CENTRAL MARYLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2025 PUBLIC SAFETY OFFER OF THE YEAR AWARD
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER

On April 9, 2025, Firefighter I Meera Patel received the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce 2025 Public Safety Officer of the Year Award (Volunteer Firefighter).

Meera joined the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company in January 2023. She is in the Air Force on active duty and stationed nearby at Fort George G. Meade. She pursued an aggressive training schedule, even traveling to Alabama to take one required course. She is now a National Registered Emergency Medical Technician, certified as a Firefighter I, and cleared as an ambulance driver. She is continuing to take further training. In just two years, Meera has become a key member of our emergency operations. In 2024, she worked 198 shifts for an
amazing total of 2363 hours! She responded to 502 fire calls and 169 ambulance calls,
making her our #2 overall responder. She also joined our Honor Guard and assists in fire
inspections and public fire education activities.

Meera’s accomplishments have been justly recognized by her peers in the fire service. In 2024, she received both the Rookie of the Year from the Maryland State Firefighters Association and the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association. Our fire company is very fortunate to have enthusiastic and capable young members like Meera to maintain the vitality of our organization.