Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association

Eric Bernard is the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association serving as the chief advocate on policy, directives, governmental relations, negotiations and public safety for Montgomery County's 19 local volunteer fire and rescue departments with over 1600 active professional volunteer members.  Eric is an Adjunct Professor of Forensic Science at The George Washington University teaching graduate courses in forensic pathology/death investigations, forensic investigations, the biological aspects of forensic science, field medicine, weapons of mass destruction and emergency response.  He is also on the faculty at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine.

The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association is a 501(c)(4) tax exempt, volunteer membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services in Montgomery County, MD.  Organized in 1922, the MCVFRA serves as the voice for all Montgomery County volunteer fire, rescue and emergency service professionals as well as the local volunteer fire and rescue departments in the County. Each of the departments maintains its own charter with the State of Maryland and is incorporated as a non-profit volunteer corporation with the state.

The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MCVFRA) consists of the 19 separate, independent, fire and rescue corporations in Montgomery County, Maryland.  The MCVFRA has numerous committees that address issues associated with the betterment of the fire and rescue service in Montgomery County.  The MCVFRA also will comment and recommend to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Commission any changes which will better the delivery of fire and rescue service to the citizens of Montgomery County. Each member department has their President and Chief and (1) alternate elected or appointed to serve the MCVFRA.  

History of Volunteer Firefighters in Montgomery County:  https://joinfirerescue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/mcs_v046_n3_2003_fleischer.pdf