Matt Owens Appointed to Lead Worcester County Emergency Services and Fire Marshal’s Office
Snow Hill, Maryland (April 4, 2024) – The Worcester County Commissioners appointed Fire Marshal Matt Owens to lead Worcester County Emergency Services (WCES) and the Fire Marshal’s Office. Owens has been leading the Fire Marshal’s Office since 2022 and stepped into his expanded role March 19.
“Matt Owens is a highly respected leader in the public safety community and an incredible asset to Worcester County Government,” Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said. “He has a comprehensive knowledge of fire and EMS and a proven record for coordinating the emergency planning, response, and recovery partnerships necessary to prepare Worcester County to address natural and manmade disasters. He is the ideal candidate to move both departments forward.”
Owens, a certified law enforcement officer, joined Worcester County Government in 1996. He also serves as a part-time certified instructor at the Police Academy at Wor-Wic Community College, where he plays a role in training each new generation of law enforcement and correctional officers.
“The fire service has been in my blood since a young age, and I appreciate the opportunity granted to me by the County Commissioners to lead these two departments,” Owens said. “My father was a volunteer firefighter as I was growing up along with my brother, and I’ve aspired to follow in his footsteps. With everyone’s support, we will continue striving to move public safety forward, making Worcester County an even safer place for the residents and visitors to live, work, and play.”
Owens joined the volunteer fire service at age 13 and has been a volunteer firefighter ever since. In his free time, he enjoys visiting Assateague and hunting. Owens and his wife, Kim, have two children, Tyler and Trevor.
“There are not enough words to express my love and thanks to my wife and family for their continued support,” Owens said.
The Fire Marshal’s Office, which serves as the local enforcing agency for the County and three municipalities, carries out all provisions of the Maryland and Worcester County laws relating to fires, fire prevention, protection, inspections, investigations, and explosive incidents. Professionals within the Fire Marshal’s Office conduct fire safety inspections, origin and cause fire investigations, hazardous materials response and planning, new construction plan reviews, and fire prevention education. They also coordinate fire prevention and fire education activities within the community and respond to and mitigate all hazardous materials and bio terrorism incidents in Worcester County.
WCES oversees all matters relating to emergency management, the County’s 911 system, and the County’s P25 800 MHz Radio Division. Like all other emergency services directors in Maryland, Owens has been appointed by the governor to serve as the State’s emergency management designee for Worcester County. He also serves as a liaison with the county fire, ambulance, and police departments in the provision and coordination of emergency services, and he serves on the Worcester County Local Emergency Planning Committee.