘no confidence’, with a majority of firefighters approving her leadership, but the results were overwhelmingly against the assistant and deputy chiefs.

More than 90 percent of union members voted against Assistant Chief Jennifer Aubert-Utz, and 78.7% went against Deputy Chief Francis DiPaula Jr. Both have since left the fire department.