Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal Celebrates 130th Anniversary as the Nation’s Oldest State Fire Marshal’s Office

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal is proud to announce its 130th anniversary this month, marking a significant milestone as the oldest State Fire Marshal’s Office in the United States. Established in 1894, the Office is also recognized as the second oldest state public safety agency in Maryland, following only the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, originally known as the State Oyster Police, created in 1868. One hundred thirty years ago, Governor Frank Brown appointed John J. Jackson as the first Maryland State Fire Marshal following the passage of a law by the state legislature that established the Office. The State’s Insurance Department drove this initiative, formed in 1878, with the objective of “checking incendiary fires and aiding in reducing the rate of insurance in the State.” Over the years, the Office of the State Fire Marshal has evolved significantly. Initially an ex officio member of the Insurance Commission, the position was downgraded within the commission after lawmakers deemed it redundant in 1916. However, in 1964, under the leadership of Governor J. Miller Tawes, the Office was revitalized and moved to the newly created State Fire Prevention Commission. In 1970, the Office transitioned to the Department of […]

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