Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire, a Westernport native, has been nominated as the Northeast Region’s candidate for Maryland’s 2024 Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year award. The recognition places him among a select group of statewide nominees for the prestigious James C. Robertson Award, which will be announced during the Maryland State Firefighters Convention in Ocean City next week.
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Alkire’s nomination highlights his broad impact across Maryland, particularly in Carroll, Harford, and Cecil counties. In 2024, he led the Northeast Region in fire and explosive investigations, conducting 69 cases, and participated in 83 deployments with his accelerant detection K9 partner, Blondie. These included mutual aid responses that helped resolve complex cases and led to several arrests. His role as one of only three certified K9 handlers in the agency further underscores his contribution to statewide fire safety.
Beyond investigative work, Alkire is the agency’s primary public information officer. In 2024, he dedicated over 250 hours to communications duties, issuing 70 news releases, hundreds of investigative notices, and conducting 35 televised interviews. His outreach extended through various publications, including the Maryland State Police IMPACT newsletter and fire service association journals, supporting community engagement and transparency.
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Alkire’s pursuit of continued professional growth includes earning the Certified Fire Investigator designation from the International Association of Arson Investigators in 2024, a distinction held by only a handful of his peers. He is also working toward a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Administration at Neumann University, maintaining a perfect academic record. His achievements earned him the Chief G. Crawford Wiestling Scholarship Award, one of just seven awarded nationwide last year.
Beginning his service with the Office of the State Fire Marshal in 2008, Alkire previously received the statewide Deputy State Fire Marshal of the Year award in 2015 and has been nominated several times since. His consistent performance and leadership continue to make him a prominent figure in Maryland’s fire safety efforts.
Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal press release.
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