Overbeck Lecture: Evolution of DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services – Through the Decades Focusing on Capitol Hill Fires

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The Civil War marks the turn of DC’s firefighting efforts from volunteer firefighting brigades to a city-wide department of trained and paid firefighters. Amy Mauro, Esq., executive director of the DC Fire & Emergency Medical Services Foundation, will highlight decades of improvements and innovations within the “Nation’s Fire Department” at the Overbeck Capitol Hill history lecture held December 8, 7 pm, at Hill Center, Old Naval Hospital. An overview of the department’s history, including the integration of African-Americans and women, as well as the evolution of EMS in DC, will feature major Capitol Hill fires and incidents as recorded by stories, photos, oral histories and videos. Joining Ms. Mauro for the Q & A session will be Vito Maggiolo, the department’s public information officer and long-time fire buff.

Amy Mauro has spent the majority of her career working in public safety policy and administrative roles in federal agencies and the DC government, including eight years as Chief of Staff at the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. In 2023 Ms. Mauro left government service to revive the DC Fire & EMS Foundation, whose mission is to aid the F&EMS Department by supporting its members’ training, wellness and recognition, equipment and facilities, and by educating the community about the Department’s life-saving mission. She grew up on Capitol Hill and now lives on the Hill with her husband and two daughters.

The 7 pm lecture on Fire and Emergency Medical Services will be held at Hill Center, Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE (www.hillcenter.org; 202-549-4172); on Monday, December 8. Admission is free but a reservation is requested due to limited capacity. Reservations can be made starting November 24. Seating will begin at 6:30 pm; the power point presentation will begin at 7 pm.