J. Robert Ray

Deputy Chief J. Robert Ray is appointed to take over as Anne Arundel County's ninth fire chief starting this October.
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Appointed to take over as the county's ninth fire chief starting Oct. 1 is Deputy Chief J. Robert Ray, a 52-year-old Arnold resident who has served in the department since 1977.His last job was as director of the department's Logistics Bureau.

As chief, he will command a staff of more than 1,700 career and volunteer firefighters as well as civilian personnel and manage an annual operating budget of $100 million, according to county Fire Department officials.
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In 2002, Chief Ray led the Department of Inspections and Permits.

In his more than 30 years with the county, Chief Ray has worn many hats - and helmets.He has served as company grade officer, command level officer, and deputy chief.He has served on incident-management teams for the Olympics and has worked with the Secret Service on Presidential details.He is a longtime member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Academy Alumni Association and the National Society of Executive Fire Officers.And in 1997, the new chief served as president of the Maryland Arson Investigators Association.

Chief Stokes, 51, said Chief Ray brings "a scope of breadth of experience that reflects his commitment to excellence in leadership."
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Chief Ray acknowledged there would be challenges ahead in tough economic times, but is excited about the position.

"I feel like a very lucky guy," he said.

Fire Chief J. Robert Ray urged the council to adopt the new sprinkler plan, which expands the current mandate for townhouses, duplexes and apartment buildings to include single-family homes.

"Tonight you have the opportunity to tell all Anne Arundel County residents that their lives are valuable, not just those who are protected by happenstance because of where they live," Chief Ray said.

"What started as a routine medical call rapidly escalated into a very dangerous situation for everyone involved," Fire Chief J. Robert Ray said.
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In a written statement, Chief Ray said the Fire Department is evaluating its response procedures to ensure the safety of firefighters.

"I encourage every fire chief to use this case as an example of the need for increased awareness during the heating season," he said.

Had the home had working carbon monoxide alarms, the two men would have been alerted to the gas and firefighters immediately would have known what they were dealing with, he said.

Appointed by County Executive John R. Leopold to take over today as the county's ninth fire chief is Deputy Chief J. Robert Ray, a 52-year-old Arnold resident who has served in the department since 1977.
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"I think Chief Ray has all the tools to do a good job," he said."He's going to be facing some tough decisions though, with the economy and those things."

We hope Chief Stokes' achievements will be built on by his successor: Deputy Chief J. Robert Ray, who has been with the department for more than 30 years.